Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: bftownes on March 28, 2019, 11:44:55 am
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A lot of discussion on tire pressure gauges. I have a thought and a comment. My wife's car has an OEM TPMS. It was showing that two tires were low. As we are moving, all my gauges and stuff are packed in boxes. So....I go over to my PC storage area and get the big, truck tire gauge. It would barely register and was letting air OUT of the tire. Something I read on another thread led me to believe that the truck gauge is not malfunctioning, but there is not enough air in the auto tire for it to work properly. Could this be the case? When I get back to my PC, I will test it. Fortunately, there is an air compressor available to renters.
Now I forgot my other point! :beg Oh....with all this talk about tire gauges (I know it was more about the accumulator tank than tires) I'm surprised that the topic of those "infra red"(?) gizmos that read tire temperature and anything else. I have never had one and never really saw the need. Do any of y'uns use one?
Cheers :)(:
Barry T
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I have a infrared temperature gauge I bought to keep track of wheel bearing temperatures on pull type trailers. I have not had much need of it since buying the PC. I did use it for fun measuring road, geyser pool and surrounding soil temperatures on a trip to Yellowstone.
We currently use TST pressure and temperature sensors on all 6 tires on the PC. These just screw on to the tire valve stems and provide a continuous readout of pressure and temp. It also provides an alarm if either parameter gets out of line. It is eye opening especially under hot conditions to see how much they increase.
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A lot of discussion on tire pressure gauges. I have a thought and a comment. My wife's car has an OEM TPMS. It was showing that two tires were low. As we are moving, all my gauges and stuff are packed in boxes. So....I go over to my PC storage area and get the big, truck tire gauge. It would barely register and was letting air OUT of the tire. Something I read on another thread led me to believe that the truck gauge is not malfunctioning, but there is not enough air in the auto tire for it to work properly. Could this be the case? When I get back to my PC, I will test it. Fortunately, there is an air compressor available to renters.
Now I forgot my other point! :beg Oh....with all this talk about tire gauges (I know it was more about the accumulator tank than tires) I'm surprised that the topic of those "infra red"(?) gizmos that read tire temperature and anything else. I have never had one and never really saw the need. Do any of y'uns use one?
Cheers :)(:
Barry T
Digital tire gauges are inexpensive and accurate from about 5psi to 150psi
Infrared temperature gagues are fine, work well, but only work when you are stopped.
Many times that's too late, but better than nothing.
In tire monitor systems are the best. Add on external TPMS systems are ok (such as Tire Minder) but can give false alarms.
Don
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I prefer this type and model of gauge for the PC. They also make a 0-60 which I use for regular vehicles. My original of this model lasted for at least fifteen years. Made in USA. My new one croaked after two years, leaking in the hose from the chuck to the gauge. Not made in the USA. We went from Ohio to China.
https://www.amazon.com/JACO-ElitePro-Tire-Pressure-Gauge/dp/B016R9KKCU/ref=sr_1_7?crid=CC5UUED59N0G&keywords=tire+gauge+pressure&qid=1553806408&s=gateway&sprefix=tire+gauge%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-7
I also use a digital infrared thermometer. Some things can go wrong with tires, increase the temp substantially and not show up in pressures to a great degree. I simply shoot the temps on all six tires when stopped for gas or for a break. It takes less than two minutes.
If you travel in the heat of the summer in a lot of really hot areas: TX, OK, AZ etc., you will be surprised at how much extra pressure your tires build up. I run five pounds less pressure in the summer time in these areas in particular, or any other area with high heat.
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CLICK HERE (http://forum.phoenixusarv.com/index.php/topic,2798.0.html) to read about my evaluation of all the tire gauges I collected over the years.
I had the exact same experience as Barry T (bftownes) had with his truck gauge. I threw mine away.
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Speaking of heat in Arizona; One of the parks had a warning sign about hiking in the desert with all the norms: hat, water, boots, seek shade AND a blurb saying- Don't lay down on the ground because the surface can be 30-40 degrees hotter than the air temperature.
That's incredible. They can get over 115 in the summer. Tack on that 30-40... And they're talking earth not pavement.
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2 Frazzled is right on target with my thoughts about heat and tires and pressure. It used to be in very hot summers one of the local TV stations would send a weather reporter outside and fry an egg on a sidewalk. Literally. I remember those old broadcasts when I check my tires on a long trip in July or August! True story.
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CLICK HERE (http://forum.phoenixusarv.com/index.php/topic,2798.0.html) to read about my evaluation of all the tire gauges I collected over the years.
I bought the Accutire digital gauge to benchmark my 3 other digital Slime Sport Gauge p/n 20017. Both give identical psi measurements. The Accutire is bulkier but more ergonomic and easier to read.
When I installed the TireMinder TPMS I had to modify the rear wheel covers using a drill motor and Bosch grinding bit to accommodate the sensors on Duallyvalve stems.
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Prior to installing the TST (Truck System Technologies) TPMS, we replaced the PC supplied valves on the rear with Borg valves. This was certainly an upgrade as it is more reliable than the flexible extenders Phoenix provided. In addition it made pressure checks easier and also provided a more substantial mount for the TST sensors. Having the TPMS provides peace of mind while traveling. Under inflated tires are a major cause of catastrophic tire failures. This is the reason a tire pressure monitoring system is now required on new cars.
I have had two of the wheel pressure sensors and the monitor for about 6 years (installed on a previous camping trailer) plus 4 more sensors purchased about 3 years ago when we acquired the PC. The sensors batteries have lasted about 3 years and take about 5 - 10 minutes to replace.
This is a link to TST. [size=78%]https://tsttruck.com/ (https://tsttruck.com/)[/size]
I talked with TST by phone and placed my orders on both occasions and found them helpful and quick to deliver.
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Fandj
Thanks for sharing. I am now seriously considering buying the TST.
-Can you still check tire pressure with a regular gauge with the sensors on?
-Have you compared the TST pressures with pressures from a tire gauge for the same tire?
-Do all six tires pressure and temperature show on screen while traveling? Or do you have to scroll or change screens? I found answer: the monitor scrolls through each tire.
- Do you remove the sensors in Winter due to cold weather and while in storage? Or just shut monitor off?
- Would this work with tires on a dolly and the rear tires of a car it is towing?
Seems like an awesome system!
Ron Sarzynski
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I recently upgraded to the Borg valve stems after loss of air pressure, several times, due to loose valve extensions. Borg valve stems are a welcome upgrade. I’m using the EZ Tpms https://eezrvproducts.com/ on the camper and toad, the system worked flawlessly on our 12000 mile trip to and Alaska. I also use several digital accu tire gauges that Ron recommends. They are easy to use and sccutate.
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I use the eezrv tire system as well and it works as advertised. I had them programmed by the company setting the pressure and temperature with the parameters they suggested. Having never driven a dually with one of them flat or low pressure, I am not sure I would recognize the feeling while driving. With the tpms one can see the temp and pressure of each tire hopefully in time to remedy an anomaly. It takes a few minutes for the monitor to begin reading the info upon initial start up. Once on, the monitor will indicate temp and pressure sequentially for each tire. It will sound an alarm if one of the tires exceeds the pressure or temperature parameters. The monitor can be mounted on windshield to easily see it underway. While a sudden blowout can't be prevented, the tpms would hopefully give you enough warning of a tire problem that can be addressed before a failure. When considering the damage a blown tire can do to the underside of the motor home, it's like an insurance policy.
Larry
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For tire systems, are you using flow thru sensors or cap sensors? Seems to me you can read tire pressure with flow thru. The cap sensors require them to be removed, it that true?
The borg and tts are comparably priced. I requested from tts how often the sensors reports back data. The borg is every 5 minutes. TTS has color display for additional $30.
Thanks for the info. You may have saved us a big disaster!
Ron Sarzynski
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For tire systems, are you using flow thru sensors or cap sensors? Seems to me you can read tire pressure with flow thru. The cap sensors require them to be removed, it that true?
The borg and tts are comparably priced. I requested from tts how often the sensors reports back data. The borg is every 5 minutes. TTS has color display for additional $30.
Thanks for the info. You may have saved us a big disaster!
Ron Sarzynski
I use the TST 507 caps rather than the flow through sensors. These require the cap to be removed in order to check pressure. I use the Accutire electronic gauge. I run 75 psi nominal in the front and 80 psi in the rear. This is set in the morning before driving. I checked my TST and Accutire readings this morning. The TST readings were 1-3 psi lower than the Accutire. When I removed the caps to use the Accutire gauge thus loosing pressure I immediately got a low pressure warning on the monitor.
I check the monitor before driving and fairly often while driving. I have found a need to add a little air once or twice a year. As you know ambient temperature effects that as well.
Fornutately I have never experienced a blowout but did experience a slow leak once which I picked up on the TST and was able to get corrected promptly thus avoiding damage to the tire or worse.
I have removed the caps in the winter to reduce battery drain but since we now use the PC in winter they are left on all the time.
As to using on a toad I have no experience but suspect a repeater might be needed because the tire sensors are further away from the monitor. If I remember correctly I think TST says distances over 35’ may require a repeater.
Fred
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Has anyone here had experience with PressurePro TPMS systems? The local heavy truck service shop I use for my PC recommends these above any others and notes that they're the choice of most large trucking companies. They've got a new model - PressurePro Pulse FX - that uses your Android or Apple device for display which is attractive to me as I use a dash-mounted Samsung tablet for GPS/trip planning. Any feedback would be appreciated!
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At the risk of totally hijacking Barry T's original "Tire Pressure Gauge" thread completely into a "TPMS" thread (sorry Barry), I'm going to add a comment on the TPMS issue.
I can't really provide anything from experience on the RV TPMS question, since all of my TPMS experience has been with my (several) transportation vehicles' OEM systems, and I am only now researching the RV systems to add one to the new 2552 I got in February. It's too bad that we are necessarily locked into the "early 2000's" technology with the E-series chassis used to build the RV's, since it looks like a factory TPMS with internal sensors could readily be installed by Ford in their chassis with any basic technology upgrade--just as they currently install in their SUVs and F-series. My experience with the OEM systems I have used (from three different vehicle manufacturers) has been uniformly good--and I'll bet a factory-installed system in the chassis would solve the issue for the RV as well, although something may still need to be added for the Toad.
In any case, I've spent considerable time researching TPMS systems built for RVs, specifically including four mentioned earlier in this message string--Tire Minder, TST, Borg, and EEZ systems. In fact, those four seem to be the most commonly referenced and likely the most popular, although I'm probably missing something else somewhere. Interestingly, the reviews I've been able to find mention about the same positives and complaints for all of the systems--I didn't find that any one system stood out from the others based on the reviews. There are small differences--the Tire Minder display uses portrait orientation, where TST and EEZ displays are landscape; TST offers the only color display; some of the parameters are locked in with Tire Minder, but are adjustable on the others. Since the flow-through sensors are a different design than the cap type (longer and slimmer), and extend further, they seem to be more susceptible to damage from curbs and sharp turns, as well as problematical on rubber valve stems (although all external sensors seem to potentially contribute to early valve stem failure on rubber stems--installing the Borg stems seems to be the solid final solution to any "stems" issue). Also, one common comment I saw in reviews for every unit was the one mentioned by Fred in a previous message: universally, for whatever reason, the TPMS sensors were always identified as reading less than the owner's various tire pressure gauges--by anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds; I don't think I saw a single comment where the TPMS read high, and I saw many, many comments about all the different models and sensors reading low. Seems likely there is some sort of common reason for that, given the variety of systems, sensors and gauges mentioned. Regarding Ron's question about a repeater: of course, any of the systems can incorporate sensors on tow dolly tires as well as the Toad. I saw a lot more comments about combinations NOT needing a repeater--many of them long 5th wheel trailers behind a dually truck, or long class A units with a Toad; although there were some instances where even with a repeater, there were intermittent problems with sensors periodically dropping out. Since a repeater is a pretty simple add-on, if the TPMS doesn't include one as standard, it's pretty easy to try it without one and then add it if necessary.
OK, just couldn't resist posting some of the stuff I've picked up over the last couple weeks in searching for my own TPMS, but (again with apologies to Barry T) I would appreciate any input from folks on the things that I have no doubt that I've missed. Dogyard, I haven't seen anything on PressurePro, but I'm going to check into it!
Thanks to all, Mike
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I am leaning to the TST system because it has color monitor and clear how to videos. I contacted them and got this response to my questions within 2 hours on a Saturday.
“The sensors are pressure activated, and send a message every 12 seconds to the display. Under normal conditions the display will update every 5 minutes. The display will up date immediately if there is a Rapid Air Loss, Low PSI, High PSI or High Temp.
Yes you can add or remove air through the FT Sensor, and check the pressure with a gauge through the sensor.
You would have to remove the 507 RV Cap Sensor to add or remove air or check the pressure with a gauge.”
The EEZ video showed how to sync the sensors. Three of them gave an error. He pounded them on the tabletop and they worked. Not a fan of that method. But it seems all of them are about the same for same price.
A definite purchase for safety and peace of mind.
Ron Sarzynski
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Re. PressurePro
I use their system as they were the first out with a TPMS suitable for RVs. I was an early adopter and probably bought it in 2007 or 2008. This original style only reported pressure and did not have a flow through option.
The display on mine finally had a problem as of last summer that it won't link with/ display one of the duals. I decided to stay with PressurePro since I already have the sensors and some spares and have bought a used display (largest serial number i.e. newest unit vs price I could find on ebay) but haven't switched it out as have been waiting for spring temps.
Not any help I realize in regards to their newest style.