Tire Pressure Monitors

[Tikvah]

Thanks for all the input.  This is a helpful thread.   The blog post about the Tire Safeguard was helpful also.  He pointed out some nice features, like the small green/red LED and the long distance signal.
I hope to make a purchase before we make the long drive to Arcadia


TIKVAH
(Dave Rush)
MCI 102A3   6V92
Full Time On The Road - I couldn't fix my brakes, so I made my horn louder

[lostagain]

In 40 years of driving buses, I can count the number of blow-outs, flats, on half the fingers of one hand. They are very rare if you run good tires, and if you check the pressures before every trip, and check temperatures with your hand or IR gun several times a day. That leaves bad luck, like running over something bad on the road. And don't run over curbs. But it is still rare. So for me, $800 for something that has to be babied with potential problems, is just another distracting gizmo that I don't need or want.

JC

[Tikvah]

JC, you are right, and I typically have the same view.  However, I'm mostly concerned about my Toad.  One flat, for whatever reason, could cost more than the monitor.  If a bus tire goes flat I'll probably notice something amiss, but I could drag my toad on its frame for a hundred miles and never know.
Also, as someone stated above, we all get those unexplainable noises or vibrations from time to time.  Is it a change in the road surface?  Did I run over something?  Is something wrong with my toad?  .... The peace of mind (peace of the wife's mind) is worth the investment.


TIKVAH
(Dave Rush)
MCI 102A3   6V92
Full Time On The Road - I couldn't fix my brakes, so I made my horn louder

[lostagain]

I understand how good a tire pressure monitoring system is, and how it can help. But my feelings about them is the same as with back up cameras: I have done quite well without so far. I don't need to complicate my life with more electronic gadgets. I have newer vehicles with TPMS and back up cameras, and neither is very useful. The TPMS because how often do you have a flat? And when you do, you can feel it. And the camera lenses are dirty most of the time so you can't see anyway. We live and drive on dirt roads. The damage caused by a blown tire would be covered by insurance, so the TPMS paying for itself is not a good reason to get one, for the towed, or the bus. Actually, I don't have collision or comprehensive insurance on the bus, just liability, I am willing to take the risk of a blown tire tearing the side of the bus apart.

TPMS that comes in newer vehicles now by law, is for the majority of people who never check their tire pressures, would not know how, and wouldn't know what a tire pressure gauge looks like.

I am just an old nut that checks his tires five times a day on a road trip, manually.

JC

[belfert]

The first trip I installed a tire pressure monitor I had two flats on the trailer.  They were both sidewall punctures and I never would have noticed the issue until it was too late without TPMS.  If the trailer is loaded heavy the other tire can be damaged when it takes the entire load.  (I know from experience.)

I probably didn't save enough money on the TPMS to pay for itself on those two tires because a complete failure of the tire probably wouldn't have damaged the trailer other than damaging another tire.