TPMS Recommendation

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by Gene

Metal stems are stronger and less likely to break from the force of rolling at high speed for hours at a time in hot weather with an object screwed to them. When I bought our present trailer it had been sitting on the lot for 18 months, so new (and better) tires were a top priority. I asked the tire shop to change to metal stems, the mechanic agreed and then I forgot about it. Months later I noticed they were either rubber or had been made to look like it (highly unlikely, but perhaps a vain hope). So I didn't follow up and everything is fine. But better to go with metal.

Gene

My preference would be to go with the internal pressure and heat monitoring devices but getting my AS to a dealer, have all the tires removed and install new metal valve stems would be a real hassle.

If I understood you correctly, you prefer metal value stems but are making do with the rubber ones. And everything is fine with the rubber stems to this point. Is my understanding correct?

Thanks!

[accordionman]

We've been RVing and Airstreaming since early '017. Prior to putting my rig on the road, I purchased the EEZ TPMS. I have not had any problems with it and it appears to operate well. The sensors ARE on the stems, but have not seemed to affect them ( they are all metal valve stems). The display sucks up to the windshield OK, but I just leave it on the top of the dash where I can see it. I've only had one puncture in a tire and it detected it well in advance of any problems. I suspect that the "on tire" sensors do not give as an exact reading of the internal temp as possible, but I think the idea there is to monitor the trend of the internal temp.
Any way, I'm happy with the system and it's workings.

[GCinSC2]

Originally Posted by Hans627

My preference would be to go with the internal pressure and heat monitoring devices but getting my AS to a dealer, have all the tires removed and install new metal valve stems would be a real hassle.

Do you have a tire shop you trust?

They can install the internal sensor type. Note a key word was trust because of the possible incorrect lifting procedures to R&R wheels from AS. But internal monitors are pretty old news to a decent tire shop.

[chaseav]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

Do you have a tire shop you trust?



They can install the internal sensor type. Note a key word was trust because of the possible incorrect lifting procedures to R&R wheels from AS. But internal monitors are pretty old news to a decent tire shop.

Trust... hmmm. I was planning to do the R&R myself. I envisioned being able to just do two tires at a time. Drop them off in the morning, pick up in the afternoon sort of thing. Any reason that the AS can't sit on two wheels (one on each side) for a day?

I guess I could just make a run up to the dealer that's 1.5hrs away but ughhh.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by chaseav

Trust... hmmm.

Yeah. That's the big question in 2018.

I was planning to do the R&R myself. I envisioned being able to just do two tires at a time. Drop them off in the morning, pick up in the afternoon sort of thing. Any reason that the AS can't sit on two wheels (one on each side) for a day?

No.

[Airabel]

We have a 2017 16' Sport and considering a TireMinder system. Anyone have experience with that system? The sensors are on the stems. The valve stems on the Sport appear to be half steel half rubber. TireMinder recommends steel valve stems so I don't know if the Sport complies with that. Also do you have to rebalance the tires?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by accordionman

We've been RVing and Airstreaming since early '017. Prior to putting my rig on the road, I purchased the EEZ TPMS. I have not had any problems with it and it appears to operate well. The sensors ARE on the stems, but have not seemed to affect them ( they are all metal valve stems). The display sucks up to the windshield OK, but I just leave it on the top of the dash where I can see it. I've only had one puncture in a tire and it detected it well in advance of any problems. I suspect that the "on tire" sensors do not give as an exact reading of the internal temp as possible, but I think the idea there is to monitor the trend of the internal temp.
Any way, I'm happy with the system and it's workings.

Also using the EZTire system, working very well. Nice feature...a fully charged monitor lasted 4 days on the road.

POI...if you remove the sensors between trips they will stop transmitting, improves batt life. 👍

Bob
🇺🇸

[Mollysdad]

I finished my TPMS yesterday.
I have the TST 507 cap sensors, and installed the metal Dill 902-W stems myself.
I installed the repeater under the plastic lid of the propane tank cover using 3-M dual lock. (Similar to Velcro, except both parts are the same. It's micro mushroom shapes that get entangled and thus grip.)
I used the Zamp connector already mounted on the battery box for power. IMO, the Zamp connector is wired reversed, because the positive side is the exposed terminal on the SAE two pin connector. I soldered on a short piece of SAE plug to the repeater and got a red light. Good.
I did observe that it takes a few minutes for all the parts to communicate. For a while I thought it didn't work, then one popped up, than another, and in about four minutes all were reporting in.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Airabel

We have a 2017 16' Sport and considering a TireMinder system. Anyone have experience with that system?

Lasted for a few years, gave up on it, went to TST, so far much better.

[delrossa]

I also love the TST 507. Have had them 1 1/2 years and few thousand miles with no issue. I have a 28’ and require no repeater.
I went with the valve stem flow through design. I did this because when u need to change a battery you don’t need to remove the tire, & break the bead to access the sensors.
I just replaced the batteries on all 4 tires - easy.
I believe that Airstream puts high pressure heavy duty valve stems on their wheels. I believe these valve stems will flex if something hits them versus bending or breaking.
I have had no issue with the high pressure valve stems.
The customer service with the TST’s is outstanding.
Good luck.

[otorvund]

What follows is a warning from the TireMinder web site:
quote
Brass vs Aluminum Tire Sensors

TireMinder Sensors

Your vehicle's tires will have either rubber or metal valve stems. RVs, motorhomes, 5th wheels, and trailers will generally have rubber stems with brass valve cores or metal stems with steel, chrome, or nickel valve cores - all of which work with the TireMinder brass sensors. This TireMinder kit comes with 6 brass sensors. You will only need aluminum sensors (TM-2ALUM - sold separately) if you're towing a car or light truck with built-in TPMS and aluminum valve stems.


It's important to choose the correct TPMS sensor for your vehicle. Pairing the wrong metals together may lead to galvanic corrosion, which makes it impossible to remove the sensors from the valve stem. If this happens, you will need to replace the valve stem or, in some cases, the whole tire. Matching the sensors to the construction of your valve stems will ensure the sensors won't corrode.
unquote
\
I have metal valve stems on my tires, but I can't tell if they are steel or aluminum. If they are aluminum I guess there could be an issue with corrosion unless the TPMS is also made of aluminum. Or am I misunderstanding something /

[Gene]

Sometimes you can tell what the metal is, but if you can't, maybe just removing the sensors when not traveling would solve any potential problems. Corrosion does not happen in a few days or weeks.

[pmclemore]

I've been happy with my TST system. Installed about 16 months ago, and just now needing to replace the batteries. Pretty straightforward - CR1632 batteries. Small screwdriver required.

Pat

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by pmclemore

I've been happy with my TST system. Installed about 16 months ago, and just now needing to replace the batteries. Pretty straightforward - CR1632 batteries. Small screwdriver required.

Pat

Yep, we still like the TST pass-thru sensors and repeater we mounted on our trailer early in 2014, after adding metal valve stems. We weren't happy with sensor performance on our 27FB until we added the repeater on the tongue, inside and at the bottom of the enclosure for the propane tanks. Sure, we've replaced the sensor batteries, but that was easy enough. We have their old boring old black & white monitor that's the size of an old-school beeper, but it still works great, no reason to replace it. Of course, Rocinante has been inside a building in storage since mid-November, but we hope to find everything still works fine when we pull her out again later this month and start loading her up for summer travels to Down East, in Acadia National Park.