Escapees July-August 2023

mark, my words

Tire Upgrade Q. I just bought a new set of tires for our RV. I went from load-range C to load-range D. I probably did not need the Ds, but I wanted to upgrade. My question is: Since the new tires’ max in fl ation pressure is 65psi, will it hurt the tires if we run at a lower psi? The old tires maxed at 50psi. I would appreciate your opinion. Wilkrich A. It’s not as simple a question as you might think. While going up a load range will get you a stronger tire, there are other things to consider. If you ran the old C-rated tires at 50 PSI and the tread wore normally and the tires performed well, you can prob ably get by with the same in fl ation pressure on the new tires or maybe just a few pounds more. Running the D tire at the lower in fl ation pressure won’t hurt it unless that lower pressure is inadequate for the load the tire is actually carrying. All tires must be in fl ated to a correct operating pressure for the weight they carry. Since you have to know how much weight the tire is carrying in order to make an informed deci sion, you really need to get your rig weighed. Once you know your corner weights, you can use the tire manufacturer’s load/in fl ation charts for your tire and determine the correct pressure. Now, let’s just say that your weight requires that the tiresbe in fl ated to 60 psi. Before you raise the pressure, you need to understand that the rim or wheel also has a max safe in fl ation pressure. For most steel wheels, the max pressure is stamped on the inside of the wheel. If you decide to go to a higher load range tire and in fl ate it to a higher pressure, you must be careful not to exceed the rim’s pressure rating! For now, until you can determine what the correct pressure should be, run the tires at the same pressure until you can get the rig weighed. If you fi nd you need to raise the pressure after weighing, be sure to check the wheel rims to ensure that the higher pressure doesn’t exceed the wheel’s max pressure rating. “…in order to make an informed decision, you really need to get your rig weighed.”

Corroded Anode Rod Q. I spent a number of years in a region of Ontario that has the hardest water in Canada. The anode in my tank is quite corroded, and the tank needs to be fl ushed out. Can you provide suggestions as to any products that may be available for this purpose? Kevin A. That is a common problem. Unfortunately, most RVers don’t realize that they need to fl ush the water heater at least once a year and inspect the anode rod. Flushing the tank removes the accumulation of scale and other contaminants and will help your tank work more ef fi ciently and last longer. The anode rod is used on steel tank water heaters to prevent the tank from corroding. A water heater with an expended anode rod can fail from corrosion in as little as a year! To get started, the water heater should be shut down and allowed to cool. Then, the water pump and city water source need to be turned off, and the water heater drain plug removed. Open a hot water faucet in the RV to help the heater drain quickly. Then, usinga fl ushing wand (  like this one at www.amazon. com/dp/B002XL2IBS), thoroughly rinse out the tank through the drain opening until you no longer see any bits of scale or other contaminants in the water. If your water heater is equipped with an anode rod, you need to remove it and inspect it. Replace any anode rod that has lost 50 to 75 percent of the zinc anode material. In some areas, depending on the local water source, the anode rod may need to be replaced yearly. If your water heater is an Atwood product with an aluminum tank, it will not have an anode rod. All Atwood and Subur ban steel-tank heaters will have one; some are accessible from the outside, some are on the back of the heater inside the coach. On some heaters, the anode is part of the drain plug. Once the plug and anode rod are re-installed, fi ll the heater with water and check for any leaks. Here’s an example of a typical anode rod: www.campingworld.com/anode-rod-for-atwood-water heaters-18413.html.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR MARK? Submissions must not contain commercial advertising or consumer advocacy issues. Due to the large volume of material and correspondence submitted, we may be unable to reply or acknowledge receipt of your material. Material will be edited. Questions and answers with the highest general interest may be repeated in subsequent issues. Questions can be sent by mail to “Mark, My Words” Column, 100 Rainbow Drive, Livingston, TX 77351-9300 or to techquestions@escapees.com.

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July/August 2023 ESCAPEES Magazine