Extending air valve on hitch

[Ford truck guy]

Coming home from my last trip , I had to add air in my tri-glide and was not easy all hitched up.. So I did this----
I used a piece of aluminum flat , bent it and mounted it...

[atom ant]

Good job!

That thing is a pain in the keester to get to. I just installed a compressor to mine so I didn't have to get the big compressor out.

[Ford truck guy]

Originally Posted by atom ant

Good job!

That thing is a pain in the keester to get to. I just installed a compressor to mine so I didn't have to get the big compressor out.

I saw that post... Too much work for me on my weekends off.. this was the easier road for me...

[atom ant]

I certainly understand that! I installed the compressor over a year ago, and never got to it to finish until a couple of weeks ago

[Ford truck guy]

Originally Posted by atom ant

I certainly understand that! I installed the compressor over a year ago, and never got to it to finish until a couple of weeks ago

And the other half of me had a hard time rationalizing that for something that SHOULD stay aired up.. If it is good , it should not loose air.. My SOB had the fifth airborne , it lost air , I called them and they sent a new bag and a new fill line at no charge long after purchase ... That fixed the issue , the last 2 years I never filled it once..

[brenkco]

Nice job! A buddy of mine and I did a variation using galvanized pipe. Sure makes access easier!

Ken

[johnboytoo]

When I had to fill mine, I just used my short ladder

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by Ford truck guy

And the other half of me had a hard time rationalizing that for something that SHOULD stay aired up.. If it is good , it should not loose air.. My SOB had the fifth airborne , it lost air , I called them and they sent a new bag and a new fill line at no charge long after purchase ... That fixed the issue , the last 2 years I never filled it once..

I understand that too - however my travel loads change continously which also require adjustment to the air to keep it at the sweet spot. Our pin weight varies when heading out loaded with water, returning without, going to storage with no load etc. It wasn't about a leaking problem. For me, it was a convenience of not having to drag out the compressor every time our travel mode changed.

[travelin' texans]

I've found the sweet spot on mine also, it's 72psi unhitched, now I pump it to there & don't have worry about crawling over my "square" fenders anymore.

[Shane Wood]

Nice job of getting the valve to where you can get to it. Now if we could get something to latch the fith wheel
I carry a 3 step folding step ladder to get at it.glad I'm not short because it is still a reach to get at it over them fenders

[rob_fla]

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

I've found the sweet spot on mine also, it's 72psi unhitched, now I pump it to there & don't have worry about crawling over my "square" fenders anymore.

We air our hitch up to approx. 70 PSI, pump it up when we get ready to move.
Our 150 PSI compressor stays in the front storage compartment, plug it in, grab the hose and air up hitch, tires and what ever else.

[Buddy Wallace]

Originally Posted by Ford truck guy

And the other half of me had a hard time rationalizing that for something that SHOULD stay aired up.. If it is good , it should not loose air.. My SOB had the fifth airborne , it lost air , I called them and they sent a new bag and a new fill line at no charge long after purchase ... That fixed the issue , the last 2 years I never filled it once..

I found that my air stem core wasn't tight at all, tightened it and it holds air now.

[spindrift]

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

I've found the sweet spot on mine also, it's 72psi unhitched, now I pump it to there & don't have worry about crawling over my "square" fenders anymore.

WOW, Danny, 72psi?! If I go over 55psi on mine, it rides like I had no bag at all.

[mhs4771]

It's all related to Pin Weight. Ran approx 85 Lbs in our RL that was very pin heavy. This MB is less approx 75 to 80 Lbs since it's not quite as pin heavy.

[atom ant]

Agreed, Tom's FL is one of the lightest pin weights out there.

Between running loaded to get there, and unloaded to get home, can mean almost 900lbs difference on my pin weight, which is why I end up adjusting mine all the time.

[rob_fla]

If I run our FL below 60 PSI my hitch will bottom out due to not enough air in the bag, at 70 to 75 if floats along nicely.

[travelin' texans]

Yea Tom 72psi & that doesn't come even close to the top of the arrows as recommended. We are full timers, have a w\ d no generator & are just a few pounds (25-50) over the trailer gross of 16.5 meaning we probably are carrying too much stuff.

[rob_fla]

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

Yea Tom 72psi & that doesn't come even close to the top of the arrows as recommended. We are full timers, have a w\ d no generator & are just a few pounds (25-50) over the trailer gross of 16.5 meaning we probably are carrying too much stuff.

I know we carry too much stuff !!!!!

[Ford truck guy]

So, , , should I follow the arrows or what? When I was in my 3 week trip , I was aired up to 60 and I was about an 1 or so above the arrow.....

[atom ant]

you just have to try it. I don't think there is anything real accurate about how that arrow sticker is installed, because I've seen it in different locations on different units. Mine happens to ride just perfect at the top of the arrows.