Flat Tire Preparation, Especially for Elite I Owners

[Ron and Phyllis]

I've been meaning to write this for some time and it's primarily directed for us very few Elite I (one axle) owners. I was preparing, last summer, to take my 2022 Elite I Hull #1209 to Hohenwald just shy of it's one year anniversary.  My primary issue was a fiberglass defect I discovered on the roof that several of you on this Forum suggested I get repaired.  A week prior, I decided to install mudflaps inside the wheel wells on the Ollie.  This required that I jack it up and remove and each tire to access the frame in the wheel well where I mounted an L bracket on which to mount the mud flap.  I used a 4 ton bottle jack on the front jack point and once jacked up, a 4 ton jack stand under the rear jack point for safety.  I carry both on all trips.

Earlier I had installed a carrier and storage box on the rear bumper receiver hitch and posted it here May 13, 2023.  At that time, I developed my technique of removing the spare by just partially sliding out the rear bumper receiver hitch assembly just enough to remove the cover and spare.  The carrier and box stayed filled and connected to the hitch. 

I was about 90 miles SE of Hohenwald on a Sunday afternoon on a two lane highway when my EEZ RV Tire Pressure Monitor alarm sounded.  My curbside tire pressure was dropping. I started looking for a place to pull over as I was in a long stretch of road with a railing and no shoulder.  I saw an adequate shoulder about 0.4 miles ahead.  I watched the pressure fall from 60 when the alarm sounded to 8 lbs as I got to the shoulder.  There was no cell service so no AAA.  My TV is a Subaru Ascent SUV.  I've learned to travel lighter on each trip, but I had to dig for the jack and jack stand.  Since then, it's easily accessible.  It was inconvenient, but I was so thankful that I had just gone through the process of jacking up the Ollie and removing the spare.  I tried first pumping the tire back up, but heard air coming from the base of the valve stem.  At the tire store in Hohenwald the next day, it was the valve stem that had cracked and caused the incident.  

My purpose in posting is to strongly urge, especially Elite I owners, to at least practice and prepare for this scenario and I can't recommend enough using a tire pressure monitor system!  Safe travels and I hope to meet more of you at Lake Guntersville next month.  (We'll be in site E25)  

Ron

[Jason Foster]

3 hours ago, Ron and Phyllis said:

I've been meaning to write this for some time and it's primarily directed for us very few Elite I (one axle) owners. I was preparing, last summer, to take my 2022 Elite I Hull #1209 to Hohenwald just shy of it's one year anniversary.  My primary issue was a fiberglass defect I discovered on the roof that several of you on this Forum suggested I get repaired.  A week prior, I decided to install mudflaps inside the wheel wells on the Ollie.  This required that I jack it up and remove and each tire to access the frame in the wheel well where I mounted an L bracket on which to mount the mud flap.  I used a 4 ton bottle jack on the front jack point and once jacked up, a 4 ton jack stand under the rear jack point for safety.  I carry both on all trips.

Earlier I had installed a carrier and storage box on the rear bumper receiver hitch and posted it here May 13, 2023.  At that time, I developed my technique of removing the spare by just partially sliding out the rear bumper receiver hitch assembly just enough to remove the cover and spare.  The carrier and box stayed filled and connected to the hitch. 

I was about 90 miles SE of Hohenwald on a Sunday afternoon on a two lane highway when my EEZ RV Tire Pressure Monitor alarm sounded.  My curbside tire pressure was dropping. I started looking for a place to pull over as I was in a long stretch of road with a railing and no shoulder.  I saw an adequate shoulder about 0.4 miles ahead.  I watched the pressure fall from 60 when the alarm sounded to 8 lbs as I got to the shoulder.  There was no cell service so no AAA.  My TV is a Subaru Ascent SUV.  I've learned to travel lighter on each trip, but I had to dig for the jack and jack stand.  Since then, it's easily accessible.  It was inconvenient, but I was so thankful that I had just gone through the process of jacking up the Ollie and removing the spare.  I tried first pumping the tire back up, but heard air coming from the base of the valve stem.  At the tire store in Hohenwald the next day, it was the valve stem that had cracked and caused the incident.  

My purpose in posting is to strongly urge, especially Elite I owners, to at least practice and prepare for this scenario and I can't recommend enough using a tire pressure monitor system!  Safe travels and I hope to meet more of you at Lake Guntersville next month.  (We'll be in site E25)  

Ron

I have the Elite II and have tire pressure/temp monitors installed.  I have yet to remove a tire but I don't think it will be an issue since the stabilizer jacks will comeplete lift the tires off of the ground.  

[Patriot]

@Ron and PhyllisFirst glad that it all worked out safely for you.
And it’s always a good idea to check your spare periodically for correct air pressure IF you don’t use a TPMS sensor on the spare. As a part of our go to gear we always carry a floor jack, a tire temporary plug kit and we also have a portable compressor on board. (link) Not an advocate of running a plugged tire, but it will at least get you to a repair shop in a pinch.

Safe Travels and hope to see you at the rally!

https://www.amazon.com/40047-400P-RV-Automatic-Portable-Compressor/dp/B004B68XGC/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2CXF2TAPW4C19&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Eys-V0OIft8RXPo9KyhLYMtEzTC1gVkd12IQ8QX0XsWgXT4wr-aQ3UNywG3dZFL50DToSh3Wv0fob50yoNsmRcRcgHxwz-S78KIlhwHb4OurfKZ4F-OX6GE_l_t2Ba2Wm9JIf2X1wjtHcrSxXsdwRvI16QVHnK_hFafbhZh2ZL1BsmgAMTdvek0kOlCLCHBwPe_wNBjfFxmqyyLDMtbvJSqrRbyR2UA2dkC8wSKrKlA.YXfRIKzFhg2jMU9BN2Pr1w-HMX_z-NSR68nn8Ji7Nuk&dib_tag=se&keywords=rv+air+compressor&qid=1714030907&sprefix=Rv+air+%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-4

 

Edited April 25 by Patriot

[Wandering Sagebrush]

3 hours ago, Patriot said:

@Ron and PhyllisFirst glad that it all worked out safely for you.
And it’s always a good idea to check your spare periodically for correct air pressure IF you don’t use a TPMS sensor on the spare. As a part of our go to gear we always floor jack, a tire temporary plug kit and we also have a portable compressor on board. (link) Not an advocate of running a plugged tire, but it will at least get you to a repair shop in a pinch.

Safe Travels and hope to see you at the rally!

https://www.amazon.com/40047-400P-RV-Automatic-Portable-Compressor/dp/B004B68XGC/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2CXF2TAPW4C19&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Eys-V0OIft8RXPo9KyhLYMtEzTC1gVkd12IQ8QX0XsWgXT4wr-aQ3UNywG3dZFL50DToSh3Wv0fob50yoNsmRcRcgHxwz-S78KIlhwHb4OurfKZ4F-OX6GE_l_t2Ba2Wm9JIf2X1wjtHcrSxXsdwRvI16QVHnK_hFafbhZh2ZL1BsmgAMTdvek0kOlCLCHBwPe_wNBjfFxmqyyLDMtbvJSqrRbyR2UA2dkC8wSKrKlA.YXfRIKzFhg2jMU9BN2Pr1w-HMX_z-NSR68nn8Ji7Nuk&dib_tag=se&keywords=rv+air+compressor&qid=1714030907&sprefix=Rv+air+%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-4

 

We use the same compressor, minus a few of the attachments.  It appears to have gone up in price, but IMO, it’s worth the expense.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

10 hours ago, Ron and Phyllis said:

I've been meaning to write this for some time and it's primarily directed for us very few Elite I (one axle) owners. I was preparing, last summer, to take my 2022 Elite I Hull #1209 to Hohenwald just shy of it's one year anniversary.  My primary issue was a fiberglass defect I discovered on the roof that several of you on this Forum suggested I get repaired.  A week prior, I decided to install mudflaps inside the wheel wells on the Ollie.  This required that I jack it up and remove and each tire to access the frame in the wheel well where I mounted an L bracket on which to mount the mud flap.  I used a 4 ton bottle jack on the front jack point and once jacked up, a 4 ton jack stand under the rear jack point for safety.  I carry both on all trips.

Earlier I had installed a carrier and storage box on the rear bumper receiver hitch and posted it here May 13, 2023.  At that time, I developed my technique of removing the spare by just partially sliding out the rear bumper receiver hitch assembly just enough to remove the cover and spare.  The carrier and box stayed filled and connected to the hitch. 

I was about 90 miles SE of Hohenwald on a Sunday afternoon on a two lane highway when my EEZ RV Tire Pressure Monitor alarm sounded.  My curbside tire pressure was dropping. I started looking for a place to pull over as I was in a long stretch of road with a railing and no shoulder.  I saw an adequate shoulder about 0.4 miles ahead.  I watched the pressure fall from 60 when the alarm sounded to 8 lbs as I got to the shoulder.  There was no cell service so no AAA.  My TV is a Subaru Ascent SUV.  I've learned to travel lighter on each trip, but I had to dig for the jack and jack stand.  Since then, it's easily accessible.  It was inconvenient, but I was so thankful that I had just gone through the process of jacking up the Ollie and removing the spare.  I tried first pumping the tire back up, but heard air coming from the base of the valve stem.  At the tire store in Hohenwald the next day, it was the valve stem that had cracked and caused the incident.  

My purpose in posting is to strongly urge, especially Elite I owners, to at least practice and prepare for this scenario and I can't recommend enough using a tire pressure monitor system!  Safe travels and I hope to meet more of you at Lake Guntersville next month.  (We'll be in site E25)  

Ron

Thanks for the reminders!  Like you, I have a box on the back that needs to slide out to access the spare, and my Michelins are now 6 years old.   It’s time for new shoes.

[Patriot]

26 minutes ago, Wandering Sagebrush said:

We use the same compressor, minus a few of the attachments.  It appears to have gone up in price, but IMO, it’s worth the expense.

Yes 💯agree totally worth the cost for us. 👍🏻 It lives in our TV.

Edited April 25 by Patriot

[topgun2]

HERE's another air compressor that is getting rave reviews with a couple of YouTuber's actually replacing the ViAir.

But, its not so much about the compressor as it is being prepared in the first place.

Bill

p.s. Besides DeWalt a couple of the other battery powered mfg (like Ryobi) have a similar tool.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Bill, I have the DeWalt compressor in my yellow tool collection, but it’s not one I want to depend on for a large job.  That said, it’s handy and good at the smaller jobs.

[topgun2]

HERE is a YouTube short that claims the DeWalt is suitable for the job.

However, I've not tested it myself.

Bill

[MAX Burner]

We keep the ViAir tucked in our collapsible plastic milk/tote crate inside the "garage."  The tire plug kit (same one we use on for the scooter) sits right next to it...(actually plugged a rim pinch flat on a GS1200 with about 6 of those mushroom plugs with a healthy amount of glue and the guy made it out to the pavement and to a shop):

[dewdev]

@MAX Burner

Just for clarification, do you keep it in the garage of your house or did you mean in the cellar of the Ollie?

Edited April 25 by dewdev

[MAX Burner]

Hey, @dewdev - sorry about that!  Meant the cellar of the Ollie; we call it the garage, HA!  But the point being, we have options when on the road if a road hazard sneaks up and bites us.  Always carry one on the bike, too - used my mini 12vDC compressor and the mushroom plug kit to get a guy out of the boonies after airing down his tires too much and managed to get a pinch flat (plus he was going WAY too fast up a single track with rocks bigger than the size of baby heads).  

[jd1923]

@Ron and Phyllis the odds were against you, but with your TPMS alarm and your cool head in finding a good place to park, you really made the best of a bad situation. Good lesson you shared and we're glad to know you two are fine. 😂

Thinking back to the half dozen trailers I've owned, never going with a single axle. Needed a trailer for our dirt bikes years ago and looked hard and found a used 12 FT flatbed dual axle. Dual axles generally come on 14 FT trailers and longer, most are 16 FT. I've had blowouts on dual-axle trailers where you lose a fender but all else is good.

Thanks @topgun2 for the Dewalt compressor link. I need to get one of these when we resume spending on the Oliver (need a long break).

We are a Dewalt tool family, having 8-9 20V batteries between my son and us. I bring a Dewalt handheld leaf blower to blow dirt road dust off the Oliver and clean the camping mat. My son got me this for Christmas: Amazon.com: DEWALT 20V MAX* XR Leaf Blower, Cordless, Handheld, 125-MPH, 450-CFM, Tool Only (DCBL722B) : Patio, Lawn & Garden

And you gotta have 1-2 of these for the campsite, or to change that tire at night if need be. I got everybody in the family one, so they would not take mine anymore: DEWALT 20V MAX LED Work Light, 100 Degree Pivoting Head, Up to 1000 Lumens of Brightness, Cordless (DCL050) - Amazon.com

[Roger]

I also carry the Dewalt in my truck behind the back seat. I like that it can use a battery or a 12 volt cable.  It has no issue inflating the tires to 57 psi which is what I keep the Oliver tires.  When inflating tires it is actually my go to inflator rather than my big compressor. 

I carry some 6x6 blocks which I have used to give me a stable base for the jack to sit on as well as an extra few inches height the two times I had to jack up the trailer on the side of the road (once for a flat tire and once when one of the drum brakes locked up).

When my children learned to drive I made them change a tire on the car by themselves. They had to pull out the jack and spare, jack up the car, remove the tire and put on the spare, lower the car back to the ground and then pull off the spare and put everything back where it came from. I just quietly sat in a chair while they worked.

[Geronimo John]

Mine is 4 years old and used often.  Highly recommend it with a 5aH litho battery.

32 minutes ago, Roger said:

inflating the tires to 57 psi which is what I keep the Oliver tires. 

Roger:  Highly recommend you bring down your OE2 tire pressure to 50 or even less  especially if running ALCONS.  

GJ

[Geronimo John]

36 minutes ago, Roger said:

When my children learned to drive I made them change a tire on the car by themselves.

Ditto.  I highly agree as we all learn best by doing the task in ideal conditions.  When it happens on the road they are able to do what they need to do safely and with confidence. 

I would also add giving them a learning experience with:

• Battery corrosion removal
• Oil change
• Windshield wiper replacements
• Engine air filter cleaning and change when needed

Each was a great confidence builder for them, and results in far less worry for Dad when they head down the road.  

Even more grins for Dad was watching the next older train the next younger on the process.  By the time my youngest (daughter) got to do them, she had watched it before and was on autopilot.   Took Dad three days to lose the Perma-Grin.

GJ

[bugeyedriver]

On 4/24/2024 at 8:49 PM, Ron and Phyllis said:

   . . .I tried first pumping the tire back up, but heard air coming from the base of the valve stem.  At the tire store in Hohenwald the next day, it was the valve stem that had cracked and caused the incident.  

My purpose in posting is to strongly urge, especially Elite I owners, to at least practice and prepare for this scenario and I can't recommend enough using a tire pressure monitor system!  . . .

Ron

Ron,

Thanks for the post.  It is a good reminder for all of us (especially single axle Elite owners) to use a TPMS system to monitor the pressure of our tires.  Question:  Did you have a metal valve stem?  The centrifugal forces exerted on the valve stems by the mass of the monitor can result in over stressing a rubber valve stem, so metal stems are  preferred with TPMS.

So glad your system alerted you to the loss of pressure in time for you to safely get off the road.

Pete