TPMS recommendations needed

[4Fielders]

I am in need of a remote tire pressure monitoring system for my trailer. What brand do you recommend? Thanks for your input.

[Miles_Away]

I'm a Pressure Pro fan. They invented the idea and I have used one for ten years. It has saved my bacon more than once.

[RCMAN46]

RAS43 wrote:

1971duster340 wrote:
Pressure Pro.

X2 Will be 10 years in August for my system- 10 sensors on my double tow rig- and only had 1 sensor failure.

Two major advantages of the Pressure Pro.

First it will notify a Signal loss in less than 15 minutes.

Second it has a feature that gives you a signal strength value for each tire. This information is handy in determining if a repeator or external antenna is needed. I went with an external antenna. No power source required.

[RAS43]

1971duster340 wrote:
Pressure Pro.

X2 Will be 10 years in August for my system- 10 sensors on my double tow rig- and only had 1 sensor failure.

[JBarca]

4Fielders wrote:
New tires are most certainly on my horizon. However, as has been said, new rubber won't prevent nails and other debris from causing a flat. I'd always assumed I'd feel a flat. I learned otherwise on the ND/MT border on our last trip. Pulled off for fuel and discovered one of the trailer tires wasn't just flat, it was gone. All that was left was two beads of rubber around the rim. Thankfully there wasn't damage to the trailer. God only knows how far we'd driven like that.

TST is the brand I'm leaning towards. Thanks for the replies.

I have the TST 507 system and like it. I have had it one year now. I have converted to LT tires already, (that is another topic...) and I have metal valve stems which I would recommend you have. There have been several reported cases of fatiguing the rubber stems. Why risk it. That is as bad as the tire issue.

My truck in the sig, crew cab short bed and 32 foot TT and it did not need the booster antenna. At least yet anyway, I did buy it and have not mounted it yet. A buddy of mine has his on his 5er (41 foot) and he needed it. Some rigs need the booster and others don't.

I did not get the flow through 507 which has a nice feature as you can add/let out air without removing the sensor. That feature is a nice option but in my case it would stick out a lot (approx 3/4 to 1") beyond the tire side wall. I was concerned if I came close to or brushed the tire with something I would prune off the sensor and then have a bigger problem. So far using the "non" flow through have not been an issue.

Since the TST also reads temperature if you end up with a brake problem and that heats the whole rim and all after enough time, it can pick that up too.

I feel the TST was a good investment. Like you, I had to deal with 3 tread detachments inside the tire on the same 1,500 mile trip. All of those I found just by looking before they let go. The first one I found in my yard before we left. The 2nd at a gas stop and the 3rd one when we just came home. And by the way, they where not made in China either, in the Denmen plant in Mexico. I'm always looking at the rig and hitch at every stop, but I still got the TPM. A tire failure out on the road can really mess up a good trip. If you lived it only once.... that was one time too many.

Good luck with yours

John

[fj12ryder]

4Fielders wrote:
New tires are most certainly on my horizon. However, as has been said, new rubber won't prevent nails and other debris from causing a flat. I'd always assumed I'd feel a flat. I learned otherwise on the ND/MT border on our last trip. Pulled off for fuel and discovered one of the trailer tires wasn't just flat, it was gone. All that was left was two beads of rubber around the rim. Thankfully there wasn't damage to the trailer. God only knows how far we'd driven like that.

TST is the brand I'm leaning towards. Thanks for the replies.

If you have a longer rig you should get the repeater. TST's only flaw I'm aware of is the excessive amount of time it takes to report that it has lost contact with a tire sensor, sometimes up to an hour. A repeater should keep you from losing contact, look at it as kind of cheap insurance.

[fj12ryder]

vonzoog wrote:
Here is my 2 cents worth. I have been using the TST for over three years. Works well simple installation. Setting the system up takes a little reading. I use and prefer metal valve stems.

I have experience a blowout at interstate speeds and it is not fun. It will definitely mess your day up.

ST tires may/can work on light weight trailers and light loads. I pull a 17.5K 5th wheel. When I travel I want to run at interstate speeds, roughly 70 mph, and not have to worry about tires blowing out. I will NEVER run my trailer with ST tires on it. The blowout that I experience was on brand-new ST tires on a brand-new trailer. In my opinion they are a piece of junk. I would consider only LT tires, E rated or above, from quality name brands with some history behind them. Stay away from the Chinese brand tires. They seem to change names and come out with different brands every other day. If you can not afford the most expensive tires such as Michelin, then look into other brands such as BFG. Their Commercial TA tire does a very good job for the cost. The heavier the load the better the tire you will need.

Again, this is only my opinion. I am now retired and was in the trucking industry since 1973. I have worked all sides of the operation from warehouse management, 48 state fleet management, and a few years of over the road driving. It's not fun being out there if you're not operating in a safe environment.

Good luck,

I wouldn't go so far as to avoid all ST tires, Goodyear and Sailun(a Chinese-made ST tire no less) make excellent tires.

[vonzoog]

Here is my 2 cents worth. I have been using the TST for over three years. Works well simple installation. Setting the system up takes a little reading. I use and prefer metal valve stems.

I have experience a blowout at interstate speeds and it is not fun. It will definitely mess your day up.

ST tires may/can work on light weight trailers and light loads. I pull a 17.5K 5th wheel. When I travel I want to run at interstate speeds, roughly 70 mph, and not have to worry about tires blowing out. I will NEVER run my trailer with ST tires on it. The blowout that I experience was on brand-new ST tires on a brand-new trailer. In my opinion they are a piece of junk. I would consider only LT tires, E rated or above, from quality name brands with some history behind them. Stay away from the Chinese brand tires. They seem to change names and come out with different brands every other day. If you can not afford the most expensive tires such as Michelin, then look into other brands such as BFG. Their Commercial TA tire does a very good job for the cost. The heavier the load the better the tire you will need.

Again, this is only my opinion. I am now retired and was in the trucking industry since 1973. I have worked all sides of the operation from warehouse management, 48 state fleet management, and a few years of over the road driving. It's not fun being out there if you're not operating in a safe environment.

Good luck,

[big_jim_2]

TST have served well for about five years.

[1971duster340]

Pressure Pro.

[All58Parks]

I've been using the TST system for three years, I think. On the original rubber valve stems, just like the installation instructions said I could. Works great! Saved me a bunch of trouble when I picked up a metal shard in a construction zone on the highway. Wouldn't dream of towing anything with out it, even with new tires.

[guidry]

TST saved me when I had three of four tires separate. Two rubbed against each other and my alarm alerted me before any damage. More than paid for itself. And when I had an issue TST sent me a booster repeater for free! That's service!

[LIKE2BUILD]

N-Trouble wrote:

BUT if your still running **** STs more often than not its a catastrophic failure in which TPMS will do nothing for you.

Sure, ultra cheap tires can have catastrophic failures. But, with a good TPMS you'll know it immediately and can stop. Most likely you will have some damage but nothing like driving a long distance with a failed tire flapping and beating your trailer to death.

But even with good tires a TPMS can show you if a tire is losing pressure from a nail, cut, etc. Better to see the problem before it becomes a total mess.

KJ

[4Fielders]

LIKE2BUILD wrote:

4Fielders wrote:
I am in need of a remote tire pressure monitoring system for my trailer. What brand do you recommend? Thanks for your input.

I've read many good things about the TST 507. I'm considering getting this system for my 5er before a big trip next summer.

You'll need new valve stems if you get one of these systems. They thread onto the valve stem and the standard rubber stems can't handle the extra weight. You'll need metal stems to make it work.

KJ

Thanks for the heads up on the valve stems.

[4Fielders]

New tires are most certainly on my horizon. However, as has been said, new rubber won't prevent nails and other debris from causing a flat. I'd always assumed I'd feel a flat. I learned otherwise on the ND/MT border on our last trip. Pulled off for fuel and discovered one of the trailer tires wasn't just flat, it was gone. All that was left was two beads of rubber around the rim. Thankfully there wasn't damage to the trailer. God only knows how far we'd driven like that.

TST is the brand I'm leaning towards. Thanks for the replies.