For those of you who Tow...trailer TPMS?

[TrickTruck]

I got this big boy last spring. On my hotlist was trailer TPMS, but it's in a list of other $500 items and it never got done.

My buddy towing his little twin axle enclosed lost a tire. By the time he noticed it there was little left of the tire/rim/wheelwell - lots of damage.

Back on the hotlist.


Looking at the TST 507RV as it gets good reviews, but there are soooooo many of them I need help weeding them out and it's $400 which is not exactly what I need to be spending right now.

I'd like a touchscreen, but can't find one. So I guess that feature is out.

Honest budget in the house these days is $200, but I know there's nothing decent in that range, so $400?

I want an 8x setup. Might as well know temperature on the tow vehicle's tires too.

 

[tbsimmons]

I just use a temp gun on the hubs and tires every time I stop. That will tell you everything you need to know. I thought about the same thing you are but was not worth it knowing I was going to gun the hubs anyways.
Just FYI since you have pulled the trailer a little, check the wheel bearings, they might need to be snugged up a little.

 

[TrickTruck]

My hubs are covered w/ hubcaps. What are hubs going to know about a nail in the tire and a medium/fast leak?

Good point on tightening the hubs. It's on the to-do list now. Thanks.

 

[tbsimmons]

You don't have hubcaps on that trailer. Shoot either the wheel near the center or the part covering the bearings. If you have a bearing going out it will be way hotter than the others.
On the tires if you get a nail then the likely hood of it leaking all the air out before you either stop and gun the tires again and blowing is small. If its a fast leak I doubt any TPMS will react that quick. You can tell with a temp gun. Much hotter tire, low on air.
The best thing to do if you have not done it, get rid of the "Trailer Tires" on it and put LT tires on it. All trailer tires are made in China and are pretty much crap. Some will outlast the others but all in all they are junk.

 

[BK39]

Just hang tight, save your money until the 17s come out, and go pick one up. Built in Trailer TPMS system, plus all the extra cameras. oke:

Seriously though, how did that happen to your buddy? My dad has had 3 flats on his RV, got it stopped before any damage was done at all. Turned out, the tires were bad, so they replaced ALL 6 with brand new. Hasn't had any issues since.

 

[jcain]

507 here. Works fine.

 

[JD3020]

Seriously though, how did that happen to your buddy? My dad has had 3 flats on his RV, got it stopped before any damage was done at all. Turned out, the tires were bad, so they replaced ALL 6 with brand new. Hasn't had any issues since.

We had that happen to us on our snowmobile trip last winter. We left Ohio late, fueled up when we crossed into Michigan so we wouldn't have to stop for the 5-6 hours we had left in our trip. Michigan roads/highways suck so being in a ECSB with a 25ft enclosed trailer we just bounce around the whole way. It was around midnight, had another 100 miles to go, so we decided to stop at the last rest stop to stretch our legs. I hopped out and gave the rig a quick walk-around. Just so happened to find this. LOL Not a single sign of an issue from the trailer, and since we were in BFE there was nobody to flag us down, so lord knows how long we went without the tire. I was in a t-shirt/jeans, it was below 0 with snow blowing everywhere, and all the tools had been in the bed of the truck covered in ice. But I still moved quicker than a nascar pit crew. :thumbsup:

 

[tbsimmons]

Trailer tires they suck. The difference in pulling a trailer with crap and good tires is amazing. I would have never thought you could feel i but you can.
Just go to a tire shop and pick up a trailer tire and a LT tire of the same size too see the difference.
I am of tweaker status on air pressure. I have yet to have a tire come apart, but have had bubbles, separations, etc. none would have been caught by a TPMS but is when you look while gunning the tire.

 

[TrickTruck]

hubcaps

G rated and nitrogen filled

 

[TrickTruck]

507 here. Works fine.

which model? Did you have to rebalance tires? How's the navigation, in a video it looked clunky. Any dislikes?

 

[JRLott]

Aim it at the lug nut, the wheel between the lug nuts, or the brake. It'll tell the hub temp story just fine, IMO.

 

[dmd]

Also note that ST tires are rated at 65MPH max I believe. I take them off
and replace them with Michelin Ribs are the Bridgestone equivalent. They
last forever and can take the speed and weight. Just keep the at max inflation so
they slide easier when turning the trailer sharp.

Check the LT tire weight rating if you use them to make sure they have enough for
the trailer.

I was blowing out ST tires like popcorn until I found out the speed rating is below
the speed I tow. Once I went to the Ribs I have had no issues at all.

 

[tbsimmons]

hubcaps

G rated and nitrogen filled

I guess I have a different perception of hubcaps. I thought they covered the entire wheel. Either way see the part of the rim that the lugnuts are at. Shoot that with a temp gun while traveling and that will tell you if the bearings are going out.
I am not a fan of nitrogen in tires. To much adding and removing of pressure for me. I know nitrogen doesnt expand as much as air but still does.

Even if they are G Rated, if they are ST tires, remove them. You will thank yourself later, as stated above by others they suck.

LT tires are rated the same as the ST tires I had so I am good but you are correct they can be less.

 

[CyrusLoewen]

Hubcap covers the hub vs wheelcover covers the wheel...

Sent from my 0PAJ5 using Tapatalk

 

[TrickTruck]

I've just spent a little while searching and can't find a single tire in that size capable of 4000lbs other than ST tires.

 

[tbsimmons]

Never heard them called wheel covers, those are to keep the sun off of tires and wheels.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Hub+Caps&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Why 4000#, you have 8000# axles on that trailer?

 

[PrecisionEngine]

I had tire troubles with my enclosed trailer when I first bought it 5 years ago. I used to have to make a lot of tight turns in job sites and it would literally tear the tread off the LT and cheap ST tires. On my last tread delamination I switched to Goodyear G614s. Problem solved. I've got over 40,000 miles on my trailer with the same tires at 16000+ lbs of trailer weight. I driven cross-country with these . Towing in Nevada and Arizona in 100+ degf weather at 80+ mph.

But I am extremely meticulous with my tires. Always check temp. Always rotate when they start to wear funny. These tires are based on a semi-truck trailer tire design and have the side wall and meat to back it up. They weigh twice, if not three times what a regular LT/ST tire weigh. The sidewalks are extra heavy to keep from delamination during tight turning conditions.



So far, excellent tire. If I had to do it all over again, I would've just spent the money on these from the beginning.

 

[TrickTruck]

yup HD axles

 

[tbsimmons]

Wow that's a shocker to me. What's the gross in the trailer.
With 16000 on the axles plus 20% pin weight you should have a gross of 19000 range which if so should be a triple axle.
The only trailers I have seen have over 6000# axles are the big fifth wheel toy haulers.


Sent from the bat phone near a drilling rig.

 

[TrickTruck]

According to this chart they are 7000lb axles.

I seem to remember the mfg rep telling me they are upsized from even that.

Anyway, let's say they are 7k axles, that's 3500lbs/tire and none of the LT tires are in that range.

BTW, I have CAT slips w/ 13,800lbs on the trailer, 10,600 on the truck (Front: 5020, Rear 5600). And I had room to squeeze in 1 more motorcycle.