Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System

[RUSSELL5000]

I am planning on getting a TPMS for me travel trailer. I am thinking of the TST 507. It seems like a popular choice and from what I have read on here and in RV forums, it seems to work well.

It looks like I will want to get stainless steel valve stems to better handle the weight of the TST sensors on the trailer wheels.

Does anyone know of anything else I should be concerned with or have other observations on trailer TPMS?

Thanks!

 

[JLandry]

Yep... metal valve stems are a good idea.

Other than that, there's not much else you need to do other than choose and install the brand of TPMS you want to use. I've been using a TST-507RV for about a year now and am very happy with it. I did have one sender give a low battery alert maybe 6 months after installation (who knows how old it was from the factory), so I replaced the batteries in all of them. Going forward I plan to replace all the batteries annually, whether they need it or not.

Best regards,

John L.

 

[GCroyle]

Russell,

Installing SS stems requires breaking down the tire, right?

Ever thought about just going with the Dill internal monitor system?

I just installed/purchased my 2nd set when I went to 16" wheels on my Airstream. Monitors internal temp and psi.

Gary

 

[RUSSELL5000]

John - thanks - good tip on batteries - I think I'll replace at install and then annual - just like smoke detectors in the house.

Gary - first I have heard of Dill - will look into. Thanks.

 

[GCroyle]

Russell,

Down side to Dill is it requires breakdown to install and batteries are not replaceable.

http://dillaircontrols.com/dill/category/products/tpms/trailer-tpms/

Upside, internal temp & PSI monitoring, kit includes remote antenna if needed, can go multi wheels depending on kit. I got mine and had complete wheel, tire and TPMS at Disconut Tire.

IMHO any TPMS beats no TPMS.

 

[Dutch & Di]

I find the choices split on the 510 vs the 507.
We bought, and still use, the 510 system which we bought 5 years ago. For me, I liked the shape of the monitor. Dutch didn't want to bother replacing the batteries in the sensors every year and the 510 has a 5 to 7 year battery life and all of ours except one, which I replaced, are still working. When that lifespan ends you send in the sensor along with $20.00 to TST and they send you a new sensor.
RE the metal valve stems. If you have more than 80 pounds of air in your tires or the tires are 3 years old you should have metal valve stems installed. It didn't take us but 180 miles of traveling to have a low tire alarm go off. Our tires were a bit over 3 years and the rubber valve stems had started to dry rot so any sensor would cause it to move around and the cracks from age caused a slow leak. We were in Vegas at the time and found a tire shop that installed them right away and for not a lot of money.
The 507 sensor has a battery life span of 9 to 12 months so you do need to replace those yearly but the monitor does display when the sensor battery is failing so you should have fair warning. The upside of the 507 is if you are traveling and have a sensor fail, you can replace the battery in the sensor yourself {if you carry spares which I recommend} and get back on the road. They are a bit of a pain to change out but not totally awful. Be sure you have spare o-rings which should be included in your purchase before you take the sensor apart. The can and will disintegrate so check 1st that you have them.

On the 510 side, you do have to send the sensor in but with priority mail, you should have the sensor back in less than a week & are good to go another 5 to 7 years.
The 507 are definitely water resistant for rain and driving thru sat a flooded road. If you happen to also tow a boat that you need to launch you would definitely want the 510 sensors as they are waterproof.
It really just depends on which system you feel best meets your need. Hugs, Di

I am planning on getting a TPMS for me travel trailer. I am thinking of the TST 507. It seems like a popular choice and from what I have read on here and in RV forums, it seems to work well.


It looks like I will want to get stainless steel valve stems to better handle the weight of the TST sensors on the trailer wheels.

Does anyone know of anything else I should be concerned with or have other observations on trailer TPMS?

Thanks!

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Appreciate the feedback.

Given the cost of a TPMS for your trailer, I can't see not having one. I am pretty fanatical with the air gauge - right in a pocket in the door of the truck, truck tires checked at each fuel fill, travel trailer tires checked at start of every trip, every morning of a trip, at each fuel fill. However, I don't see how you can check the tires when you are going, and you can always pick something up on the road and have a tire go flat.

Looks like a couple of good alternatives here. Thanks.

 

[GCroyle]

Russ,

Any TPMS that can look over your shoulder and warn you of a possible tire failure is a big piece of mind when its tow time. Especially considering the deserved/undeserved reputation of (assuming you have these) ST tires.

Gary

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Gary,

Thanks to a long discussion here on this forum, I retrofit with 16" LT tires. Still, I would think any tire can hit something sharp (i.e., I can mess up and hit something sharp) at any time while you are rolling, so I am right with what you are saying regarding piece of mind.

 

[GCroyle]

LT tires, nice.Oo.

 

[Killgore]

And, what will you do now that you've saved all that time manually checking the air pressure? :-laf Russ, I've got the TST 507RV system and never had any issues. I bought the lighter sensors rather than the ones that allow you to air up the tires without removing them because I was led to believe I wouldn't need to balance or install the metal valve stems. Everything works as designed. I did use some extenders on the duallies. Found mine at Tweety's RV. Good luck, it's an excellent insurance policy.
- Ed

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Ed, "And, what will you do now that you've saved all that time manually checking the air pressure?" I'm married with two sons - I never have time - tire checking time saved is already consumed!!!!!!!!!!

Gary, the good folks on this forum lead through a long discussion on trailer suspension adequacy, trailer tires,weight distributing hitches, and sway control. I think with adding TPMS for the trailer I'll be as good as you can do.

Thanks.

 

[GCroyle]

Russ,

Yeah, but its all supposed to give us more campfire time.

Gary

 

[sag2]

I purchased a 507 system this morning. Geno's has them in their catalog.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

sag2 - yes, saw the TPMS system in the Geno's catalog (I assume you know where I read the paper catalog!O.)

I am putting together a pretty good Geno's order.

Thanks all.

 

[sag2]

Well actually I was reading mine in the library also!

 

[Jim W]

Will guy's I am different I do not like the TPMS for any vehicle. Why? because people get lazy and will rely on the computer to tell you if anything is wrong. Will by than it maybe too late. I like the ides of checking my air pressure and lug nut torque every morning before we start pulling the trailer for the day when towing. I check the lug nut torque for the static value and not the dynamic value, I also feel around the tires to check for nails that could be imbedded in the tires and look for uneven wear.

This is how I found a nail in my truck tire last year at the CEMP rally in Columbus IN. My TPMS did not even indicate a slight lost of air on the rear tire for the truck. I was manually checking tire air pressures before hooking up the trailer. I have the factory standard TPMS system on the 2008 Ram Mega Cab.

Jim W.

 

[GCroyle]

Jim,

No disagreement about pre trip inspections. I suggested running your hand over the tire to feel the profile on another forum and guys pointed out the potential for a real nasty cut from objects in the tire, so I'm carefull about it. But after the pre trip inspection while we're rolling is where the TPMS on my trailer helps me enjoy the trip, get a chance for advance notice of a failure etc. And one other thing that really put me as a trailer TPMS supporter was the terrible reputation of the ST tire. A few weeks ago I dumped a set of 15" ST tires and put 16" wheels and Michelins on the trailer and a new Dill internal TPMS. I do not use my TPMS to check pressures because once it communicates with the monitor I'm already moving cause the transmitters go dormant when stationary.

Gary

 

[sag2]

Had we had monitors on the trailer a few years back while coming back from elk hunting it would have save hundreds of dollars. We ended up having to purchase three tires (and an extra tire and wheel) because when one goes down it overloads and blows the remaining tire before you can realize it, especially at night. When you blow two and only have one spare in the middle of Nevada you are still sunk.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Amen to checking yourself.

Regardless of all the technology and however advanced the trucks are now, all safe operation depends on one single nut. The one behind the steering wheel.