Tire Pressure Monitors

[Securit24]

I was just wondering if anyone uses a tire pressure monitoring system? If so, what kind?

Thanks,

[MelissaD]

I've looked at them but they seem a little pricey. They were around $500-600 for the 10 tire systems (6 truck, 4 camper) and I can use a tire gage for that price. If I had an all in one unit like a Class A, B or C I'd be more inclined. You have to get the right ones which are set for you tire pressures and it looks like some depend on type of valve stem. They are normally set to go off at 80% of rated tire pressure if I remember right. If you want them for a toad and you have a long Class A you might need a repeated so the monitor can read them from the cab off the RV.

[Acadianmom]

I have the Hopkins Tire Pressure Monitoring System that I have had for 4 or 5 years. I see that it's $261 on Amazon and extra sensors are about $36 apiece and they come 2 in a pack. The monitor batteries last a long time. I think I have had to replace 2. Over the years the most trouble I have had has been with tires. I was so paranoid that I would check the tire pressure every morning I was on a trip. I have a motorhome with the dual tires in the rear. I have to have the valve extenders to even check the tire pressure on the inside tire. These are a blessing and a curse at the same time. They can work lose and let air out of a tire. You can have a flat on an inside dully and not know it. If you travel like that it will get hot and blow out. With the monitor system on the dash I can check the air and it will let you know if you have a problem. It sometimes will give a caution light if I hit a big bump but I have learned not to panic and give it a few minutes and it will reset. I had trouble setting it up, the instructions were not all that clear to me but I have done it enough that I can usually get it ok. I only have the sensors on the rear tires because I have not been able to find a place that could put long enough valve stems on the front tires so that I could put the sensors. I don't worry about the front tires as much because I can see if they need air.

Most big rallies have someone selling systems. I don't know if they will install them for you or not. I haven't been to one lately. There are systems that have sensors that you can replace the battery instead of having to buy new sensors. I would read a lot of reviews before I would buy one.

Martha

[MandysMom]

Speaking of monitoring tires, every time we stopped while on the road with our bus, hubby grabbed his infrared thermometer gun and scanned each of the tires, including both inside and outside dual tires. If the temp of a tire is way out of the range of the other tires,such as much hotter, it means you may have a air pressure problem. They are a inexpensive and easy to use tool. Fun to check temp of the sidewalk on a hot day too! Literally aim and pull trigger and read screen.
Here is an example for under $20. Ours was just a little more from Harbor Freight.
http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Temperature-I ... rature+gun

Velda

[Bethers]

After my blowout I looked into tire monitors but decided against them after the tire guy told me they wouldn't have reacted in time to prevent the blowout I had.

Velda, I love that. Added it to my cart for my next order. Probably will be more of a toy for me though, lol.

[MandysMom]

Beth, we have been known to play with ours too! Such as scan inside new oven to see how close to set temp, scan each others foreheads for fever ( we got a special skin temp scanner now to aim at each other, lOL) and various other uses, but primarily we use it for tires. It's a habit we try to keep active on trips. In the bus it sat in my basket by the door so it was both handy and visible as a cue. Luckily in 08 we never had a tire problem over 6000 miles, but it was reassuring to keep seeing matching temps for all 6 tires when you are driving a 30,000 lb bus down the road in all sorts of weather and road conditions.
Velda

[Securit24]

Interesting views... I took off my extenders or should I say the "tire guy" took them off. I didn't have gauge for the tires yet so I stopped at a truck tire shop. They were kind enough to check and adjust all my air pressure. In fact the technician there gave me an old gauge that he had laying around. The technician said the extenders are bad because they can loosen and let air out or break loose and wedge between. I will continue to research the monitors.

Thanks for all your input!

FYI the tire shop was La Porte Tire Center in La Porte TX, just East of South Houston.

[Bethers]

Interesting views... I took off my extenders or should I say the "tire guy" took them off. I didn't have gauge for the tires yet so I stopped at a truck tire shop. They were kind enough to check and adjust all my air pressure. In fact the technician there gave me an old gauge that he had laying around. The technician said the extenders are bad because they can loosen and let air out or break loose and wedge between. I will continue to research the monitors.

Thanks for all your input!

FYI the tire shop was La Porte Tire Center in La Porte TX, just East of South Houston.

There are both good and bad extenders. Good ones don't let air out and leak. Without them my inner tires can't be checked.

[monik7]

My rig came with some, what seem simple, flexible extenders. I've never had any trouble checking and/or adding air and they don't leak.
Sandi