Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

[Silver Ratler]

I've been considering purchasing a TPM system... wondering what to watch out for & if one brand or type works better for a towing setup.



Is anyone using a TPM system? If so what brand? Pros / cons

 

[Dutch & Di]

We're using the nVision TPMS system by Hopkins. We've only been using it for a short time but so far so good. Price was a factor too in our purchase and it was well below some of the others we checked out. Diana

 

[jtwcummins]

I have been using the Doran unit for over 5 yrs. Have 4 xmitters on truck and 4 on 5ver. The system pressure measurment is within a pound of the manual gage. Only problem is I am going to have to start replacing the xmmitters as the battery life is suppose to be about 3 yrs. Lucky they lasted so long.



On my 97 I installed the remote antenae on the rear to get data from trailer, on the 08 just use the unit in the cab and get data just fine. Having it is like when I got the exhaust brake on the 97, why would anyone tow without one. Better to get a beep when tire pressure goes down then having a tire tear up the wheel well and the beep come from a passing cars horn to let you know.

 

[JLandry]

I'm using the Pressure Pro TPMS purchased from L&S Safety Solutions to monitor all of the tires on my truck and a 28' long travel trailer. The monitor has a rubber antenna on top and gets a good signal from all of the tire transmitters. It works great... peace of mind and it's nice to be able to see the tire pressure on any of the tires without having to leave the cab of the truck.



Best regards,



John L.

 

[wgood]

We also have the Pressure Pro System. We have had it for about 2 years and have been very pleased with it. We have a dually and tow a heavy fifth wheel and we check all ten tires several times a day at the push of a button. I wouldn't want to be without it.

Bill

 

[Bob Cochran]

I to have the Pressure Pro for my dually truck and 35 foot 5er. would not leave home without it. Before the Pressure Pro had 2 trailer tire go in one trip. One on left disintegrated one on right lost about 3/4 of the tread. One on left I checked before leaving that morning and aired up should have checked further!!! Was in Idaho wind howling and flagged down by motorist about tire. One on right was good when stopped at a restaurant and 100 miles later at campground tread gone. Did not see tread go on this either and I watch mirrors close. Hand pretty major damage both sides I repaired. Would have paid the cost of the Pressure Pro had I had it and prevented the damage.

 

[Grizzly]

How much are these systems and how difficult are they to install?



I see three different systems here. Which is the best one? I know, it's a loaded question.

 

[Bob Cochran]

I have the DORAN and for me price was not a consideration safety was. I will admit I picked DORAN because more seemed to have it and like it at the time I purchased it. Since then others have came on the market and maybe just as good and cheaper as well. Here is a link for the DORAN
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems by Doran

 

[Dutch & Di]

You don't have to sacrifice safety because you find a product at a lower price. The systems on the market today are quite similar and I haven't heard of any safety issues with the nVision or any of the others out there. Diana

 

[wgood]

Pressure Pro Tire Monitoring System

As I recall, the Pressure Pro monitor unit in the cab costs $200 or $250 and the individual monitors/transmitters for each valve stem are $50 each. So for a set of 10 and a monitor it would be around $700 to $750. I have a set of 12 even though I only have 10 tires on the ground. That way I have a couple of spares if I should have a problem with any. I recently stopped by the headquarters in Harrisonville, MO because I had one that was giving me intermittent readings. It turned out to be a minor problem which they adjusted with no charge.

I'm sure you can do a Google search on Pressure Pro and get several results.

Bill

 

[Bob Cochran]

You don't have to sacrifice safety because you find a product at a lower price. The systems on the market today are quite similar and I haven't heard of any safety issues with the nVision or any of the others out there. Diana

Sorry did not mean to infer the others are any less safe!!! I just stated why at the time I chose Doran and at that time there was less other manufacturers at that time. Not that they was inferior either; it just seemed more were using DORAN. Sorry if I misled anyone!!!!

 

[ewcmr2]

Any new info on TPMS?

Usually I travel with the family and we take our time getting where we're going but it looks like I'm going to be doing some solo coast to coast trips. I don't like the idea of driving for hours in the dark not knowing if the trailer tires are still in one piece...

Tripple axle trailer so I'd need at a system that could handle six tires. 12 would cover the truck too if not too expensive.

 

[Dutch & Di]

Any new info on TPMS?



Usually I travel with the family and we take our time getting where we're going but it looks like I'm going to be doing some solo coast to coast trips. I don't like the idea of driving for hours in the dark not knowing if the trailer tires are still in one piece...



Tripple axle trailer so I'd need at a system that could handle six tires. 12 would cover the truck too if not too expensive.

We have a triple axle Carriage and a Dodge 3500 Ram Dually and the TST has worked flawlessly for us and has "saved" us twice so far. Diana

 

[Bob Cochran]

I think any good quality TPMS will work for you either TST or Pressure Pro that I use. Not inexpensive but one save of damage will pay for it. I will not recommend one system over the other as both have good and bad points.

 

[ewcmr2]

There are a lot of systems out there. None of which are configured just the way I'd like. Seems like Doran, Pressure Pro, TireTraker (Hawkshead in Canada) and TST are the systems most likely to fit TDR users needs.

Diana, you could have mentioned you sell the TST system! (now that I've oreded a TireTraker system... )

 

[GCroyle]

I put a Dill TPMS on my trailer tires, mounts on the inside just like a lot of OE installations. Monitors PSI and Temp, cycles from wheel to wheel, includes external antenna if the internal doesn't pick up all sensors. PSI can be set to you PSI.



I vote for TPMS on trailers, it watches what you can't.

 

[seafish]

Gary, I had thoought that the Dill #1504 system did NOT monitor more then 4 tires.



That being said,I just spoke with them on Tuesday and very soon they will release a #1506 system with a redesigned lcd screen and softyware that will be able to monitor up to 10 tires (dually + trailer).



I also believe, like you, that the internal sensors are safer then the stem/cap type ones, particularly with higher tire pressures. I do NOT like the idea of a stem type sensor/cap being the only thing that hold the air in the tire. It necesarily works that way in order to sense the tire pressure, it depresses the valve stem 100% of the time, which menas that ONLY the threads the manufactureer supplied o-ring and the cap itself are holding the pressure in. I know that many TPMS systems have done it this way with low failure rates, but to me it is just a bad design idea.



Dill, FYI, has been making valve stems and OEM parts for a long time.



In any case, which model Dill system are you running and will it monitor more then 4 tires??

 

[GCroyle]

seafish,



1504 for the 4 trailer tires only.



My big issue was 2 sets of Goodyear Marathons, the OE and a FRESH replacement set both failed, 3 OE's had tread belt seperation but not blowout and the new GYM;s had sidewall seperations, when I put MAXXIS on, I researched and decided that internal was my choice.



So far, satisfied customer with Dill.

 

[Axion]

I have a system from Dakota Digital on my truck. It shows the pressure of the 4 truck tires all the time with the 4 trailer tires just a push of the button away. It also moitors tire temperature. They no longer sell the system as they bought the sensing package from another manufacturer and adapted it to thier own display. Problem is, the 3rd party supplier quit manufacturing TPMS systems for passenger vehicles. I'm told I can still get replacement sensors but we'll have to see.



The only other problem I've had is when I upgraded to XPS Ribs on the trailer. Since the XPS's have a steel belted sidewall the internally mounted sensors do not have a strong enough transmitter to get to the receiver mounted in my back window. I took the sensors out and I plan on putting them on my winter rims next year.



Overall, the system is awesome, its just too bad they couldn't have continued its development. I'm still looking for a system that I can use to monitor the trailer seperately. I like the look of the Hawkshead system, but since the rv is parked for the winter, I'll do some more research before buying a new TPMS in the spring.

 

[Blu-meanie]

I have the Hawkshead system. The batteries are replaceable instead of having to replace the sensors. I have 10 sensors and the booster on the trailer.

HawksHead Pressure Track HD