TPMS: Yes or No for a Travel Trailer

[Cannon]

The flowthru and the caps have locks on them and you use a special tool to install them. The flow thru you can air anytime but they are longer and weight more. The caps you have to remove with a tool ea. time you add air. You can remove the locks so no tool needed if your not worried about anyone stealing them. The flow thru can be used on any tire but you may want to use metal stems and have tires balanced after putting them on due to extra weight.

[travelingjw]

If you are correct, my apologies. I was taught this when I was doing research by a salesperson in a store.

Originally Posted by rkresge

Uhhh... I don't think that's an accurate description of a flowthrough TPMS sensor; previous descriptions were more accurate. It's a sensor that allows you to put air in the tire without removing the TPMS 'cap'. You may be thinking of "valve extenders".

Roger

[norty1]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

I seriously doubt that a metal cap would have damaged a rubber valve stem unless it was already on the way out due to old age and weather. A TPMS sensor is likely to damage a rubber, despite all the claims you may see from people that they haven;t had problems running a TPMS sensor on their rubber stems. Play it safe and use metal valve stems with TPMS sensors.

My TST RV510 system is now a dinosaur, but it preforms as when new 5 years ago. I never needed any kind of repeater on my 38' rig.

Shortly after using it for less than a year, I noticed occasional low pressure on various tires. A discussion with TST and I changed over to short metal valve stems. Never had any problems since. I am sure the motion of the rubber stems was causing loss of air from the force of the sensor on the ends of them.

Another problem solved was the installation of the sensors. To loose and the sensor did not push the Schrader valve down enough for the sensor to work, to tight and it rolled up the gasket on the sensor causing a leak. It's a experience thing learning how tight from the feel when installing it. I hardly ever remove mine to check pressure anymore, unless there is a great change in temperature.

I'm know that nitrogen has a minimal effect on tires on a rv. Don't waste your money. Unless you want the tire man to make it easier to send his kids to college.

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by norty1

I'm know that nitrogen has a minimal effect on tires on a rv. Don't waste your money. Unless you want the tire man to make it easier to send his kids to college.

I use a special blend that's about 80% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, and some additional small percentages of things like argon and carbon dioxide. Works great, and it's pretty cheap if you can find it.

Roger

[stateboy]

I think I'm breathing that blend right now. You're right. It's great stuff but I find it that it's tougher to locate at higher elevations. He, he, he...

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by rkresge

I use a special blend that's about 80% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, and some additional small percentages of things like argon and carbon dioxide. Works great, and it's pretty cheap if you can find it.

Roger

That stuff is WAY too expensive in California... it has to be certified and tested now by a special government inspector who works for the CARB.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by travelingjw

If you are correct, my apologies. I was taught this when I was doing research by a salesperson in a store.

Most salespeople don't know beans about what they are selling. Many will tell you anything to get you to buy.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by SloPoke

That stuff is WAY too expensive in California... it has to be certified and tested now by a special government inspector who works for the CARB.

That's not too far from the truth! CA is so over regulated, it isn't even funny. Not only do you have to get a permit to scratch your backside, you have to get one to scratch it sideways and another one to scratch it up and down.

[blujay40]

The first mod I had done was stopping on the way home with our barely 1 hour old 330RSTS to have metal valve stems installed to accommodate my new TST507 setup.

[jaycojay]

Originally Posted by alegria

I have a related question. A couple years ago I discovered a missing valve cap on one of our truck tires, so I replaced it with one from a truck stop that was shiny metal with a purple sparkle on it. Recently my husband was told at the shop that the heavier valve cap damaged the valve stem and it now needed to be replaced. If this is true, how does the heavier cap/sensor of a TPMS work without damaging the valve stem and tire? Or was that shop guy full of it?

It's the types of metal used on the cap and the valve stem. I'm not a scientist here, but the two types of metals don't mesh, causing the valve stem to corrode. Use good old plastic caps. Henry Ford used them, and they worked all these years!

[jaycojay]

Word from the dealers who were in Vegas a few weeks ago to view some of the new GM products, the upcoming 2019 Silverado will have an app on the infotainment system that will work with TPMS on your RV. That's all the info they had.

[norty1]

Originally Posted by rkresge

I use a special blend that's about 80% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, and some additional small percentages of things like argon and carbon dioxide. Works great, and it's pretty cheap if you can find it.

Roger

I carry a compressor that has a endless supply of it!

[Cyclops69]

Originally Posted by norty1

I carry a compressor that has a endless supply of it!

Lol, My compressor premix is set to keep the ratio anywhere between 19.5 to 23 percent oxygen and 80.5 to 77 percent nitrogen. I find this ratio optimal for all my inflation needs

[chuck5395]

Originally Posted by faststandard

I too just purchased the TST 507 with the color monitor and the 4 cap system for my trailer. Got it earlier today from Tweety's for $296.

Originally Posted by travelingjw

So did I, was very happy with their service. Product shipping and waiting for it to arrive.

Add me to the list. I just placed my order from Tweety's too.

[travelingjw]

Thanks for the information on the metal stems. The literature says they work with both metal and rubber. Why did you move to metal stems. Thanks

[John from Central Florida]

Originally Posted by travelingjw

Thanks for the information on the metal stems. The literature says they work with both metal and rubber. Why did you move to metal stems. Thanks

We’re running with rubber stems. The weight of our non-flow through sensors with the theft resistant pieces just doesn’t add a lot of weight on the stems.

However, we’re also running on new tires and new stems.

Cost-wise, I just couldn’t justify breaking down the tires to replace the stems.

That being said, however, when we go to replace these tires we will be getting metal stems.

[norty1]

On my setup, I started getting low pressure alarms from time to time and they were low pressure. TST said to go to metal stems.

No more problems in years.

[blacklabbob]

TLMS s good investment.

[faststandard]

Just installed my TST 507 system today along with new Goodyear Endurance tires. I cannot believe how much better my trailer tows with the new tires. This is a sweet setup.

[jimp]

Originally Posted by faststandard

Just installed my TST 507 system today along with new Goodyear Endurance tires. I cannot believe how much better my trailer tows with the new tires. This is a sweet setup.

I'm taking our 1st trip with new Endurance tires and TST 507 as well today, a short trip of 50 miles one way but it's camping. Makes the wife happy.