Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Tire Pressure Monitoring System

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Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14094
Printed Date: 28 Apr 2024 at 9:58am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Posted By: pedwards2932
Subject: Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2020 at 7:45pm

I didn't see anywhere on the forum where anyone was using a TPMS. With a single axle trailer I would think a flat tire could be a disaster. I got a Tymate system off Amazon.....cost $70. It measures temperature and air pressure. You can set the high pressure alarm, low pressure alarm, and high temperature alarm. It also has a fast leakage alert. In the info it says these aren't for trailers I guess because of the distance from the tires but in reviews a lot of folks said they worked fine on trailers. At any rate I'm going to try it and see if it works. If it does I think it is worth it as an extra measure of safety.

Replies:

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2020 at 8:44pm

Please report on your results. I have thought about getting one also.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2020 at 8:48pm

Will do.......going to use it this Tuesday will report and add pics if it works.

Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2020 at 11:33am

I checked and the tires that are on my RP189 are Load rating E and max pressure 80 psi cold. 80 seems a bit high to me? From what I have read you should inflate to max psi. My TPMS is good to 87 psi max. I am thinking maybe 70 to 75 psi would be okay. Any thoughts?

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2020 at 12:27pm

Couple things - I have been using a TPMS for years, did a review on it. EEZ Go on the two TT tires, works great. I inflate to maximum on trailer tires.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2020 at 12:29pm

LR-E tires are a bit excessive. I have LR-D tires on mine which are inflated to 65 psi. However, I would think that inflating to 80 psi for the LR-E tires would be correct, although that would give a harsher ride. The TPMS should handle that. At the proper inflation, the tires should not exceed the TPMS rating.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2020 at 1:28pm

LRE tires are a bit of overkill for an Rpod, but 80 PSI is generally the right pressure for them. They will be very, very stiff because of the light weight. LRD would be more appropriate, and they are generally inflated to 65 PSI.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2020 at 1:56pm

The tires came with the trailer and they are brand new so I'd like to use them. I'll try it at 80 psi and see how it goes. Thanks.

Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2020 at 3:41pm

There is some leeway in the inflation pressure, but exercise caution and wisdom. Some manufacturers provide load vs pressure charts. Check to see if yours does. Others say the higher load rating tires will be naturally stiff enough that reduced pressure won't soften the ride appreciably, but you can try it and see. However, a high load tire carrying light weight is not likely to flex excessively if the pressure is reduced a *little* so, they should not be heating too much. Charts from Goodyear and Maxxis imply that.

http://https://www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/rv_inflation.pdf - http://https://www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/rv_inflation.pdf

http://https://www.maxxis.com/trailer/trailer-tire-loadinflation-chart - http://https://www.maxxis.com/trailer/trailer-tire-loadinflation-chart

My OEM tires were rated for almost exactly what the axle was rated, no reserve capacity. So, I went up to a D to get a little "mohr", and do run max pressure to get the extra rating.

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John
'16 R-Pod 180

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2020 at 5:04pm

Trailer tires have thick sidewalls, so they don't transfer heat through the sidewalls well. That is fine if you inflate them to their specs but if you underinflate them they will flex more and heat up. That's why its generally recommended to inflate trailer tires to their specified pressure cold.

You probably can get away with 70 or 75 psi but what I'd suggest is getting an IR thermometer and checking their temps when you make a fuel stop. Only adds a few seconds to your walkaround inspection. If you do a highway run at 80 psi as a baseline and then one at 70 and the sidewalls aren't appreciably warmer then you're good.

Super useful tool. You can also use it to check bearing temps and brake temps after a long descent too. Once I got mine I've founds numerous uses for it, now I'm not sure how I ever did without it.

https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Lasergrip-774-Non-contact-Thermometer/dp/B00837ZGRY/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2Q3BMGYJOOMKX&dchild=1&keywords=ir+thermometer&qid=1602280848&sprefix=ir+%2Caps%2C220&sr=8-3 - https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Lasergrip-774-Non-contact-Thermometer/dp/B00837ZGRY/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2Q3BMGYJOOMKX&dchild=1&keywords=ir+thermometer&qid=1602280848&sprefix=ir+%2Caps%2C220&sr=8-3

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2020 at 5:09pm

The TPMS has a temperature sensoe....not sure how accurate it is.

Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2020 at 5:10pm

I have an infrared that I can take with me to compare the TPMS with infrared.

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2020 at 7:30am

Good. You're looking for changes relative to normal operation, so once you have a baseline of bearing/brake/tire temps when everything is working as it should, its easy to quickly identify anything unusual.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2020 at 6:44pm

I inflated to 75 lbs cold. On the road never saw pressure go above 82 psi temp 90. The pressure I was reading with the TPMS agreed with my digital airpressure guage. Temp agreed with my infrared with in a degree or two. So I would say the TPMG was a success. I unscrewed a sensor and the alarm went off immediately so the rapid air loss alarm works. If you get one you have to make sure you have the display unit turned on when you screw on the sensors so they "connect" this isn't in the instructions. I didn't drive at night to see the backlight but the readout doesn't have great readability because the screen is shiny and reflects and it makes it hard to see if you don't adjust to an angle to avoitd the reflection. Overall I like it.

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2020 at 7:05am

Great report, thanks!

Maybe try this stuff on the screen

https://www.nushield.com/anti-reflective-film

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold