# What are the tubes extending down to the hubs on this truck? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 28, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012 "2005-08-28T20:48:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/21 "2013-03-04T20:11:28Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > … with an unidentified smiling Brazilian trucker. Clearly that is Jesus. His name is right there on the truck! ---
**Author:** ![pete66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8c91f0/32.png) [@pete66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pete66)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/22 "2013-03-04T21:36:39Z")
With the rear wheels set pretty deep under the truck, they could be Dummy Sticks. Lets the driver know where his tires are in tight turns so they dont rub up against curbs. We have them on the front of our dump trucks. kinda lets us know where the front end edge is when were backing into a tight area. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/23 "2013-03-04T22:45:11Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Kind of amazing that the OP’s links still work after almost 8 years… I like having durable links. Let’s see if they are still functional at the end of the decade :). > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Awesome, I looked up rodoar, and got this insightful response from Yahoo Answers > > “Rodoar® monitora e mantém a pressão dos pneus mesmo com o veículo em movimento.” > > Which I found surprisingly understandable even though I speaketh not a word of Portuguese. And that little bit of Portuguese says everything to me, now that we know the brand name. Thanks to **Boer** for popping in with that useful bit of information. > [@TriPolar](#): > > I don’t know anything about that debate, but the Latin roots of Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese make those languages fairly easy to read for people who speak English. I do surprisingly well reading them with just a little background in Spanish and Portuguese. Of course speaking and comprehending them when spoken is a whole other matter. I think the last bit is the kicker. My daughter is 20 and has been around Portuguese for many years in our home but doesn’t speak the language. She speaks and reads college level Spanish, but even today I got a blank stare from her when I said a few short Portuguese phrases (nothing fancy, it was something like: “The nurse took her daughter to the doctor this morning, so she was late”). The extra vowel sounds of Portuguese and the random different words between Spanish and Portuguese are just enough to make it quite difficult for a speaker of one to understand the other, spoken at speed. I can’t understand Spanish at normal conversational speed. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/24 "2013-03-04T23:15:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > _Loanwords._ When do we have to give them back? ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/25 "2013-03-04T23:19:12Z")
> [@Boer](#): > > Its called “rodoar”, is used to keep tires inflated So why are those common in Brazil, but not in the US? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/26 "2013-03-04T23:26:47Z")
> [@pete66](#): > > With the rear wheels set pretty deep under the truck, they could be Dummy Sticks. Lets the driver know where his tires are in tight turns so they dont rub up against curbs. We have them on the front of our dump trucks. kinda lets us know where the front end edge is when were backing into a tight area. Did you read post 13? If you Google “rodoar” there are plenty of images to confirm that is exactly what can be seen in the photos. It is a tyre/tire pressure monitoring and maintenance system. ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/27 "2013-03-04T23:51:06Z")
Here’s even a video! I even got the link where they put the cover on and it looks like the picture: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNwh6Msvfdg) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/28 "2013-03-05T01:16:57Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > So why are those common in Brazil, but not in the US? They’re common here too, just more integrated into the wheel/axle/suspension assemblies so you can’t see them. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/29 "2013-03-05T02:00:01Z")
> [@electronbee](#): > > Here’s even a video! I even got the link where they put the cover on and it looks like the picture: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player\_detailpage&v=PNwh6Msvfdg#t=390s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=PNwh6Msvfdg#t=390s) In that video at about 4:45 or so he is explaining the purpose. He says that not only does the system keep the tires at proper inflation, but if you have a leaking tire it will provide enough air to keep the tires inflated until you get to the nearest service station to replace the tire. In addition it monitors the pressure and lets you know if there is a problem. So, if you have a slow leak from less than perfect roads and you are many miles from the nearest _borracheiro_, this system would come in very handy. Sweet! ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/30 "2013-03-05T02:05:24Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > They’re common here too, just more integrated into the wheel/axle/suspension assemblies so you can’t see them. Yeah, this is a retrofit for older vehicles. Which, is something rare in the US as we just buy new stuff. But, in other places where the credit to buy new stuff for the sake that its new stuff, you have to make something work with what you have. US needs that mentality. ---
**Author:** ![pete66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8c91f0/32.png) [@pete66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pete66)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/31 "2013-03-05T10:17:50Z")
Never saw those before. sorry, i didnt follow up on the rodoar thing. that will teach me to read the whole thread. ---
**Author:** ![richw211](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@richw211](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/richw211)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/32 "2013-03-05T19:15:21Z")
When I was in Sao Paulo last year, I was told those tubes were to automatically inflate the tires in the event “bandits” shot the tires. I was told this sort of thing is not uncommon in rural areas. I was also told about (and saw) cars painted black with “armada escordita” (armed escort?) painted in large white letters on all sides. I was told that these cars were hired to escort particularly valuable shipments - booze, guns, etc. If the truck is stopped, supposedly several people would jump out with their guns drawn. Yi-Hah! ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012/33 "2013-03-05T19:36:00Z")
> [@richw211](#): > > When I was in Sao Paulo last year, I was told those tubes were to automatically inflate the tires in the event “bandits” shot the tires. I was told this sort of thing is not uncommon in rural areas. I was also told about (and saw) cars painted black with “armada escordita” (armed escort?) painted in large white letters on all sides. I was told that these cars were hired to escort particularly valuable shipments - booze, guns, etc. If the truck is stopped, supposedly several people would jump out with their guns drawn. Yi-Hah! Last summer my wife and I went to Rio to visit family. On our last day there her cousin invited us to her home for lunch and then they gave us a ride to the airport. There were two things that I found unusual about her car: It was a Land Rover, an expensive make that is rare on Brazilian roads, and something just wasn’t right about the windows. I noticed when she rolled down the window to speak with someone that the glass was about an inch thick(!). I asked her husband “What’s up with the army tank we are riding in?” They told us a harrowing tale about a late night ride home from a distant city after a wedding, where they were being followed by (presumably armed) bandits on motorcycles. The only thing that had saved them at the time was that they had another friend in a different car following them. A quick cell phone call and the other guy drove up with the intent of squashing the motorcyclist in front of him. As soon as they saw that there was another vehicle, the bandits disappeared. They took the car to have it _blindado_ (bulletproofed) the next day. There are many things I love about Brazil, but this is not one of them :(. I can’t imagine living in a place where I would need an inch of Lexan protecting me as I drove through town. It’s creepy to think that there is a bustling business of bulletproofing cars down there. And it was a very professional job. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-tubes-extending-down-to-the-hubs-on-this-truck/319012.md?page=1)