Tire Thumpers

Ash, with a rebar core.

 

I prefer a damascus steel saber.
Hit those rollers with the side of the blade and scream "Allah hu Akbar."
Watch the hilarity ensue.

 

Sorry, I can't resist this one. The subject brings back memories.
I work for a 'training' company. We are constantly reinforcing good techniques and in showing newer drivers the necessity of tire pressure rather than just sound, we use to set a truck up in the yard with each tire set at different pressures, all below minimums except maybe two.
Then the safety instructor of the class would ask the leading question (in the classroom) "which of these will give you the best tire readings?" and hold up a couple items such as a hammer, a tire billy, etc.
Being the SA I am (and one of the 'senior' drivers in that class) I blurted out, "I like the hammer best." After a few minutes discussion, (supposedly setting me up) we all headed out to the truck where I thumped each tire, listening carefully, then told them the tire pressure.
To the amazement of the instructor, I hit everyone perfectly.
Back inside, he asked me how I did that and I came up with a line about trained ears, being a violinist.
He was speachless.
then I came clean.
I had watched the previous class out there, knew I had to get this class done for my clearance for dispatch and when no one was around, measured each tire and memorized the pressures.
then, for the sake of the class gave them the admonition to ALWAYS check tire pressure with a good tire guage as a couple of these tires were clear down in the 50# neighborhood and simply thumping them didn't tell them they were not only illegal, but dangerous as well.
To this day that instructor will see me around the offices and ask me if I've checked the air pressure in my violin lately.

 

I asked a new Werner driver at a T A truckstop one morning when he was doing his pretrip inspection if he had tapped or thumped the oil pan to see how much oil was in it.
He asked me why should he do that for???
I told him since he thumped the tires so thumping the oil pan would give him the same result, he didn't like what I said, but after thinking about it for a minute he agreed that thumping tires was stupid.
The only thing you find out for sure is that whether it has air in it or not, not how much or enough air, therefore, there is only one thing to do, get a good quality tire gauge and do it the only proper way there is!!!

 

This is true. HOWEVER, a good "lumper thumper" is a must for every driver. Just remember to CALL it a "tire thumper," should the cops ever ask you about it.

Me too. But I don't recommend carrying one in the truck! (Something about a "deadly weapon. . .") And if anyone wonders, that "PR" in the PR-24, stands for Public Relations!

What about him?

 

I use a massive adjustable wrench, works great for a hammer too.

 

Its good to use both. I thump them on my post trip to see if any went flat on me and the pressure gauge in the pretrip to check the actual pressure after the tires have long cooled. My tractor has singles on the drives so pressure checks are really important.

 

A flare gun wouldn't be a bad Idea for a Truck item also. You know, Safety first.... Keep it right beside the Bed.

 

Look man, you want to check the tires real good?? Spray the tire with H2O and wait to see if any air is leaking