Hello, I'm looking for your expert opinions about installing monitors on our wheels to detect tyre pressure changes. There are several brands available and at the $400 mark I don't want to make a mistake. Our van is single axel so a tyre failure is more risky than for dual axels.
Your experiences would be much appreciate.
Daveo85 said
10:12 AM Dec 10, 2016
I have dual wheels and needed an 8 wheel one and by far the best one and easy to install was the one from Safety Dave, check out his site I ordered on a Friday and received on the Monday, it came from melb. and I live in Brisbane
-- Edited by Daveo85 on Saturday 10th of December 2016 10:14:07 AM
MOLLUSCAN said
11:38 AM Dec 10, 2016
Thanks Dave for your prompt reply. That was the company that looked OK to me too. I emailed yesterday to get a price and he rang within a few hours. Cost including postage and discounts and was $380. 48 hours delivery. Are you happy with the product?
Daveo85 said
12:18 PM Dec 10, 2016
yes great for what I wanted
DAve
macka17 said
07:41 PM Dec 10, 2016
I've been towing for over 50 yrs.
Only ever gone by feel and vision through back window.
MOST vans have outer strip panels on ext.
Horizontal seams.
First thing I do with new van. is align myself up with van\car level.
Look at where the nearest seam to,( Normally.)
one of the electric window heating strips in car glass.
If not I apply a strip of tape in alignment to one of the seams
on my rear glass.
As soon as one side of van drops a bit.
If going down slowly.
You'll see. it.
Then you'll feel it with extra sway.
Afrer that it costs,normally. A new tyre.
I always change tyres at 6 yrs. so never get serious wear on them .
Only had one blow in 25 yrs. on Tandem "Simplicity" susp.
Cost instant new tyre.
They a good suspension unit with one bad flaw..
Inflated tyre\wheel. Drives flat rim into ground.
Unless you fit retainer chains in there.or shockers.
Hewy54 said
08:57 PM Dec 10, 2016
For the amount of money we all invest in our vans and tow tugs, it is worthwhile spending a bit more on some insurance. I have only been towing for 45 years, but in that time have had several blowouts on tandem boat trailers. I may not be the best driver, but I could not tell I had a flat until the damage was done. We spend a fair bit of time off road and I feel much safer with my TPMS as a slow leak on corrugations cannot be detected until it is too late.
There are several brands on the market around the $400 mark and all look OK. I had a Tyredog with internal sensors, but this was a pain as whenever tyres were rotated the unit had to be reset. The batteries went flat after 2 years so I have now changed to external sensors and these have not caused any problems so far.
MOLLUSCAN said
06:18 AM Dec 11, 2016
Thanks everyone for your comments. Much appreciated.
OutbackMK said
10:43 AM Dec 11, 2016
I run a TPMS system (external caps) from digoptions. I watch my tyre temperatures against ambient temperature to make sure they are not running too high particularly when on the dirt with reduced type pressures, nothing kills tyre sidewalls faster than incorrect pressures and the temperature is a sure fire way of checking if you have reduced the pressures too much.
The cost is less than a new tyre let alone the inconvenience of changing it and finding a replacement of the the same size and make.
A slow leak is also easy to spot when the pressure change is in the negative, don't know why I still walk around the rig every morning and kick all the tyres when I have a readout to a fraction of a PSI but old habits die hard!
Vince said
10:59 AM Dec 11, 2016
I have the Carchet TPMS system purchased for $103.00 - External cap sensors - 4 tyre monitoring as well as temps.
I have a tandem caravan and the system picked up a slow leak in the LH rear by: Monitor read pressure dropping, temperature rising and audible alarm, I was able to change this tyre before any minor/major problem occurred.
Had it now for 13 months and can't fault it.
Cheers
Vince
Murbella7 said
12:49 PM Dec 11, 2016
I installed a TPMS soon after buying my Big Rig (Chevy Silverado and Forest River van). I have 8 wheels to monitor and the system was always unreliable. Usually at random, one of the van wheels would not display. What was annoying was that this was inconsistent, sometimes all whells would be on the display, then one would drop off, sometimes two wheels.
During our last big trip of 7000km from Vic to Qld and back, a tyre on the van exploded and without warning from the TPMS because it was that wheel that was not displayed.
When I got home I returned the unit to the seller in person and wouldn't you know it, they knew about the problem. The guy handed me a wireless dongle that hangs somewhere near the rear of the truck and gives the necessary communication link between the van wheels and the monitor. I needed to add a cigar lighter fitting for the 12v power in the tub, but was happy to do so.
From van wheels to monitor is about 10m with my rig, so its a fair distance the system has to link across in signal-busy environments such as on the road, but the system is supposed to be OK up to at least 15m and more.
So far, with the new dongle running I haven't had any dropouts. It is certainly something to know about when buying these things.
I am certain that if the TPMS had been working properly at the time, the tyre blowout would not have happened because I would have been alerted to a the pressure/temp raising.
JackoFJR said
06:27 PM Dec 11, 2016
Murbella7 . I have had the same issue with my TPMS , can I ask what make are yours ?
Daveo85 said
07:13 AM Dec 12, 2016
When I was ordering them they advised me to get a booster which they gave me as part of the package and I have it running in the back of the 4x4
not had an issue. Yes you are right if you over 10mt long best to have a booster and I am near 14mt so was good of them to let me know about the booster
Dave
-- Edited by Daveo85 on Monday 12th of December 2016 07:13:56 AM
Snippy said
06:43 PM Dec 19, 2016
I have been using Safety Dave for a couple of months. Easy to set up and got a call to see if everything was all good.
Couldn't do better I reckon.
John Kay said
09:50 AM Dec 23, 2016
We are using the Inawise MODEL: TPMS-203 series and found expensive but good. We travelled around Australia only had one tyre go flat on us, and the system worked as it should.
We fitted five sensors on the car and five sensors on the van including the spares.
I have dual wheels and needed an 8 wheel one and by far the best one and easy to install was the one from Safety Dave, check out his site
I ordered on a Friday and received on the Monday, it came from melb. and I live in Brisbane
https://www.safetydave.com.au/safe-t-tyre-tyre-pressure-monitoring-system/
Good luck
Dave
-- Edited by Daveo85 on Saturday 10th of December 2016 10:14:07 AM
DAve
Only ever gone by feel and vision through back window.
MOST vans have outer strip panels on ext.
Horizontal seams.
First thing I do with new van. is align myself up with van\car level.
Look at where the nearest seam to,( Normally.)
one of the electric window heating strips in car glass.
If not I apply a strip of tape in alignment to one of the seams
on my rear glass.
As soon as one side of van drops a bit.
If going down slowly.
You'll see. it.
Then you'll feel it with extra sway.
Afrer that it costs,normally. A new tyre.
I always change tyres at 6 yrs. so never get serious wear on them .
Only had one blow in 25 yrs. on Tandem "Simplicity" susp.
Cost instant new tyre.
They a good suspension unit with one bad flaw..
Inflated tyre\wheel. Drives flat rim into ground.
Unless you fit retainer chains in there.or shockers.
There are several brands on the market around the $400 mark and all look OK. I had a Tyredog with internal sensors, but this was a pain as whenever tyres were rotated the unit had to be reset. The batteries went flat after 2 years so I have now changed to external sensors and these have not caused any problems so far.
The cost is less than a new tyre let alone the inconvenience of changing it and finding a replacement of the the same size and make.
A slow leak is also easy to spot when the pressure change is in the negative, don't know why I still walk around the rig every morning and kick all the tyres when I have a readout to a fraction of a PSI but old habits die hard!
www.ebay.com.au/itm/TPMS-Car-Tyre-Tire-Pressure-Monitoring-System-LCD-w-4-External-Sensor-BAR-PSI-/231869042899
I have a tandem caravan and the system picked up a slow leak in the LH rear by: Monitor read pressure dropping, temperature rising and audible alarm, I was able to change this tyre before any minor/major problem occurred.
Had it now for 13 months and can't fault it.
Cheers
Vince
During our last big trip of 7000km from Vic to Qld and back, a tyre on the van exploded and without warning from the TPMS because it was that wheel that was not displayed.
When I got home I returned the unit to the seller in person and wouldn't you know it, they knew about the problem. The guy handed me a wireless dongle that hangs somewhere near the rear of the truck and gives the necessary communication link between the van wheels and the monitor. I needed to add a cigar lighter fitting for the 12v power in the tub, but was happy to do so.
From van wheels to monitor is about 10m with my rig, so its a fair distance the system has to link across in signal-busy environments such as on the road, but the system is supposed to be OK up to at least 15m and more.
So far, with the new dongle running I haven't had any dropouts. It is certainly something to know about when buying these things.
I am certain that if the TPMS had been working properly at the time, the tyre blowout would not have happened because I would have been alerted to a the pressure/temp raising.
When I was ordering them they advised me to get a booster which they gave me as part of the package and I have it running in the back of the 4x4
not had an issue. Yes you are right if you over 10mt long best to have a booster and I am near 14mt so was good of them to let me know about the booster
Dave
-- Edited by Daveo85 on Monday 12th of December 2016 07:13:56 AM
I have been using Safety Dave for a couple of months. Easy to set up and got a call to see if everything was all good.
Couldn't do better I reckon.
We are using the Inawise MODEL: TPMS-203 series and found expensive but good. We travelled around Australia only had one tyre go flat on us, and the system worked as it should.
We fitted five sensors on the car and five sensors on the van including the spares.
www.inawise.com/tpms203.html
Cheers John & Vicki
-- Edited by John Kay on Friday 23rd of December 2016 09:52:07 AM