Airing Tires

[TXJACK]

I am brand new to RVs. Here's my problem, where the heck do you air up RV and tower tires? I have an air compressor at the house and it is rated at over 100 lbs with a 6 gallon tank. It won't come close to putting 100 lbs pressure in a tire. My tow vehicle is 2015 Chevy HD 3500 DRW and calls for 75 front and 65 rear pressures, cold. Again, no can do. Filling stations, fergitaboutit. Tire shops, not for free, I wouldn't think. So???????

 

[Capt Jim]

Good morning,
I'm not sure about all tire centers, but Les Schwab tire store in the Western states will air and check your tires for free as a matter of company policy. My son is an employee of Les Schwab and I have been a customer for 30 years.

Just my $.02

 

[Second Chance]

Jack,

I think there may be something wrong with your compressor. We carry a compressor with a small tank that's rated for 120 PSI. I don't have anything that requires over 80 PSI, but the compressor has no problem with it and will certainly inflate beyond 80 PSI if I were to let it (have overshot a few few times and had to let air out). You are right to use only a compressor with a tank. Tank-less compressors will put a lot of moister/water into the tire through the compression/condensation process and a tank - which can be drained - eliminates this issue.

Rob

 

[jev5010]

I also use a small 120 psi compressor that I bought at Lowes for about $150, airs up my 80 psi trailer tires and 75 psi truck tires in seconds. You may want to check your connections, make sure they're tight.

 

[TXJACK]

Thanks guys.

 

[RGMutchler]

You might want to look and see if you have a regulator on your compressor that reduces the air pressure at the outlet. If so crank it all the way open to allow the compressor to put out the maximum air pressure. Another thing you said caused me to pause. You said your tow vehicle, a Chevy 3500 called for 75PSI front and 65 rear. Did you get these numbers from the sticker on the door? I don't know what you are towing but I think that the air pressures should be closer to the max cold pressure for the max wt as listed on the sidewall of the tire.
In any case going to a tire dealer to fill and check tires isn't really a good solution when dealing with maintaining you tire pressures on your RV and tow vehicle. If your air compressor isn't adequate you probably should get one that will allow you to do it at least at home and preferably on the road also.
By the way TXJACK where in Texas are you.

 

[carnolddsm]

I believe the tire pressure data on the door is more than adequate for the designed capacity of the truck. From Michelin's inflation charts for light truck tires, at 65psi the dual rear wheels have a capacity of 9,880 pounds total. At 80psi the capacity for duals is 11,340 pounds. The last time our 3500 dual cab dually and the 350M were across the scales the weight for the drive axle was 6,900 pounds, almost 3,000 pounds below the max weight at 65psi.

.

 

[RGMutchler]

Colan,
I missed the drw in his vehicle description.

 

[TXJACK]

Right now, RG, we are in Kerrville. Heading down to the coast, Port Arthur probably, next. Hard to tell friends that you own an RV and haven't been able to get out of TX. But then again why bother. We could easily do the next couple of years here.

 

[LCBoyer]

Right now, RG, we are in Kerrville. Heading down to the coast, Port Arthur probably, next. Hard to tell friends that you own an RV and haven't been able to get out of TX. But then again why bother. We could easily do the next couple of years here.

It usually take us a couple weeks to cross Texas

 

[C&H Conner]

@ OP -

Worth the investment for a new compressor to make sure you can air when you need it. Finding air isn't always that easy in some areas.

We bought a small 3 gallon \ 135# Craftsman compressor that is fairly quiet and definitely will go above 123# on the trailer tires. Does take a bit to get the last 5# or so in but it will get there. On sale for $150 ish.

Like an above poster said - if yours is equipped make sure the pressure regulator is wide open.

 

[TXJACK]

OK, LC, I'll bite. If you're crossing TX in two weeks you are driving entirely too fast. Slow down and enjoy.

 

[LCBoyer]

TX, we drive a couple hundred miles then stop for a couple days, sometimes a week. We left Harlingen one year headed north, took us 45 days to get Shrieveport, LA

 

[grampscamper]

I carry a Viair portable 12 volt compressor for RV's. It comes in a bag with 2 hoses. I can fill up my tires anywhere. It's a little pricey but has come in handy on a few occasions.
http://www.viaircorp.com/400P-rv-auto.html

 

[TucsonJim]

When I had my tire failure last week, in addition to getting a replacement tire, I had Discount Tire check the others.

When I got to camp, I rechecked them the following morning. Three were right at 80psi. But one was at 110psi! Shame on me for trusting a tire store employee to do the job I should have done.

I carry a six gallon pancake compressor to air mine up. I also have a generator with me in case there's no power when I need to run the compressor.

 

[zac808]

I am brand new to RVs. Here's my problem, where the heck do you air up RV and tower tires? I have an air compressor at the house and it is rated at over 100 lbs with a 6 gallon tank. It won't come close to putting 100 lbs pressure in a tire. My tow vehicle is 2015 Chevy HD 3500 DRW and calls for 75 front and 65 rear pressures, cold. Again, no can do. Filling stations, fergitaboutit. Tire shops, not for free, I wouldn't think. So???????

I go to Costco or Discount Tire on my way to picking up trailer to fill TV. I use a compressor like yours to fill trailer. Yes, it takes forever to get to 80psi. But quicker than having to change a tire during a blowout.

Cent frum my sell phone so pleeze excuse my spelling and grahmar.

 

[geb339]

You can always go to Americas Tires in the west and they are called Discount tires in the South and East.
Best places to buy tires as well!

 

[Devin4242]

I don't want to sound dismissive of the challenge, but I've been able to air up all my tires (truck, rated to 80, trailer, the same) at any gas station if I have a jar full of quarters and patience. It takes what seems like forever, and I always suspect the little squirrels in the compressor box at the 7-11 are laughing at me, but if I hold the dang thing on there long enough, I can always get it up to pressure. In fact, when I picked up my GD Momentum brand new, it had a nail in one tire (picked it up on a Sunday at the McClain's in Fort Worth on South FW 35), and had to pull it into the Love's across the highway to air up the tire until I could get it fixed. 3 dollars later, the tire was full.

On an associated note, I will start a thread on preferred jacks. That's a whole other sordid story as I tried and successfully fixed that same tire. Choose your jacks with care.....

 

[RGMutchler]

TXJACK
Lots to do around Kerrville, hope you had time for Fredericksburg. We all have different interests but the TX Hill Co. probably has something for everyone. Hope you enjoy your trip to Port Arthur.

 

[mbaker]

Heading down to the coast, Port Arthur probably, next.

We stayed in a nice state park around Port Arthur a month ago, Sea Rim State Park, gulf shore outside our window. Yes, it takes a while to get out of Texas, currently around Riviera. Two other Grand Designs in this park (Sea Wind).

Ben