New season - Do PRE-TRIP inspection

[Dijoeboss]

Just pulled my 2018 39A out of storage, went to fill up with Diesel, drove by my shop to check air pressures in tires because honestly I have been lazy about doing it, well it definitely paid off, I found the left rear inner tire was off the bead - flat, the tire extension has been rubbing on the outside aluminum wheel to the point it rubbed thru and created an air leak. Right side is almost in the same condition, I’m now at my local Southern Tire Mart having the extensions replaced and having the left rear inner tire pulled off and inspected since I have no idea when it became flat. ( units been in storage for the past 4 months ) Tires are critical, air pressures are important, take the 10-15 minutes and walk around and inspect them. So much easier to get it fixed here at a store than sitting on the side of the highway waiting for a tire guy and possibly damaging my coach from the gator back that could have been created.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Good advice. Glad you inspected before your first trip this year.

[edgewant]

Another good reason for a TPMS

[dave-g]

Originally Posted by edgewant

Another good reason for a TPMS

2X- My 1st trip with a TPMS paid for it self when I lost pressure on the drivers side inner.

[Vince and Charlette]

I noticed you filled up after taking your Berk out of storage. Due to moisture condensation in the empty part of the fuel tank, conventional wisdom recommends filling the tank before storage. Some also believe in a good fuel stabilizer if you're storing thee or more months.

[DouglasReid]

In the Aviation business it is called a "Preflight" inspection, done first thing every day.

A good habit to get into each time before you "take off" down the road too,

[Dijoeboss]

Originally Posted by Vince and Charlette

I noticed you filled up after taking your Berk out of storage. Due to moisture condensation in the empty part of the fuel tank, conventional wisdom recommends filling the tank before storage. Some also believe in a good fuel stabilizer if you're storing thee or more months.

Conventional wisdom would not assume you know how much fuel I had! I topped off and I use fuel additives in the tank.

[dave-g]

Originally Posted by Dijoeboss

Conventional wisdom would not assume you know how much fuel I had! I topped off and I use fuel additives in the tank.

I do the same thing- I try to run the tank done to 1/4 at the end of the season- here in the north east the winter diesel starts in October- so I try to fill it mid Oct. But I take it for a ride every 2-3 weeks all winter long- My short loop is about 35 miles- My longer loop 75-100. So I top off a few times over the winter.

[rdonihoo]

Originally Posted by Dijoeboss

Just pulled my 2018 39A out of storage, went to fill up with Diesel, drove by my shop to check air pressures in tires because honestly I have been lazy about doing it, well it definitely paid off, I found the left rear inner tire was off the bead - flat, the tire extension has been rubbing on the outside aluminum wheel to the point it rubbed thru and created an air leak. Right side is almost in the same condition, I’m now at my local Southern Tire Mart having the extensions replaced and having the left rear inner tire pulled off and inspected since I have no idea when it became flat. ( units been in storage for the past 4 months ) Tires are critical, air pressures are important, take the 10-15 minutes and walk around and inspect them. So much easier to get it fixed here at a store than sitting on the side of the highway waiting for a tire guy and possibly damaging my coach from the gator back that could have been created.

I have the same (2018 39a). Also had the exact same problem. Both inner tires flat. Had to call roadside service.
Found out both tire stem extensions had wore against the
Wheel and had holes in the rubber stem. Had both stems
Replaced and purchased a tire air monitoring system.
I replaced the rubber stems with metal ones.

[Vince and Charlette]

I recently caught my two inner wheel metal valve stems before they had completely worn through from rubbing on the outer wheel. I've considered some sort of metal sleeve to slip over the new valve stems. Does anyone have another solution?

[Nightshifter]

If you have Accuride rims then get the rubber inserts like this. It holds the metal extension in place

[Vince and Charlette]

Originally Posted by Nightshifter

If you have Accuride rims then get the rubber inserts like this. It holds the metal extension in place

I have those rubber inserts, but they don't stay in place very long. After several days of driving usually one of them has dislodged itself and slipped down the valve stem. Unfortunately, the valve stems aren't positioned right in the center of the opening. So, the fit isn't always the best.

[dave-g]

Originally Posted by Vince and Charlette

I have those rubber inserts, but they don't stay in place very long. After several days of driving usually one of them has dislodged itself and slipped down the valve stem. Unfortunately, the valve stems aren't positioned right in the center of the opening. So, the fit isn't always the best.

I had a similar problem- So I bent the stem extension just a little.
PIA to do but solved the problem

[Nightshifter]

I had a problem with one of mine but I turned it around and haven’t had a problem since. I think that there is a taper on the insert.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Nightshifter

I had a problem with one of mine but I turned it around and haven’t had a problem since. I think that there is a taper on the insert.

Nightshifter, would you kindly reply to the PM I sent you 03-18-2020, 06:28 PM?


Dan
Site Team

[Dijoeboss]

[dcheatwood]

There's a rather lengthy, detailed article about de-winterizing and getting RVs ready for use in the Marc 2020 issue of Motorhome magazine. Most of the steps apply to towables as well as motorhomes since they share many of the same appliances.

[RELHUB]

Originally Posted by edgewant

Another good reason for a TPMS

100% would NEVER run my MH without TPMS up and running.

[RKNOLA]

We had the same problem. Many Berkshire owners are reporting this problem because the rubber insert that Freightliner uses to secure the valve stem extension works its way loose after so many miles. I called Eric Bauernfein at Forest River to let them know but since it is a Freightliner issue FR can't do much about it. Eric said he would let the people at Freightliner know about this issue too. We will send an email to Mike Cody's office at Freightliner just to let them know about the issue for future builds.
We bought aftermarket flexible steel lined extenders to solve the problem on our 2018 XL 40C. Bought on Amazon.

[btritschler1437]

Karen please give us more details on what you bought for your tire extenders. I'm having the same problem.