Checking pressures and topping up tires before you head out for a road trip is a good safety practice. We recommend it.
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But while you're towing an Airstream or RV, you can't feel from the driver's seat when a tire's pressure is running low – or hot – until it's too late. Which is why a tire pressure monitoring system is essential safety gear for RV travel.
Without a TPMS, most people won't ever notice that the tire pressure is running low, until they have a blowout or flat. And in addition to the risk of having or causing an accident due to a blowout, fragments of tire can tear the aluminum body of an Airstream easily, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
Checking tire pressures only when you're stopped is like a surgeon checking your vital signs only when he's not operating on you. Monitoring is important while you're driving (and during surgery) because that's when things can go wrong.
While towing you can run over a nail or tire fragments, or have a slow leak. Or, you might have a dragging brake that makes the tire's air pressure climb too high.
That's why it's important to invest in a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
Here are answers to 17 common questions that newbies ask us about TPMS:
A good quality TPMS constantly monitors the air pressure and temperature in the tires and shows that to you on a digital display. If either temperature or pressure goes out of normal range, an alarm and the digital monitor give you a clear warning, so you can pull over and check out what's going on.
It's a straightforward process and no tools are required.
First, you program the monitor to the tire pressure you normally run in your tires. We advise following the manufacturer's recommendation, which is printed on the wall of the tire. (For example, 80 PSI.)
Second, you set the parameters for the TPMS to alert you. For instance, you might set the low warning at 10% below your normal tire pressure, and the high warning at 25% above the normal tire pressure. It's at these points of pressure change that the TPMS will alarm and flash to warn you to pull over and check things out.
If you want to know more about what pressure to use, read this blog.
Finally, you screw a sensor onto each of the tire stems, and put the wireless monitor on the dashboard where you can see it.
The TST sensors are like little sentries on guard duty. They regularly report the tire pressure and temperature to the monitor on the dashboard. If anything changes substantially, they report immediately.
In this video, Rich demonstrates the essentials of how we use our TST system when traveling.
Not if you purchase cap sensors, which is the recommended sensor type for trailers. Cap sensors look like this:
You will have to upgrade to metal stems if you purchase flow-through sensors, but this sensor type is recommended for motorhomes only. Flow-through sensors look like this:Flow-through sensors are recommended for motorhomes because of the difficulty motorhome owners have getting at the tire stem to add air. The flow-through sensor does not have to be removed to do this, making this task easier for large motorhome tires and wheel wells.
Not on late-model tow vehicles, since they come with their own TPMS built-in.
This is optional, but we recommend it.
We have a cap sensor on our spare. While traveling up and down high elevations last year, our TST system alerted us that the tire pressure was low in the spare; we topped up once we got to the campground.
Federal regulations only require TPMS on passenger vehicles, not trailers. However, some manufacturers have begun to include a TPMS with their higher end brands and models. Case in point: Airstream now includes a TST TPMS with Classic trailers.
It's likely that some day all RVs will include this safety system. But until that's a reality, we recommend every Airstream and RV owner purchase and install one.
Yes, you must install the repeater. TST requires it in order to activate the warranty, because these days many people are driving around with all kinds of Bluetooth and RF devices in their vehicles. The amount of potential interference is high, especially when you are traveling through cities. The repeater strengthens the signal and ensures important warnings will arrive promptly.
Connect it directly to the Airstream battery, according to the instructions in the TST kit. You'll connect positive to positive, and negative to negative. It's very easy. A red light indicates that the repeater is working. It draws so little power that you never need to disconnect it.
It has a rechargeable battery, so you can just plug it into a USB port to charge it.
We typically charge ours overnight before a trip. A full charge lasts 2 - 3 days.
No, it won't forget. Just plug it into a USB port to recharge it and you'll be good to go.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit universal tpms sensor.
It depends on the system. TST's system shows each individual tire's temperature and pressure, one at a time. It constantly scrolls through all the tires that have attached sensors, and displays the pressure and temperature at the moment of the reading.
Yes.
The TST sensors take a coin battery, easy to find at a local hardware or retail store. Pop off the sensor's battery cover (explained in the instructions that come with the TST kit), replace the battery, and you are in business.
The sensor batteries typically need to be replaced about every 18 months.
The newer TST systems (in the last few years) take a CR coin battery. If you have an older system the sensors will take a CR . Both are easy to find.
No, you don't need to do this. The sensors and batteries won't be impacted by freezing temperatures.
We've tested other systems and did not find them to be as reliable as TST's system, which uses simple radio signals. This is superior to Bluetooth connectivity, which is what some of the app-based TPMSs use.
Additionally, we like the safety consideration of the TST monitor being only a data monitor, and not distracting us with many tempting features and apps that our mobile devices do.
You may not have known this (we didn’t!) but since November , all new vehicles have been fitted with tyre pressure monitoring systems as standard. Some manufacturers had been using the technology for quite some time beforehand, so you may well have an older vehicle which uses the safety system to make sure tyre pressure stays at an appropriate level, as well as checking for any unusual temperature changes.
The monitors work by transmitting data from a pressure sensor in the dust cap protecting the valve of each tyre to the dashboard. A warning light on the dashboard alerts the driver to any potentially concerning changes to the tyre pressure, such as low or imbalance pressure. Generally, the monitoring system will be programmed to transmit information of changes of at least 6-7 psi or around 20% of the tyre’s overall pressure. As you may expect, the monitoring system will need to be regularly checked and maintained, just as with any other piece of equipment in your vehicle. Replacement may also be required periodically.
If you have an older vehicle which wasn’t equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system as standard and are considering having one installed, you may be asking yourself what the benefits of doing so are. There is a good reason for manufacturers deciding to include the equipment in all new builds, meaning it is definitely worth fitting one if possible.
The benefits of a tyre pressure monitoring system include:
If you do buy a new vehicle which has a TPMS installed as standard, or decide to fit one to your existing vehicle, bear in mind that the systems now form part of the MOT test. As such, a fault in the system will result in an “advisory” for vehicles produced before , while a newer vehicle will fail MOT testing should the warning light be illuminated.
Your TPMS should be checked regularly and included as part of any service carried out on your vehicle. As a general rule of thumb, the system should last approximately 6 years or 100,000 miles before the valve pressure sensor batteries need to be replaced. Should a full replacement be required, most mechanics will be able to install a new sensor which clones existing information, or as near as possible.
Our friends at TyrePal have provided us with the following information, explaining why tyre pressure monitoring systems are important for those towing caravans.
It is a known fact that blow-outs are a major factor in insurance claims especially with caravans - one insurance company reports that of their road traffic accident claims:
A TyrePal tyre pressure monitoring system monitors continuously the temperature and pressure of your tyres – and warns you when things are going wrong:
High pressure affecting braking distance, tyre wear and road holding
Apart from giving you warning before a blowout, monitoring your tyre pressures can save money by reducing fuel consumption and tyre wear and it can help to reduce CO? emissions.
All that is required is for the user to replace their tyre dust caps with sensors which transmit pressure and temperature information wirelessly to a monitor in the cab. The cost of a TyrePal system is as low as £135 with 2 sensors for a caravan.
For more information on the TyrePal system, the manufacturer’s website has an in-depth FAQ section.
If you would like to see how easy it is to work a TyrePal tyre pressure monitoring system, spend just over a minute watching this video we produced in collaboration with the Mobile Caravan Engineers Association.
Our Freedom and Evolve caravan insurance schemes offer a 5% discount to customers who have Tyrepal fitted to their caravans. Call our caravan team on for more details.
If you are a Lifesure customer, you can get a 15% discount off the cost of TyrePal products. Login to the MyLifesure section of our website to get the code that you'll need.
Tyron bands are fitted to the wheel of a car, caravan or motorhome and work by locking the wheel and tyre together in the event of a blowout, preventing too much movement and allowing the driver to retain as much control as possible. The band also protects the wheel rim from the damage associated with driving on a blown-out tyre.
We have previously written an article on Tyron bands, which contains all the information you need as well as a short video. Those interested in the bands can find the article here.