Trailer tire monitors

[Ram Air Rick 23]

I'm looking to purchase a trailer tire monitor for my enclosed car trailer.
Something where you'd replace the valve stem caps with little wireless screw on transmitter monitors, that transmits back to a base unit in the cab. Does anyone have a good high quality product that they can recommend?

 

[stevenP]

I have had the TST system, for my RV for a decade and they still work great. Just plan on replacing the internal button batteries (1632) every year, especially if they sit out in the winter cold.

 

[JayLeonard]

I use a TireMinder i10. It shows all 4 trailer tire pressures on the screen at once. Or push a button and all temps display.
Same 1632 batteries and they still go bad over the winter in Florida.
To save the batteries remove the sensors for storage as they only transmit when they see pressure.

 

[zrock]

Sorta been toying with this idea as well except i need 8 sensors for 2 different tailer's. Not committed to it since my TT tires have not lost any air in 3 years

 

[joesstripclub]

I've seen some people say the sensors can add enough weight to the wheels to throw them slightly off balance, or that the weight of the sensor will wear on the valve stem and cause them to fail. Anyone have any issues with these issues or are they just more internet myths?

 

[jejb]

I've seen some people say the sensors can add enough weight to the wheels to throw them slightly off balance, or that the weight of the sensor will wear on the valve stem and cause them to fail. Anyone have any issues with these issues or are they just more internet myths?

The external sensor are not heavy. I have them on our diesel pusher and dual axle bass boat trailer. Never had a problem from any of them, but don't do a lot of miles per year with them. Our enclosed double axle trailer has them too, and I put more miles on it. But it's the Ram factory TTPMS system, so inside the tires. No problems there either.

 

[Grams]

I have a Love/Hate relationship with TPMS.

While they have on-occasion saved me from damaging a tire by running it flat…. the majority of the time they have given false or insignificant warnings.

A trailer…especially an RV…can suffer significant body-damage from a “blown” tire… and a TPMS which gives adequate prior warning to a failing tire might prove useful….. but I’m more willing to believe it will more likely be yet-another irritating nuisance.
I’ve towed my Airstream and 3 other trailers now for many tens-of-thousands of miles without TPMS and had plenty of indications of impending tire problems …merely by being attentive during the tow… and especially checking them at each re-fueling stop.

The types of TPMS which replace a valve-stem-cap introduces a completely new and different Failure-Mode : Leaking.
They are similar to the cheap caps that visibly-indicate tire pressures….they actually depress/open the schrader-valve (needle-valve) and themselves introduce the possibility of lost-pressure.

I’m inclined to keep things simple and just pay attention to how well the trailer behaves during the tow…and checking tires at each planned stop.

YMMV

 

[jejb]

The types of TPMS which replace a valve-stem-cap introduces a completely new and different Failure-Mode : Leaking.
They are similar to the cheap caps that visibly-indicate tire pressures….they actually depress/open the schrader-valve (needle-valve) and themselves introduce the possibility of lost-pressure.

Yeah, I was worried about that when I got my first set. But I've had absolutely no issues with leaking.

 

[Units]

I use the Tire Minder I10 with the range extender on my TT. It has saved my TT from damage twice from a blow out, it has a rapid pressure drop alert and notifies you in seconds. People with shredded tires that cause damage have drove with the tire blown out and do not know until it becomes painfully obvious their TT has a bad tire. My tire minder paid for itself the first time I had a blow out.
Mine are cap style and have used them for thousands of miles with no leaks and or problems and I do remove the sensors after every trip to prolong battery life. I did however change out the rubber valve stems for the Colby metal valve stems, quick replacement in my driveway with just a pair of needle nose pliers and an open end wrench. I keep an extra set in my TT just in case. These are what I used.

 

[Grams]

Metal stems should be used in place of rubber stems anytime tire pressures are more than 65 psi.

 

[JayLeonard]

I used the oem brass cored rubber stems for my first 3 years( 15 k towing miles). They held up ok but I changed to steel stems to be safe.

 

[Grams]

deleted

 

[Razzman]

Been using the EEZtire system for 5 years now without issues. Did add the booster to the trailer and the tires never drop and reports accurately. Had a TST system on my motorhome and hated it, always dropped and had multiple sensors go bad.