How do we know if TPMS system is installed?

nbking wrote:
Thanks all.

Looks like I don't have TPMS.

I am having all my tires replaced next week. I will mention to them that I want extended(not extenders) valves. I will also tell them I want to be able to check air pressure with reasonable effort.

Thanks again.

They probably will not have them in stock, you would be better off ordering the extended valves and carrying them into the tire store and having them installed. Otherwise you will be driving out of there with new tires and the same problem your driving in with, hard to use valves. Then when you finally get the new valves you will pay again to have them installed. Save money and time and order them ahead of time. Just my .02 cents.

What is needed is a extended valve stem that will let you quickly check your tire pressure. Extenders have a very bad habit of leaking.

The best on the market,that are the original,are Tire Man.

Chuck is the original designer of these an he has been around for years. If you have any questions just give him a call, he is always happy to help.

The kit looks like This it is for all 6 wheels,they also come with flow-thru valve caps so you don't even need to take then off to check the pressure.

Here is a list of all the products he sells.

They are compatible with all Tire monitor systems.

nbking wrote:

I am having all my tires replaced next week. I will mention to them that I want extended(not extenders) valves.

YOu need to mention that BEFORE you go in for the tires.
Some places don't keep them in stock.
Some will install them if you bring your own set.

Thanks all.

Looks like I don't have TPMS.

I am having all my tires replaced next week. I will mention to them that I want extended(not extenders) valves. I will also tell them I want to be able to check air pressure with reasonable effort.

Thanks again.

K Charles wrote:
There is a valve stem somewhere on the tire.

Funny story----- I worked at a ford dealer in 1979 and saw a new 1979 pinto wheel with no valve stem!! Factory used a blast of air between the rim and tire to inflate it. This rim was never drilled for valve stem. This would have been excellent entry into Ripley museum.

I bought a straight shank air (no angle) chuck to use on my stems. Worked but a PITA. Now I have the Borg dually kit, steel stems and all are easy to access. TPMS on these stems would be OK.

DrewE is correct - they are not visible on the surface of the outer dual.

You will have valve stems, however. Here's a couple images of my old Ford setup:

The inner wheel valve is at the upper left; I've attached a temporary extender to add air. The outer dual is at the lower right; it has a short curved extender to facilitate access:



Gaze through the holes for the inner one, such as this:



As DrewE pointed out, the one on the outer dual looks just like this, only it is pointing inward.

Note that IF the duals were properly installed, the valves will be 180 degrees apart as they are on my setup. The small hole visible betwen the lug bolts in the wheel is used to line up both wheels with the hub.

Here's the complete set of tools I used on the old Ford, and I continue to use for the new Chevy based Sunseeker:

Tools for checking/airing duals.

Go on Amazon.com and search for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems.

See if you have something similar in the cab of the MH. You need some type of gauge or monitor screen for a TPMS.

If you can't find a tire stem, take the rig to a tire dealer, they will show you where the stems are located. You need a way to air up the tires and may need longer stems.

K Charles wrote:
There is a valve stem somewhere on the tire.

Somewhere on the wheel.
If the wheels are steel. There is usually a stainless steel liner installed on wheel. It may be installed in wrong position covering valve stem.

Generally you'd have a receiver module somewhere near the driver's seat if you had an aftermarket TPMS system. My guess is that you don't have one. Most of the ones I'm aware of used on motorhomes have sensors/senders that are also valve stem caps, but there are other styles of senders available too, at least for some vehicles and applications. (Some replace the valve stems entirely, others just sit inside the tire/wheel and aren't externally visible at all.)

It sounds like you need a dual head air gauge (and air chuck for filling). These are not hard to find, and have a sort of angled bit at the tire valve end where one part connects more or less straight forward to access the inner valve stem, and the other part points backwards at an angle to get at the outer wheel's valve stem.

There are a couple general styles of these available, the more common ones with the two connections in line with each other (and so both angled), and then a style where the one for the inner is not angled but inline with the body of the chuck or gauge. The latter I find more convenient for the wheels on my motorhome, though either one can be used.

A lot of people like metal extended valve stems which make access a good bit easier.

Edit: Just to make sure it's clear, the valve stems for duallies are generally in between the two tires--that is, the stem on the outer wheel points inward, and that on the inner wheel points outward, and both are accessed through the hand holes on the wheels. It's somewhat of a pain, frankly.