The Rudy RV Improvement Report - Dicor Products

In a previous RV Improvement Report I mentioned that it is a good practice to regularly check your RV's tire pressure. Now that winter is ending, this is a critical time to make sure your tires are in shape for another season on the road. Immobile tires can deteriorate over a period of time, and such deterioration can result in leaks along with flat spots that further weaken the tire. Tires can lose pressure over time even without a puncture. Bridgestone-Firestone estimates a tire will lose 1 to 2 psi a month simply by diffusion through the sidewalls.

However, once you get your RV out of storage, you may remember why you don't check your tires as often as recommended. It's sometimes hard to get to all the valve stems if you have front wheel covers and rear dual wheels. With duals, especially, some people don't even bother with the difficulty of accessing the inside wheel valve stem. But without this check, the inside tire can be underinflated, putting additional stress on the outside tire to carry the load, which could, in turn, lead to tire failure. Here's where a relatively inexpensive accessory like a pack of valve stem extenders provide an easier way to check tire inflation.

There are two kinds of valve extenders: Front Tire Valve Extenders and Rear Tire Valve Extenders. Rear Tire Valve Tire Extenders also are available in two versions: Two Hose and Four Hose Systems. Keep in mind that aftermarket valve extenders are made out of different materials and of differing quality.

One thing to look for is valve extenders with high burst strength ratings - that's simply the amount of pressure they can hold without damage. Because of this, I recommend using quality stainless steel braided hose sets to provide extra protection, such as Dicor's two hose LS Series and four hose VHS Series, which feature high burst strength and flexible hydraulic hoses. They also don't kink, nor will they form soft spots like rubber hoses.

 For front wheels with covers or simulators, there are shorter, all-metal 45° angled valve extenders, like Dicor's nickel-plated brass extenders, that enable the inflation valves to peek out from the hand holes for easier access as well. They're easy to install.

If you only want to extend the valve for just the inner tires of your duals, you can get a pair of steel braided valve extenders from the Dicor LS Series that feature reliable live stem inner core technology that offers increased protection against tire deflation. They feature a floating valve stem that is only activated when air is added or released from the tire and require no special adjustments. They too are easy to install

However, the perfect solution for all four rear wheels is Dicor's VHS Series Inflation System. This quality set of four stainless steel braided valve extenders (two for the outside wheels and two for the inner wheels) fit most wheel simulators, and the inside and outside hoses make filling the tire convenient, giving you extra protection and peace of mind. The stainless steel construction also adds a bit of eye appeal to your rear wheels

 So check out valve extenders! They're easy to install, convenient, and you'll spend less time fiddling around in the cold or the heat or whatever the conditions are. The result is that you are more likely to check your tire pressure more often, making it less of a chore and more of a routine that will make for a better and safer RV experience.

Next: How to optimally inflate your tires for the load you plan to carry.

For more on RV care and maintenance go to:
dicorproducts.com/resources/rudys/

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