Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) --- Great add-on

[SJ-Chris]

With the seriousness of proper tire pressure, load capacities, etc, I'm surprised that RVs don't come standard with a Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS). After having multiple RVs for the last 4 years, I have learned the importance of proper tires and tire pressure. I have also had multiple times when tire pressure went low (due to a nail) and also multiple times when the rear inner dually tire was flat and very hard to notice (before installing a TPMS).

Thankfully, I haven't had a blowout that resulted in steel belts of the failing tire thrashed underneath the RV doing lots of damage (which I hear is not uncommon).

I wanted to share with all of you just how easy and inexpensive it can be to add this feature to your RV.

Here's the one I choose and installed in each of my 3 RVs...

(...looks like I need to adjust a couple of tires and their pressure)

You can find it on Amazon for less than $80 and it takes less than 5 minutes to install:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HMZZFRF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(Plenty of others to choose from, this is just the one I selected)

It has a small solar panel on the top of it, so when it sits on your dashboard it stays charged. It only turns on when it feels vibration/movement (or you manually turn it on). To install, you simply screw each cap on your 6 tires (in proper order). I didn't bother with the locking mechanism as I don't believe people are looking to steal these items.

Gives me great comfort being able to know my tire pressure at a quick glance. There is an alarm that beeps to warn you if the tire pressure drops below a preset amount. Safety first! If you don't have such a monitor on your RV I highly recommend it.

Happy (and safe) Camping!
Chris

[EMD360]

I bought a similar TPMS through Amazon. The only thing I noticed is that the numbers on the caps don’t match the setup. But I’ve had good luck with the readings being accurate. I had a nail in a rear tire but both duallies on that side were worn out from running so low. I had not driven it anywhere but the tires had flattened more than once it appears the weight of the coach damaged the tires. I bought two new tires and set up the TPMS again now it’s in the shop. Getting Koni shocks and a helliwig sway bar and new rear brakes. And an alignment that seems to causing the shop issues. But having the TPMS is another step in the right direction.

[spoon059]

I bought an inexpensive one on Amazon during a sale this fall. On our way back from a trip, I intentionally pulled over and let out 15 lbs of air a couple miles from home. The TPMS immediately recognized the lower pressure, giving me some confidence.

My next RV will have a more expensive system with the internal style TPMS. We're going to take that cross country for a long trip, I want the peace of mind. Lots of people like to poo-poo TPMS systems and say they are worthless, but I disagree.

I've seen plenty of stories of people that had a tire fail and they didn't know for a while. The tire kept deteriorating as it was driven down the road and damaged the trailer too. I have 2 people that we camp with that this happened to. Tire failure and they didn't know until chunks started flying and people starting honking at them and frantically pointing to the trailer.

Even if my TPMS does nothing but alert me before additional damage is done, it is money well spent. We do several longer trips a year. I'll check tire pressure in the morning before we leave, then I don't check again until I get to a fuel station or the next destination. Plenty of time and miles for a road hazard to cause a slow leak that develops into a big problem if left unchecked.

[fj12ryder]

"Having caps that change color would be better than nothing,"

I disagree citing the above circumstances. The cap showed "Green", but the pressure was way too low. Better to have no information, forcing you to check, rather than have faulty information and think all is good. FWIW, I've heard nothing good about the caps that change colors.

[SJ-Chris]

mlh wrote:
Some RV companies advertise that there products come equipped with TPMS. I just bought a new fifth wheel with that advertisement. The TPMS system consisted of 4 valve caps that showed green when good and red when low. The dealer when walking through said that as long as there's 80 lbs, the caps will show green. WRONG. I got it home and installed my TST system. They all four went into alarm reading 67 lbs. Moral to the story, don't trust the cheap caps.

The one I have (mentioned above) seems pretty accurate compared to my pressure gauge. So far, so good (~6 months). Having caps that change color would be better than nothing, but being able to constantly see what the pressure is WHILE driving is very important. It will also alarm if the tire pressure drops below a certain level. For me, it is a no-brainer safety add-on for less than $100.

Safe travels, and happy camping!
Chris

[mlh]

Some RV companies advertise that there products come equipped with TPMS. I just bought a new fifth wheel with that advertisement. The TPMS system consisted of 4 valve caps that showed green when good and red when low. The dealer when walking through said that as long as there's 80 lbs, the caps will show green. WRONG. I got it home and installed my TST system. They all four went into alarm reading 67 lbs. Moral to the story, don't trust the cheap caps.

[Lwiddis]

Thanks for the brand/model recommendation. Price seems reasonable too.

[fj12ryder]

Grand Design offers a TPMS on some of their models, but there are complaints about its operation, and not being very reliable.

[Dutch_12078]

RV and/or chassis manufacturers aren't going to add anything that costs extra unless the feds require it or the market demands it. I expect TPMS' will be offered as a factory or dealer installed option at some point first.

[BB_TX]

Installed a TPMS on my 5er over 10 years ago. Never had a low tire. But it gives peace of mind to be able to see pressures and temps any time I am driving. Know right away if a tire starts losing air during a long trip. And much easier to look at a screen than get out and manually check pressures.