Bottle Jack (+ Valve Stems) March 28, 2001, 12:56:58 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2921Thanks for the response, Don. I don't recall seeing the bottle jack listed among the things sold at the LD store, but that definitely sounds like the way to go. Sure beats lugging one out in my suitcase... :-)On the valve stems, my understanding is that LD doesn't do valve stem replacements. At present my "plan" is to leave things as they are until I get some more experience with the dualies and see just how much hassle it's going to be to contend with the "stock" valves on the inside tires.If it turns out to be a really nasty job to check and adjust pressure, I'll have a tire shop put metal stems in w/extensions, and rebalance the tires.Of course, what do I know? I've rented two Class-C's and one Class-A that had dual rear tires, and I *never* checked the tire pressure, much less worry about what kind of stems were in the rear wheels...How about yourself? What did you do about the stems?Regards, Bob
Bottle Jack (+ Valve Stems) Reply #1 – March 28, 2001, 01:59:50 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2922Hello Bob,First, That tire pressure is really important and the checking and fill process and pressure settings in the Lazy Daze manual should be followed closely. I'd use them forever unless you feel more comfortable with something direct from tire manufacturer.re tire gage / valve stems. Before delivery, I locally purchased a dial type truck tire gage that has both a reverse offset and a straight through end fitting with a stem about a foot long. That at least allows me to check the rear tire pressure without using valve stem extenders. Should an inside dual need air, I have a six inch extender that I screw onto the rubber valve stem and then use my air compressor to fill the tire to about five pounds over target. Then I unscrew the extender and use the gage to get the pressure on target. For the outside rear dual and the front tires, I use one and one half inch long plastic valve extenders. They are very light and can be left in place. The outside rear duals and the front tires can then be checked and pressure adjusted without using a long valve stem extender.We could keep on doing that forever, but before our first trip, I'll take the LD to a local tire shop (Tires Plus), where I know the shop manager. He'll install steel valve stems on the rear tires and because the stems are opposed on each dual set, balance is not mandatory. Then, I'll install the stainless steel braided extenders on both rear duals, mounting them to the wheel cover hub. I'll continue to use just the short, light weight plastic extenders on the front tires.A note on balance: Not all tire shops have balancers that will balance the E450 wheel/tire assembly correctly. A tire shop that regularly does large truck tire balance jobs is the best to use.For the "regular" car tire shop, the tire balancer may show the wheel/tire has been balanced but - when the wheel is reset on the balancer by rotating it two lug holes, the wheel/tire may then show unbalance. In other words, some automobile wheel balance machines do not do a good balance job on larger wheel/tires - The resetting of the "balanced" wheel on the balance machine to verify the balance avoids finding the unbalance after the wheel is back on your RV. (Of course, only the first wheel/tire being balanced need be rechecked - If it checks out, the rest should be OK.) I'll credit one of the RV magazine troubleshooters for advising of this item.Lastly, you might want to check every so often to see if there are an unusual number of tire failures for our Brand and Tire Model being reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency Administration. Their web site is: [url=http://www.lazydazeowners.com/[url=http://www.nhtsa.gov/That's -30- for now, Don McG
Bottle Jack Reply #2 – March 28, 2001, 05:01:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2926I carry a short 5 ton jack that is just able to pick up the rear of my LD. I also have a taller 12 ton jack that is much better at lifting. Buy one rated at least 5 tons. I would take it home and try changing a rear tire to make sure the jack is powerfull enough and lifts the MH highenough to remove the inner tire. Also test out the tools used to remove the lug nuts.I use a 1/2''drive breaker bar with a 3 foot pipe cheater and it still can be difficult to break a rusted lug nut. There are specialty tools made to do this.I have seen various tools sold in RV catalogues and at RV shows. You need to be concerned about this if you like to travel the back roads. It's where the "real" America is. Cell phones do not work in a many remote places so don't depend on using them outside of populated areas for calling the Auto Club.
Bottle Jack (+ Valve Stems) Reply #3 – March 28, 2001, 05:02:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2927Don, thank you very much for the excellent detailed response. I'll definitely take the suggestions and ideas to heart, and I'm sure the information will help others here as well. I get the impression that you've "been there, done that", or at the very least given the whole tire inflation issue a lot of thought and research.On tire guages, I too bought a "dual foot" dial-type truck tire guage to take with me to CA. Actually, since they were less than $10 each, I bought two. Both are going back where they came from. They are quite inaccurate and don't even agree with one another, I've found.I need to check locally for a better tire guage. There seem to be plenty of accurate guages available in the lower inflation ranges, but far less in the "over 60" (psi, that is) class.Thanks again, Bob
Bottle Jack (+ Valve Stems) Reply #4 – March 28, 2001, 05:27:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2928Radio Shack sells a digital gauge for about $15.It seems to be accurate and is easy to use.I use it for my LD and cars.
Bottle Jack Reply #5 – March 28, 2001, 06:26:32 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2931"I would take it home and try changing a rear tire to make sure the jack is powerfull enough and lifts the MH highenough to remove the inner tire."Absolutely. On our '83, I found the bottle jack under the axle would raise the axle more than the body. Once I had the tire clear of the ground, there was insufficient clearance in the wheel well to remove the outer wheel. I found this out in our DRIVEWAY! I didn't want any surprises on the road.The solution is a jack stand on blocks inserted to block a frame member when jacked up. The axle is then lowered until the wheel clears.Even with this prudent planning I didn't note that the front tire is much lower when it is flat - I noted it when we had a blowout and I couldn't fit the jack under the frame crossmember up front. I had to drive the rim up onto blocks to get the jack where it belonged.Steve
Bottle Jack Reply #6 – March 28, 2001, 06:33:55 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2932We had a 5-ton bottle jack in our 86 LD. It was too small. It didn't lift high enough, and it required a lot of effort.When it died after several years, I replaced it with a 12-ton bottle jack. At home, I use a mechanic's floor jack.Irecommend that you carry a 10-12 ton jack. In Hyder, AK we had a softball sized stone lodge between the left rear duals. We knew something was wrong and stopped several times trying to figure it out. Had to lift the rig, remove the lug nuts to get the stone out.Also, be certain to check the lug nut torque (don't have to jack up the rig for this) after 100 miles or so after any wheel change.We also carry snow chains, but that is another story.
Topic: Bottle Jack (+ Valve Stems) (Read 16 times)
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Topic: Bottle Jack (+ Valve Stems) (Read 16 times)
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