Dually valve stem extensions

[JasonW]

I upgraded to a dual tandem trailer a few months ago and would like to upgrade the valve stems to use a regular air chuck.

I have tried two different “dually” air chucks at first and neither worked for the inside tire due to hitting the rim. I have also tried the hard extensions but they need a slight angle to go straight through the outside rim. Thin line between bending them to fit and snapping them. All rims have metal valve stems that offer no flex.

I have the u-shaped valve stems on the outside tires and those work fine, just need something for the insides. Only other ones I see are stainless braid.

Anyone have a solution to this?

 

[Daren Todd]

I use something like this on the dual tires on my service and delivery trucks at work. They sell them calibrated for different tire pressures. And with one quick look you can tell if you are good or have an issue.

They have internal check valves, so if one tire is at a lower psi, that tire will inflate first until the tire pressure reaches the same as the other tire. Then both tires will inflate evenly.

The added bonus is one easy to access valve stem.

 

[JasonW]

Those may be the ticket but for $300 this will be put on the back burner.
Looks like they mount on one of the wheel studs?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You can get flexible extensions that they use for test plugs for plumbing.

 

[jimh406]

Sometimes my tire shop don't align the rims correctly. It shouldn't require a special tool if they are aligned correctly.

 

[McMXi]

I upgraded to a dual tandem trailer a few months ago and would like to upgrade the valve stems to use a regular air chuck.

I have tried two different “dually” air chucks at first and neither worked for the inside tire due to hitting the rim. I have also tried the hard extensions but they need a slight angle to go straight through the outside rim. Thin line between bending them to fit and snapping them. All rims have metal valve stems that offer no flex.

I have the u-shaped valve stems on the outside tires and those work fine, just need something for the insides. Only other ones I see are stainless braid.

Anyone have a solution to this?

Good timing on this thread. I bought a 2024 F-450 recently and am picking up a new Kaufman 30ft 25k gooseneck with dual tandem axles on June 2nd. I did something clever (a friends suggestion) with the inner valve stems back in 2001 when I bought my first dually, a Super Duty F-350 7.3L, but I can't remember what I did. It was a mod that made checking tire pressure and adding air a lot easier.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I just looked a little deeper into this, there are a ton of cheap solutions:

Amazon.com: UBOG Valve Stem Extension,Car Accessories 4PCS 7" 12" Tire Valve Extension with 6 Pieces 45 90 135 Degree Valve Stem Extension Adaptor,Stainless Steel Valve Stem Extenders for Car Truck RV : Automotive

Buy UBOG Valve Stem Extension,Car Accessories 4PCS 7" 12" Tire Valve Extension with 6 Pieces 45 90 135 Degree Valve Stem Extension Adaptor,Stainless Steel Valve Stem Extenders for Car Truck RV: Stems - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/VOTNMIC-Extensions-Flexible-Stainless-Extenders/dp/B0DNS5ZD61/ref=asc_df_B0DNS5ZD61?mcid=23a0bcab9cd43866b9264bc0acf7f5b1&hvocijid=15962702334628987751-B0DNS5ZD61-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15962702334628987751&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029659&hvtargid=pla-2281435179738&th=1

Amazon.com: Gosknor 5 Pack Tire Valve Extension Adaptor, 2pcs 8.54 Inch Flexible Valve Stem Extenders with 45 90 135 Degree Brass Tire Valve Extension Adapter for Cars Truck Motorcycles Bike Bicycles RVs : Automotive

Buy Gosknor 5 Pack Tire Valve Extension Adaptor, 2pcs 8.54 Inch Flexible Valve Stem Extenders with 45 90 135 Degree Brass Tire Valve Extension Adapter for Cars Truck Motorcycles Bike Bicycles RVs: Tire Valve Tools - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[McMXi]

I just looked a little deeper into this, there are a ton of cheap solutions:

I've made quite a few purchases from etrailer.com over the years and they have a number of products that make it easier to check and inflate inner tires on dually set ups whether on a truck or a trailer.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/TireMinder/TM97SR.html

One of your links reminded me of the upgrade that I made in 2002 to the inner rear wheels/tires of my F-350 dually. I added brass 90° valve extensions and bought an extended air chuck and pressure gauge that I still have. My friend in Hawaii who has a very successful towing and recovery business, and a lot of experience with big trucks, suggested I change out the Ford plastic lug nut covers for individual stainless steel covers. He's a great guy but he sure cost me a lot of money in upgrades back then. But I'll have to look into doing that again on the F-450.

 

[JasonW]

Ordered some of the stainless braid versions for now. The equalizers will be on the wish list though.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Ordered some of the stainless braid versions for now. The equalizers will be on the wish list though.

CAution:
Cheap equalizers, can cause both tires to go flat if one tire fails.

 

[JasonW]

CAution:
Cheap equalizers, can cause both tires to go flat if one tire fails.

Correct. I was referring to the ones posted above that has check valves.

 

[hedgerow]

The cross fire units are the real deal. Back in the late 70's into the 80's I did a lot of testing for them. They aren't cheap but they last. I have several that have been on many different semi trucks and trailers over the years. I run them on my semi tractors and grain trailers. There are a lot of systems out there today but the cross fire units were some of the first ones made.

 

[JasonW]

Just wanted to update this. I went with the stainless braid versions similar to what Wolfman posted, just mounted differently.

The mounts that came with these are supposed to mount to the wheel stud. I didn’t like wedging that between the lug nut and rim at 200ft lbs of torque. So I just put the mount after the lug nut and bought some nuts to secure them.

Definitely a less expensive option than the crossfires but I don’t use the trailer that often, just needed an easier way to check the pressure of the inside tire.

 

[JasonW]

Picture added. I did end up painting the mounts black to match the wheels better.

 

[McMXi]

Picture added. I did end up painting the mounts black to match the wheels better.
View attachment 162957

That's awesome! Where did you buy them from? I'd be interested in that upgrade on my Kaufman trailer too. Might even be a good idea for the F-450 but not sure if wheel balancing would be an issue.

 

[JasonW]

I bought them on eBay. About $30 per axle. I bought one set back in May and the second set in August.

Between that time it got all new tires and I went through the bearings, checked the brakes and installed the new style oil caps.

 

[cliffboyer]

CAution:
Cheap equalizers, can cause both tires to go flat if one tire fails.

That was my first thought.

 

[JasonW]

That's awesome! Where did you buy them from? I'd be interested in that upgrade on my Kaufman trailer too. Might even be a good idea for the F-450 but not sure if wheel balancing would be an issue.

For your F-450 check out Centramatic wheel balancers. They will work on trailers too.

I thought about it for my trailer but with all new tires freshly balanced it’s fairly smooth. Well it’s smoother with the trailer loaded.
Still need to add air bags to my truck.