Born Free Leap'n Lions RV Club Info & Discussion Forum

Does anyone believe that TPMS's are beneficial or necessary? It is a fact that larger tires - like on RV's and trucks - do not lose their pressure as quickly as smaller car tires - I have found this to be true with my Born Free. If you regularly check your pressure, are TPMS's necessary? Maybe in the case of a blowout, but then it's too late anyway.

I believe TPMS is very important to RV'ers. Unlike a car or a pickup truck, motorhomes, travel trailers & fifth wheels are loaded to the point that their tires are at 85% to 100% of their capacity. Many RV's are actually used when the tires are loaded at over 100% of their capacity.

I won't own and operate a RV w/o TPMS.

Pick up a nail or screw in your tire when you leave in the morning and by the afternoon your tire may be down by 20% to 30% or more. Now you have just ruined that tire. It may look OK but it is dangerous to continue using that tire.

Note, this is not my opinion, it is the opinion of a tire expert. Here is a link to his site:
http://www.rvtiresafety.com/
It is well worth the time to read back through his posts.

Here is a link to a topic on this forum about TPMS
http://www.bornfreervclub.org/bulletin_ ... php?t=2130
Generally folks are saying TPMS is very important.

A thought about regularly checking tire pressure. To be safe you should check your tire pressure before you leave in the morning. Are you really going to kneel down in cold rain to check your tires? When you get in a hurry and want to get on the road, will you stop and take several minutes to check the pressure? Personally I wouldn't and didn't. I also find it a real nuisance to get the tire gauge on the valve stem and hold it there long enough to get a accurate reading without loosing some air.

Yep, won't travel without them and especially on the toad.

Now that I have looked into them, I question spending about $500 - that's what the Pressure Pro costs with 6 wheel sensors - wow!

If you think $500 is too expensive, if you ever have a blow out in one of your rear dual tires, the resulting damage to the fiberglass bodywork in the wheel well, damage to one of your water tanks and plumbing and/or damage to your LP tank and plumbing, $500 will seem like a bargain in comparison to the resulting repair bills.

I have a friend that owns a 1999 42' Blue Bird Class A diesel pusher and he had a blow out about 5 years ago in his front left Michelin tire while on the interstate. Total repair bill came to over $100,000.

Vulcan Tire has a 6 tire set for $427 & free shipping. No tax, at least for Texas, I don't know about other states.
http://www.vulcantire.com/pressurepro_rv_tpms.htm

I ordered some replacement TPMS senders from several weeks ago and delivery was prompt.

I have used the Tire Sentry system for many years. My reason for choosing that system was that I can change the watch type batteries and not have to purchase new sensors. http://www.tiresentry.com/

I don't have TPMS on my BFT. I think of it as another layer of insurance. If you want the peace of mind and can readily afford them, then you might want to invest. I've made the decision that the system is too expensive and I can do without. I do inspect the tires before I move the coach though.

Bill

I have tpms on all of my recent cars; because they came that way. Some how I don't understand how these systems can alert you to a blow out. On the other hand if you do a walk around at each stop you should be able to spot a tire going low and a heat sensing gun will give you even more comfort of you tires condition. OK, since most will disagree with me feel free to let me have it!!!

Well, I believe most (but certainly not all) blow outs are caused by a tire overheating as a direct result of a gradual loss of air pressure. If you happen to puncture a tire with a nail causing an air pressure leak while driving, unless you stop and check all tire pressures every 1/2 hour or so, you will not catch the problem soon enough before the tire overheats and blows.

I think for this very reason is why the government is now requiring TPMS on new vehicles.

OK......I am convinced! And, I found a reasonable alternative today at the Grand Rapids, Michigan RV Show - Tire Minder Model TMG400C-6 - includes 6 sensors, 12 batteries and they will replace batteries free until 2018 - all for $345 (show price).