My initiation continues

[toskeysam]

Hmmmmm. Started the day preparing to do the hard reset on my new Magnum remote and battery monitor, when I was distracted by my rear tires. Apparently, I picked up a roofing nail in my left rear (inside) tire. It is leaking down.......... Fortunately, I am not out on the highway. Argh!!! The little gremlins keep poking me on this trip! Now I get to test the combination of my tire service contract and Coachnet.

I did not take long for me to decide I could not change that tire....my back has a 40 lb lift limit. That coupled with the fact that the left rear jack point looks like it is blocked by the propane tank. 😠. Coachnet to the rescue........

Never did complete the hard reset.

Tomorrow is another day. 😊😊😊

[Boxster1971]

I had an inner dual go flat on my last road trip. Discovered it at a rest stop about 50 miles east of Little Rock. Coach Net came to the rescue.

[toskeysam]

Boxster, what did Coachnet do? Did they change to your spare, repair tire??? Just curious, since this is entirely new territory for me.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by toskeysam

Boxster, what did Coachnet do? Did they change to your spare, repair tire??? Just curious, since this is entirely new territory for me.

They replaced the flat using our spare. The tire was destroyed beyond use -- it had run flat for an undetermined amount of miles. The valve stem had split at the rim causing a leak. I personally think the rubber valve stems installed by M-B on these heavy sprinters are not up to the task. Fortunately for us Airstream has replace 4 of the stock wheels with Alcoa rims and metal valve stems. The inner duals are still stock with rubber valve steams.

I discovered the flat on a tire check during a rest stop. Side walls on both side were split. We were lucky it did come apart on the road a do other damage.

If your tire is flat from a nail they might be able to plug it. If they do I would have it put back as the spare.

[toskeysam]

Thanks Boxster! The more I thought about it all, the more I felt the repaired tire should go back as a spare...assuming it can be plugged. It looks mighty close to the edge of the tread. Again, thanks!

[c21]

You folks with the stock wheels/tires should really consider installing a set of Dually Valves then adding a TPMS system. It's not all that expensive and yeilds a lot of piece of mind.

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by c21bill

You folks with the stock wheels/tires should really consider installing a set of Dually Valves then adding a TPMS system. It's not all that expensive and yeilds a lot of piece of mind.

We just had valve extenders installed on the rear tires. Monday we'll be installing the TPMS that we bought. Feel better knowing that we'll now have some technology helping to look out for our well being. We are not great about checking air in the tires. Need the extra help.

[73shark]

When my dealer finally fixed my leaking inside dual on the driver's side, they found the that rubber valve stem was seated on a rusty surface on the inside of the steel wheel which caused it to leak.

I'm planning on putting on the steel extenders and TPMS when I get tires rotated and balanced this summer.

I couldn't find the rear jack points either and neither could the dealer's tech.

Who is this coachnet that you mentioned?

[toskeysam]

Funny you should mention the Dually Valve Stems and TPMS. I have it all at home sitting in a box. Decided to just hit the road and have it all installed next year.....Ha! Best laid plans...."

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by 73shark

When my dealer finally fixed my leaking inside dual on the driver's side, they found the that rubber valve stem was seated on a rusty surface on the inside of the steel wheel which caused it to leak.

I'm planning on putting on the steel extenders and TPMS when I get tires rotated and balanced this summer.

I couldn't find the rear jack points either and neither could the dealer's tech.

Who is this coachnet that you mentioned?

First for everyone -- I hope when you say steel extenders you are talking about new longer complete metal valve stems. Don't put any extenders on the rubber valve stems on your inner dual wheels. That is just a formula for disaster since those rubber valve stems can't handle anything but the light weight plastic extender installed by Mercedes.

I found that the precise rear jack points called out in the owners manila were blocked by the tanks installed by Airstream. But you can get close by lifting on the structure that contains the forward leaf spring mount.

Coach-Net is the roadside assistance insurance that Airstream now gives for two years on any new Interstate. I think they started it in either 2012 or 2013.
Home Page - Coach-Net.com

[73shark]

I'll check them out. (coach net & jack points)

Yes, I'm referring to the full steel extensions recommended by others on this forum.

[UKDUDE]

Originally Posted by 73shark

Yes, I'm referring to the full steel extensions recommended by others on this forum.

I think you mean extended valves (in steel), not valve extensions. As far as I can see, the best are by Borg. So try searching for Borg extended valves on Google.
And I agree with Boxster1971, one of my plastic extensions has already fallen apart.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by UKDUDE

I think you mean extended valves (in steel), not valve extensions. As far as I can see, the best are by Borg. So try searching for Borg extended valves on Google.
And I agree with Boxster1971, one of my plastic extensions has already fallen apart.

Well said -- yes I also have the dually valves from Borg. They are actually chrome platted brass so they can be bent to fit.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, you mean to tell me that a Mercedes Benz doesn't come with a factory Tire Pressure Monitoring System? Also many Airstream trailers had problems with rubber valve stems too. Mine came with metal valve stems.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, you mean to tell me that a Mercedes Benz doesn't come with a factory Tire Pressure Monitoring System? Also many Airstream trailers had problems with rubber valve stems too. Mine came with metal valve stems.

M-B, like all manufactures only provided TPMS on vehicle with a GVW rating under 10,000 lbs as required by US DOT regulations. The Sprinter 3500 used for the Interstate are rated at 11,030 lbs -- thus no TPMS, you have to add your own.

I do wish they offered it as an option direct from either M-B or Airstream.

[toskeysam]

Yes...I did mean metal valves. Tire changed in ~ 2 hrs after call to Airstream. Not on highway, so I told them no rush.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by c21bill

You folks with the stock wheels/tires should really consider installing a set of Dually Valves then adding a TPMS system. It's not all that expensive and yeilds a lot of piece of mind.

After you install the TPMS caps, you might want to have the tires rebalanced as well.

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

First for everyone -- I hope when you say steel extenders you are talking about new longer complete metal valve stems. Don't put any extenders on the rubber valve stems on your inner dual wheels. That is just a formula for disaster since those rubber valve stems can't handle anything but the light weight plastic extender installed by Mercedes.

I've had metal extenders on my inner duallys for over a year with no problem. Less problem, in fact, than the plastic extrenders, because the metal ones don't leak and I don't have to air up the inner set as often as I did before when I was using the plastic extenders.

I can't recall offhand if the extenders are steel or aluminum or nickel-plated brass, though…

[73shark]

I think that we are all referring to the Borg DL1SPAL metal stems. Was going to order tonite 'til I saw that the Alcoa wheels have different slot sizes over the years so need to measure mine when the monsoons let up.

[weirdstuff]

Yes, I meant extended metal valves.

[PSchw]

They are great and work well. I got them on mine with the passthrough TPM for the last 15000 miles.