Moving TMS in truck tires to trailer tire

Question

TMS sensors for my truck tires have never provided me a benefit in 7 years of use, although they cost me money when I had to replace the sensors in two tires.

If I put the truck sensors in the 5er trailer tires I should be able to use the in cab factory system instead of buying a separate TMS system with its own monitor for $200 plus. I would still have the expense of dismounting and mounting the sensors but I would have 1/2 of that expense in mounting sensors from any system into the trailer tires.

I am not sure if the added distance from the receiver will cause a problem. I can test that by removing a tire and seeing how far from the truck I can move it without the signal being lost.

Any experts know a reason, besides distance, why a sensor swap would not work?

second_chance · Answer

You would always have the sensor error messages to deal with when not towing...

executive45 · Answer

Don't know about the distance thing, but I would think it would be really annoying. If yours work as mine do, if the air pressure drops to a certain point, the dash lights up to tell me so. It would do the same every time you unhooked the fiver as the sensors you put in the trailer tires would lose their connection with the cab computer.....Dennis

93cobra2771 · Answer

Bad idea all around, IMO.1. Distance could very easily be an issue.2. Do you know what pressure your factory tpms gives the warning? It may or may not be where you want your trailer tire tpms warning.3. When not towing, your tpms light will be on in the truckWhy not do it the right way, get the add on TPMS (like the TST system)? You don't have to break the trailer tires down, it attaches to the valve stem. A piece of vacuum line around each valve stem will keep them from flexing with the extra weight of the sensor. Done. Plus, you can then adjust the pressure the and temp the TPMS will alarm, as opposed to being stuck with the factory default for the factory sensors.

rcman46 · Answer

Bad idea.I have had the TPMS system save two tires on my truck. And one on my trailer.Two were screws that I had picked up off the highway and a slow leak.  Probably would not have caught the issue until damage to the tire and or the truck and trailer.Recommend TPMS on all tires trailer and truck.I carry spare tires and have only used two in over 40 years.  Both times a TPMS system notified I had a tire problem and was able to replace the tire with a spare before any damage to tire and vehicle involved.I have never had to use a spare on my cars.  Maybe I should throw the spare so I have more trunk space.

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Moving TMS in truck tires to trailer tire

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