HOW TO: Inflate High Pressure RV Tires

We demonstrate a clever and easy way to add air to high pressure tires on a diesel pusher motorhome using the on-board air system.

With lots of modern equipment, full-wall slide-out mechanisms, tile floors, etc, newer diesel pusher RVs are heavier than ever. The front axle in particular, supported by only two wheels, places heavier demands on tires, and often requires very high air pressures as a result.

Checking tire manufacturer's tire pressure charts shows that the greater the weight placed on a tire, the higher the air pressure needs to be.

Since the maximum air pressure available from a diesel air system is about 120 PSI, that can make putting air into your tires a challenge, mainly because the system does not STAY at 120 PSI. Truck and RV air systems are designed to routinely cycle up and down between about 90 PSI and about 120 PSI.

If your tires and weight require 110 PSI, and your air compressor is currently at 105 and not running (air pressure cycle is on the way down), there is no way to get 110 PSI into your tire from a 105 PSI source. It will let air OUT of your tire instead!

We demonstrate how to assemble a simple, elegant and inexpensive solution to this problem from parts available at a typical home improvement store.

Be sure to confirm that all methods and materials used are compatible with your particular RV.

RV Geeks offers basic DIY (do it yourself) RV service, repair and maintenance tips from full-time RVers who have been handling most of their own maintenance since hitting the road in 2003.

RVgeeks is proud to be affiliated with RVtravel.com.
http://www.rvtravel.com

While we're not RV technicians, we're very mechanically inclined and have learned a lot about RV systems over the years. We handle most of our own minor service, maintenance and repair work on our 2005 43' Newmar Mountain Aire diesel pusher. We also maintained our 2002 39' Fleetwood Bounder Diesel during our first two years on the road.

We meet lots of newer RVers who are eager to learn some basics about maintaining and caring for their rigs. After more than 8 years on the road, we want to share what we've learned (some of it the hard way).

We hope our experiences can help other RVers go DIY, saving some time, money and effort, while experiencing the satisfaction of a job well done.

We do not pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But lots of things are the same on RVs in general, and diesel pushers in particular.

Video Intro Music: Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag from 1899, performed by Peter on a Knabe baby grand piano.

Comments welcome! Thanks for watching!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• motor
• home
• motorhome
• bus
• coach
• rig
• camping
• do
• it
• yourself
• DIY
• instructions
• demonstration

[MrRules100]

Where can you purchase the air tool that attaches to the valve?

Stu

[RVgeeks]

@MrRules100 We bought all of the parts for the air line setup at Lowes, in the air compressor and plumbing departments.

[georgebarrera100]

where do you find the valve caps?

[RVgeeks]

@georgebarrera100 We originally got 2 of them at a tire dealer when we had two new tires installed. They just put them on without being asked. We liked them so much that we began looking for them at every truckstop and auto parts store we came to, but were unable to find them. We finally asked at a little tire shop where we stopped to get propane. The guy handed us half a dozen of them for the rest of our tires and said "no charge!" So I'd suggest that a tire shop would be your best bet. :)

[christhebigfoot]

Rather than having to have a helper to pump the brakes I would want to create a bleeder valve setup to where I could let air out of the compressor system until it got down to the 90psi point and then stop bleeding pressure out and get ready to inflate to the point I needed to put in the tire. I do like your idea overall except you are a bit anal needing inflation to half pound increments.

[RVgeeks]

@christhebigfoot Thanks for the comment. We got the exact same suggestion from someone else, along with photos of how they set up their bleeder valve. This spring, we're going to assemble it, and add a video update. And you're right.... we are anal retentive! But we're working on it. lol I blame it on that damn air gauge. If it didn't show 1/2 lb increments, I wouldn't have even thought of it. ;-)