Trailer tire pressure remote monitoring systems

On Jul 24, 10:47*am, Eric Greenwell wrote:
After a trailer tire blowout last year, I installed a remote monitoring
system that displays the trailer tire pressure on command, and alerts me
automatically if the pressure drops. I don't know how effective this
will be in avoiding tire problems, because it's possible tread
separation can occur even if the pressure is OK, but at least I won't be
driving on under-inflated tires.

There are several systems that one can choose from. I'm using
PressurePro, which is about $150 for the monitor and $50/tire for the
sensors. I also put them on my tow vehicle, so it was $650 for the two
trailer wheels and the six RV wheels. It was easy to install and seems
to work well.

Is anyone else using a trailer tire monitoring system? Has it helped you
avoid tire problems?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

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Trailer tires rarely fail because of improper inflation. This will
affect tire life, but trailer tires rarely make it to the mileage life
limit because of low usage. Trailer tires fail because of age (unless
you drive over a nail!). Replace your trailer tires every 4 years,
regardless of what they look like, and you will be fine. Tires rot
from the insides by oxidation of the rubber with air, unless you fill
with nitrogen. Checking the tire pressure once before hitting the road
is often enough.

Tom

Ralph Jones wrote:
O
Can't comment directly on trailers. But my wife's Dodge Caliber
came with sensors as standard. For the first time that I can
recall she has actually requested that I put air in her tire.
Prior to that she has been known to drive for days with almost
zero air pressure.

I think the new sensors are great, on any application.

They are, but it might be an expensive addition to a trailer. The tire
pressure warning system on cars works by comparing the rotational
speeds of all four wheels, and alarming when one wheel's speed is
substantially below the mean. Not too many customers would pay for
speed sensors on all four wheels just for this purpose -- but if your
car has antilock brakes it already has those sensors, and the tire
pressure logic is a trivial add-on.

I believe most cars use actual pressure sensors, rather than the
"indirect" rotational speed method, but I don't have any documentation
for that. The pressure information from the sensor is transmitted
wirelessly. That is how the system I use works. The cost is about $200
for the monitor, and $50 a wheel for the sensor. There are cheaper
systems if you only want to monitor your trailer, but I wanted to
monitor the six motorhome tires in addition to the trailer tires.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

* Updated! "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* New Jan '08 - sections on Mode S, TPAS, ADS-B, Flarm, more

* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org