Trailer TPMS Question

[timswi]

Blew out a tire on my 32' TT...Oddly I didn't know it happened- no noise, handling issues--Nothing. A guy pulled up in town and said the tire blew apart about 1/8 of a mile ago and was riding on the rim. Scary to say the least since I had been on the road for over 2 hours on 4 lanes. Guess I picked something up as the tires are in excellent shape. Messed up some sheet metal and the wheel well belly liner (a repair question for another day) but didn't wreck the fiberglass.

Now I'm OCD ( actually I was before but didn't act on it) with the on-road tire pressures. Going to get a TPMS system for my TT and my tandem 16' trailer. Any suggestions on the best ones to get or the ones to stay away from? With these garbage trailer tires that are out there now I'm a tad paranoid although as this is my first on-road blow out and I don't want to be in that situation again.

Any suggestions?

 

[Dftodd]

Subscribing. I'm interested in getting a set up for mine as well.

 

[Monster5601]

I use this system on my RV.

Truck System Technologies - Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems – TST Web Sales

 

[skipperbrown]

I have the eez brand I use on my MH and toad (10 sensors). A newer, lower profile unit has been offered since I bought mine 2 yrs ago but I understand it is all cosmetic. I use the screw on type sender units and I also have a repeater mounted on the back wall of the MH. It works very well, customer support is good, it starts when you turn it on (some models don't start monitoring until you are under way). It is within 1# of my digital gauge. My only gripe is the manufacturer tells you batteries last a couple of years (verify that) but I had to replace the batteries at about 6 months. I complained and the tech told me that was the life with quality batteries, go figure. Batteries are cheap and easily replaced so that is minor. It will warn for too low or high pressure and too high temperature and loss of signal. If you remove the sensor from the tire, it might take up to 10 seconds to notify you of pressure loss as the control unit cycles through all the sensors continuously although it usually alarms within a couple of seconds. I have heard stories of blowouts and the control unit going into alarm mode after the vehicle was stopped! I recommend it. It's very nice to turn on the unit, make final preparation and then view the monitor to see that all is well with pressures before you leave without having to check 10 tires with a gauge. It has alerted me twice that I had a low tire and I didn't know.

 

[timswi]

I use this system on my RV.

Truck System Technologies - Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems – TST Web Sales

Any issues with this brand? Do you have the repeater? If so, is that hardwired or battery? Thanks!

 

[timswi]

I have the eez brand I use on my MH and toad (10 sensors). A newer, lower profile unit has been offered since I bought mine 2 yrs ago but I understand it is all cosmetic. I use the screw on type sender units and I also have a repeater mounted on the back wall of the MH. It works very well, customer support is good, it starts when you turn it on (some models don't start monitoring until you are under way). It is within 1# of my digital gauge. My only gripe is the manufacturer tells you batteries last a couple of years (verify that) but I had to replace the batteries at about 6 months. I complained and the tech told me that was the life with quality batteries, go figure. Batteries are cheap and easily replaced so that is minor. It will warn for too low or high pressure and too high temperature and loss of signal. If you remove the sensor from the tire, it might take up to 10 seconds to notify you of pressure loss as the control unit cycles through all the sensors continuously although it usually alarms within a couple of seconds. I have heard stories of blowouts and the control unit going into alarm mode after the vehicle was stopped! I recommend it. It's very nice to turn on the unit, make final preparation and then view the monitor to see that all is well with pressures before you leave without having to check 10 tires with a gauge. It has alerted me twice that I had a low tire and I didn't know.

Thanks for the info--Is the repeater hard wired or battery?

 

[zing]

I have the eez brand I use on my MH and toad (10 sensors). A newer, lower profile unit has been offered since I bought mine 2 yrs ago but I understand it is all cosmetic. I use the screw on type sender units and I also have a repeater mounted on the back wall of the MH. It works very well, customer support is good, it starts when you turn it on (some models don't start monitoring until you are under way). It is within 1# of my digital gauge. My only gripe is the manufacturer tells you batteries last a couple of years (verify that) but I had to replace the batteries at about 6 months. I complained and the tech told me that was the life with quality batteries, go figure. Batteries are cheap and easily replaced so that is minor. It will warn for too low or high pressure and too high temperature and loss of signal. If you remove the sensor from the tire, it might take up to 10 seconds to notify you of pressure loss as the control unit cycles through all the sensors continuously although it usually alarms within a couple of seconds. I have heard stories of blowouts and the control unit going into alarm mode after the vehicle was stopped! I recommend it. It's very nice to turn on the unit, make final preparation and then view the monitor to see that all is well with pressures before you leave without having to check 10 tires with a gauge. It has alerted me twice that I had a low tire and I didn't know.

Are these sensor batteries inside the tire? Taking the tires off the rim every six months would get spendy pretty quick.

 

[timswi]

Are these sensor batteries inside the tire? Taking the tires off the rim every six months would get spendy pretty quick.

No, the batteries are in the valve cap which is an external TPMS sensor.

 

[zing]

No, the batteries are in the valve cap which is an external TPMS sensor.

Gotcha, ok thanks for the reply.

 

[timswi]

Any issues with this brand? Do you have the repeater? If so, is that hardwired or battery? Thanks!

One other question--Do these sensors require metal valve stems or are the standard rubber ones OK?

 

[timswi]

Ordered an 8 sensor Bellacorp model so I can use it on my car trailer and my TT. No repeater needed, so they say. Will post results once I get it and test it.

 

[Silvic]

I have the TMG400C-4 from Minder Research Inc https://www.minderresearch.com I think my model number has been superseded by now with the new and improved model.
I have had it for about 6 years now and use it on my RV trailer and both my 10K equipment trailer and my heavy duty 21K equipment trailer (three axle and I put the sensor on the front and the rear axle and let the center axle run naked.

Works well and I would not be without it.
Years ago I had my RV blow a rear axle tire but I knew it instantly as it was so violent but I have had empty equipment trailers that I did not know when the tire went.

In a perfect worlds I would have multiple sensors ( I only have 4) but I just unscrew the sensors for the stems and move them to the trailer that I am going to use. Works on metal or rubber stems and the battery is in the sensor that is screwed onto the stem. You program the in-car/truck device with the pressure that the tire should have and the high and low pressure limits that trigger the warning that it alerts you to.

 

[timswi]

Bought the Bellacorp version from Amazon. Haven't driven with it but it seems to work well on the temp and pressure monitoring. Moved the head unit about 60' from the trailer and it still continues to read, so no repeater needed with this so it seems. Cycles through all tires and gives the PSI and temp. So far so good. Next time I take the car hauler to camp I'll know for sure. Bought an 8 sensor version, but think I'll just switch the sensors out when I pull the TT since I pull the car hauler most of the time. Once the TT is in the mountains it stays there until fall.