Inflating duallys - valve stem extenders?

Catalystgrrl · Dec 14, 2024

How are you all gauging and inflating your duallys? I just took my Transit to a Tire Depot to inflate them yesterday and they were scary low. The gentleman had a lot of trouble reaching the inside stems. I thought he was going to give up. And they specialize in tires. I really would like to be able to check and fill my tires before every trip, and I have been looking all over the internet trying to find the best way to do that. It appears the extenders should not be left on when driving, so you'd have to put those on/off every time, and then they come with issues such as leaking, not fitting, etc. So then I looked into getting an extended chuck and separate, extended gauge, but I'm not finding a 45° one that the Transits require. This can't be that difficult. What do you all do to keep your duallys filled correctly? TIA

maki2 · Dec 14, 2024

There is an online forum specific to your make of vehicle. Just use the keywords for you vehicle make and model plus the word “forum” to find it. When looking for parts that are the perfect fit for your specific vehicle dedicated forums for that vehicle is the best place to head. There will already be a topic for your vehicle that is specific to the very problem you have mentioned. A quick check with keywords shows there are some topics on the Transit forum about filling up and checking tire pressure on the dual wheels. But I have a slow internet connection today so I am not taking the search further by opening the forum itself.

The Van Living Forum is a great one, especially for generalized topics about builds, travels, solar setups and such. But returns of results for vehicle model specific questions can be hit or miss depending on who is actively viewing the forum when you asked. So it is best to have that other forum focused on your vehicle make and model in your favorites links as well as this one.

Catalystgrrl · Dec 14, 2024

maki2 said:
There is an online forum specific to your make of vehicle. Just use the keywords for you vehicle make and model plus the word “forum” to find it. When looking for parts that are the perfect fit for your specific vehicle dedicated forums for that vehicle is the best place to head. There will already be a topic for your vehicle that is specific to the very problem you have mentioned. A quick check with keywords shows there are some topics on the Transit forum about filling up and checking tire pressure on the dual wheels. But I have a slow internet connection today so I am not taking the search further by opening the forum itself.

The Van Living Forum is a great one, especially for generalized topics about builds, travels, solar setups and such. But returns of results for vehicle model specific questions can be hit or miss depending on who is actively viewing the forum when you asked. So it is best to have that other forum focused on your vehicle make and model in your favorites links as well as this one.

oh my goodness, yes, I'm already a member of that. That's where I meant to ask, not here. Thank you Maki for taking the time to answer. Have a lovely weekend!

twomountainlions · Dec 14, 2024

Catalystgrrl said:
How are you all gauging and inflating your duallys? I just took my Transit to a Tire Depot to inflate them yesterday and they were scary low. The gentleman had a lot of trouble reaching the inside stems. I thought he was going to give up. And they specialize in tires. I really would like to be able to check and fill my tires before every trip, and I have been looking all over the internet trying to find the best way to do that. It appears the extenders should not be left on when driving, so you'd have to put those on/off every time, and then they come with issues such as leaking, not fitting, etc. So then I looked into getting an extended chuck and separate, extended gauge, but I'm not finding a 45° one that the Transits require. This can't be that difficult. What do you all do to keep your duallys filled correctly? TIA

I check and inflate my duallies without any extenders....just a flexible air hose thats long enough, it bends 180 degrees to reach into tight spots. Initially I thought I needed an extender and tried a couple of them but turned out it was just a trick to bend the hose and screw it on all that was needed. Not sure how yours are mounted, if you can grip the valve stem with your fingers you probably dont need an extender

Gr8ful · Dec 14, 2024

Here you go $40 per set for 1 vehicle
https://www.methodracewheels.com/pr...nsit-dually-rear-wheel?variant=40177432821821

twomountainlions · Dec 14, 2024

My inner duallies have longish valve stems that stick through the outer wheel sort of, these can be installed. These are not extensions. Still some valve stems are hard to reach, but with bendy air hose no issue.

Catalystgrrl · Tuesday at 12:36 PM

Thank you both!

Gr8ful said:
Here you go $40 per set for 1 vehicle
https://www.methodracewheels.com/pr...nsit-dually-rear-wheel?variant=40177432821821

I appreciate the time you took to provide that link. Unfortunately, those are the ones people are saying leak, deflate tires, and shouldn't be left on. (Just in case others read this thread.)

I'll experiment with a bendy hose that Two Mountains suggested. I was probably overthinking it. I asked my Ford dealer, who's happy to take all of my money and they were not helpful at all. They said they already have extenders on them. I cannot see the inner valve stems at all. I'll keep going to tire places until I figure it out. Enjoy the day, All!!

Gr8ful · Tuesday at 1:00 PM

I've had many duallies & all had the metal valve stems from the inside tires out far enough to easily reach

twomountainlions · Tuesday at 2:34 PM

Gr8ful said:
I've had many duallies & all had the metal valve stems from the inside tires out far enough to easily reach

Yes, this is on inner tires.
But outer duallues also can have hard to reach valves because of angle.
They sell L shaped extensions but I just reach in there with bendy hose, can take several attemps to screw the hose on because can't see the valve

Definitely want to be able to reach the valves, not just to top off air but also rocks get stuck between duallies a lot on large gravel roads, to safely remove should deflate to very low, then must reinflate, you might be in the middle of nowhere, don't want to hit the pavement with that rock still between duallies or drive with deflated duallies which can damage side walls

Catalystgrrl · Tuesday at 3:14 PM

Gr8ful said:
I've had many duallies & all had the metal valve stems from the inside tires out far enough to easily reach

You were lucky! I just went down and checked mine again. I could see the inner one this time when I stuck my head under the van. It's an inch long, like a regular stem, and doesn't look metal. My understanding is that for large vehicles, they're supposed to be metal. Ford was supposed to line them up correctly after my tire rotation too. I will ask a tire professional to have the stems replaced, if necessary.

Inflating duallys - valve stem extenders?

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