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Last Changed 10/24/2009
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Low tire pressure is one of the most dangerous things an RV can
experience. When tires have low pressure, the tires run hotter and
the internal cord structure starts to break down. But maintaining
the correct tire pressure on an RV can be more difficult than it
appears.
RVs are more sensitive to tire pressure than cars. RVs tend to have
tire capacity that matches the full weight of the RV and we tend to
fill the RVs to full weight. For example, Tige
has six "G" rated tires which at full air pressure (110 psi) have a
rating of 3750 lbs each, making a total tire weight capacity of
22,500 lbs.
Tige weighs
in at 22,000 lbs with full tanks. If the tire pressure drops to 100
psi, each tire loses 200 lbs of capacity for a net loss of 1200 lbs,
Tige would be overweight for the under inflated
tires. You can see that RV tire pressure is critical.
<update>
In 2008 we upgraded to "H" rated tires. This tire
has a maximum PSI rating of 120 psi. But we only fill
them to 110 psi, leaving a margin of safety. The
Power Tank still does the job.
So far we have been re-filling the 10 lb Power Tank about once a
year. |
The tires on Tige need to be filled to 110
psi. The front tires on Red Rover
need to be 105 psi. These kind of air pressures are not easily
generated outside of a truck service plaza.
We prefer not to use a truck service plaza. We like to check wheel
lug nut torque and tire air pressure in the RV park, where we can do
it at our leisure. And the tires are cold (not moved), which is
how tire pressure should be set.
There is an air compressor on Red Rover
that feeds the several air systems. The most important system is
the air brake system. The compressor is designed to cut in around
100 psi and cut out at 120 psi. We tapped one of the air tanks and
connected an air chuck to use for sundry tasks.
To fill a 110 psi tire requires at least 120 psi. Red
Rover's air tank has only have 120 psi for a short
period when being used to inflate a tire. The air compressor does
not turn on until the air pressure drops to 100 psi. So if you
don’t get a tire filled before the tank pressure drops too low, you
have to bleed off the tank pressure until the compressor turns on.
When the compressor turns off, meaning that 120 psi has been
reached, then you can try to top the tire off again. This is very
inconvenient.
The rear tires of Red Rover only need
85-90 psi and the truck compressor can handle that.
We had a “250 psi” 12 volt compressor when we had our motorhome,
and that compressor was ineffective in topping off the motorhome
tires at 90 psi. We were still in our house when we had our
motorhome and we acquired a high powered AC compressor to use on the motorhome tires. We don’t have the space for a high capacity AC air
compressor in our rig.
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We found a solution...the Power Tank system. The Power Tank is a very
high pressure tank filled with CO2 gas. The tank has a regulator
that controls the pressure that can be fed to the tires. The Silver
package includes the regulator, hose, chuck, and a canvas carrying
bag for the tank and accessories. The tank can be used for numerous
tire topping off fills (40+) before refilling is necessary. Refills
can be done at a gas supplier like a welding supply house.
<update>
Since we have had the Power Tank, we have been refilling about once
a year. |
click on images to enlarge |
Our Pressure Pro
System tells us when we need to top off the tires. It gives us
the pressure in each tire on Red Rover and
Tige without having to use a tire inflator. When we
need to top a tire off, we can carry the tank to the wheels and top
them off. With this system, we avoid emergency tire situations...a
flat tire or, even worse, a blowout while we are traveling.
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We opted to get the Gold package because it included a very accurate
gauge inflator. The inflator we had at the time was off by 5-10
psi.
We found it inconvenient to fill tires with the inaccurate inflator,
guessing the pressure, and then checking with our digital pressure
gauge.
There are other accessories in the Gold package, including a 6'
extender and two double foot chucks. |
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Here is the Power Tank as you would normally use it. You don't have
to take the tank out of the bag.
The fittings used on the Power Tank are of excellent quality. We
have never had air fittings that worked so smoothly and yet snap
together so positively, There are quick disconnects on the tank
regulator, each hose, the inflator, and the chucks. |
click on images to enlarge |
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The bag that is part of the Platinum, Gold, and Silver Packages hold
the tank and all the accessories, We were surprised at the quality
of the bag. There is a handle on the top and the side of the bag. |
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Here Mark is making use of the 6' extension that connects to the
inflator. This extender allows you to stand away from the tire as
you fill it. There is a coiled hose from the tank to the inflator.
The gauge on the inflator is large and easy to read. The snap-on
chuck used here clicks positively on to the valve stem.
The regulated CO2 output is 160 psi and the time to top off the tire
is seconds for each. With one of those "250 psi compressors", we
would have spent hours. |
click on images to enlarge |
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We acquired this accessory for our Power Tank System. This is the
new HPX Regulator that has an adjustable output pressure for use
with power tools that usually don't need as much pressure as used
with tire inflation.
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There are two gauges. The top gauge reads the total tank pressure.
The lower gauge displays the pressure setting you set for inflation
or tool usage. |
click on images to enlarge |
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We got a new addition to our Power Tank, a Digital Gauge. This
gauge is available from Power Tank as a replacement or as an
addition with new systems. We
tested it and it was 4 psi more accurate that the old analog gauge.
To be fair, the old gauge had gotten loose inside and my repair
probably offset the calibration.
The digital display automatically turns on when you read air
pressure. There is a backlight that can be turned on and the
batteries are standard AAA. |
Buy your Power Tank and your Pressure Pro systems from Mike McFall. |
Mike & Pat McFall
850-294-0281
sales@powertanksystem.com |
Visit their website at
http://www.powertanksystem.com |
