TPMS: What's the latest?

[BurbMan]

I installed a Dill TPMS on my TT when I upgraded to LT tires about 10 years ago. The system uses special metal valve stems with internal sensors, and at the time, the internal sensors were best for reporting both temp and pressure.
Looking at a TPMS system for the new 5er and I see now on Amazon that there are a wide variety of systems with external valve-cap sensors...anybody have any experience with any of these? How accurate is the tire temp using an external sensor?

[cummins2014]

way2roll wrote:
Odd. Seems like a warning light would be required. Why have a TPMS if it isn't going to alert you to a problem?

It is odd, especially since the 2500 does . I can air my rear down from 80 to 45 when not towing ,and there nothing, other then looking at the screen to check air pressure .

[way2roll]

Odd. Seems like a warning light would be required. Why have a TPMS if it isn't going to alert you to a problem?

[cummins2014]

way2roll wrote:

cummins2014 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Not all of us have trucks with the latest and greatest. 🙂 My 2001 didn't come with them.

My 2014 , does tell me air pressure if I go to that screen , but there is no warning on the Ram 3500, so if I am not in that screen I wouldn't know if there was a low tire . The 2500 Ram trucks do have a warning ,not sure why the 3500 does not . The newer ones may, I don't know .

On a trip towing the fifth wheel, I will go to that screen ,and look at air pressure quite frequently .

I think 2008 is when they became mandatory. My brand new truck won't tell me PSI unless I go into that screen either, but it will show a warning light on the dash if there is an issue. Showed up one morning when the air temp dropped from 70 to 30.

The difference with Ram at least on my 2014 3500 is it has no warning or light come up on the dash. Ram 2500 does .

[fj12ryder]

To me the biggest con with the TST system is the fact that it takes about an hour before you're notified that a sensor has lost contact with the monitor. Seems excessive to me.

[CA_Traveler]

TST 507 cons:
Small screen
Dim screen in bright light
Can't be turned off when USB cable is connected
Display graphic is OTR truck related. Would like a RV related graphics
All axles on a trailer use the same high/low psi settings (individual trailers can be different) and while OK for my toad there might be reasons for some toads or towed trailer to use different axle psi settings.
TST won't come clean on lower temperature readings than the actual internal tire psi, I called.
No explanation as to why they recommend not changing the axle temperature settings, perhaps related to the above.
Sensors are expensive $50

Pros:
It works well
Cap sensors are lighter but require removal for filling the tire, the lock nut is easy to loosen, stays on the stem and easy to retighten. Highly doubtful the nut would prevent theft
They claim rubber stems are OK but I suspect longer RV rubber stems would be a issue. My toad has TPMS and I have not found any metal stems with TPMS for it (for towing)
No problem with sensors on my toad as expeceted since multiple trailers are supported.
Sensor batteries are easy to replace

Note: There are older sensors that have a more involved lock mechanism and have 3 small screws for battery repacement. I don't have these so maybe someond can clarify.

[way2roll]

cummins2014 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Not all of us have trucks with the latest and greatest. 🙂 My 2001 didn't come with them.

My 2014 , does tell me air pressure if I go to that screen , but there is no warning on the Ram 3500, so if I am not in that screen I wouldn't know if there was a low tire . The 2500 Ram trucks do have a warning ,not sure why the 3500 does not . The newer ones may, I don't know .

On a trip towing the fifth wheel, I will go to that screen ,and look at air pressure quite frequently .

I think 2008 is when they became mandatory. My brand new truck won't tell me PSI unless I go into that screen either, but it will show a warning light on the dash if there is an issue. Showed up one morning when the air temp dropped from 70 to 30.

[Michelle_S]

An '18 Chevy Dually doesn't have Factory sensors either. I believe SRW does.

[dieseltruckdriv]

fj12ryder wrote:
Not all of us have trucks with the latest and greatest. 🙂 My 2001 didn't come with them.

Not on my 2000 either. 😉
I have a Tire Minder and really like it. It is the valve stem cap type, so I agree, I don't think the temp is very accurate.

[cummins2014]

fj12ryder wrote:
Not all of us have trucks with the latest and greatest. 🙂 My 2001 didn't come with them.

My 2014 , does tell me air pressure if I go to that screen , but there is no warning on the Ram 3500, so if I am not in that screen I wouldn't know if there was a low tire . The 2500 Ram trucks do have a warning ,not sure why the 3500 does not . The newer ones may, I don't know .

On a trip towing the fifth wheel, I will go to that screen ,and look at air pressure quite frequently .

[fj12ryder]

Not all of us have trucks with the latest and greatest. 🙂 My 2001 didn't come with them.

[ACZL]

CabinetmakerII wrote:
I have 14 tires on the ground. I have a dually, 5th wheel, and a cargo trailer in tow. I LOVE my TST 507 TPMS. My biggest issue so far was repositioning the caps after I had my tires rotated. Particularly on the inside dual tires.

Why the need for sensors on truck as it should be on them from factory and either can set dash to watch them or just let it tell you something's going on?

[CA_Traveler]

BB_TX wrote:
I had the TST507 with screw on sensors and wasn’t quite sure how the temperature was derived with those spinning in free air. But I didn’t care about the absolute temperature, only if one was significantly different than the others.

The free air reduces the sensor temperature and even more so with metal stems. I've measured 20-50 degree differences. This is based on internal sensors with non replacable batteries that were not replaced during the last tire replacement. The psi difference between the 2 systems varied by 1 psi.

I suspect TST adjusts for the temperature and it's a non issue. One possible clue is that they recommend to not change the maximum axle temperature while setting up the initial high and low axle psi values. They don't state the reason for this recommendation.

[CabinetmakerII]

I have 14 tires on the ground. I have a dually, 5th wheel, and a cargo trailer in tow. I LOVE my TST 507 TPMS. My biggest issue so far was repositioning the caps after I had my tires rotated. Particularly on the inside dual tires.

[CA_Traveler]

2oldman wrote:
The first thing you'll want to do is remove the anti-theft device from the sensor. It makes it a real pita to put air in the tire.

I use the 507 cap sensor due to it's lighter weight and it does have to be removed to add air. Mine use a simple nut to tighten as the anti-theft aspect and are easy to tighten/loosen with the supplied wrench. The nut remains on the stem.