Tyre Pressure Monitors - vote of confidence

Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011 at 16:25

The Landy

Just thought I would provide some feedback on tyre pressure monitors and my experience.

Just under 12 months ago I decided ‘The Landy’ needed a set of tyre pressure monitors to assist in monitoring tyre pressures, leaks etc, especially after experiencing a blow-out on last year’s trip. I spent some time researching and asking questions about the various commercial offerings on the market and had some great input from other members and contributors to the forum.

A copy of the original thread can be found here

I think they are a valuable monitoring device for any vehicle, but in particular those towing vans or camper trailers behind the four-wheel drive. In the end I decided on the TPMS brand (Thanks Boobook!), and found the initial and after sales experience great, but more importantly, the product has lived up to its claim and I have now put a set on ‘Red Rover’ my recently overhauled Defender 110.

The transmitters on this unit are completely sealed and therefore can’t be subjected to contamination from water or dust. A lot of my research pointed towards units that could be ‘opened’ to replace batteries are prone to this type of failure.

I’ve no association with the company, and in fact, the original unit I had developed a problem, and the unit was replaced immediately without question, and has worked flawlessly since. But I’m also sure there are other products and models out there that users are happy to endorse also.


Cheers, ‘The Landy’
Cheers, The Landy

"Those who think it can't be done shouldn't bother the person doing it"


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AnswerID: 456069   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011 at 16:45

Member - edwin (QLD) replied:

hi landy, how do you charge the transmitters if you cant replace the batteries
ed
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FollowupID: 729045   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011 at 17:03

The Landy posted:

Hi Edwin

You can't, they have an approximate lifespan of three years.

Because they are pressure activated you could take them off when not in use to conserve the battery life, but I haven't bothered with this. So after about three years, or when they battery has extinguished you need to replace the transmitter.

Cheers, The Landy
Cheers, The Landy

"Those who think it can't be done shouldn't bother the person doing it"


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AnswerID: 456076   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011 at 17:41

snoopyone replied:

I have a similar setup and can change the batteries The little senders come apart with a special spanner and a button battery slides inside which lasts a couple of years.
Most go to sleep if there is no movement after a set number of minutes and prolong battery life that way.

Mine are waterproof as well as have been through a few creeks and still work Ok after 3 years

Also have a relay transmitter at the front of the van

Mine didnt save 2 tyres but allowed me to stop before any damage to vehicles.
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AnswerID: 456079   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011 at 18:00

Gone Bush (WA) replied:

Landy, as you know I tried the Tyredog setup specifically designed for a caravan & tow vehicle and was disappointed. Two individual Tyredogs did a better jiob.

My questions for you are:

Did you need the extra transmitter thingo to boost the signal from the van?

Did the transmitters from the van ever lose their signal?

cheers

I'm glad I ain't too scared to be lazy
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FollowupID: 729060   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011 at 18:35

Member - Boobook posted:

Firstly Landy, I am glad you are happy with it.

Hi Gone Bush,

The transmitters go a long way. I have seen them work about 30 meters and through my metal garage door without problems. I have 8 of them, 4 on the 200, 2 under the car on the suspension and 2 on the camper. No issues. They are strong as hell too. When I tested them, I asked how strong they are, the Australian distributor took one off his vehicle and gave it to me and said go find some concrete and throw it as hard as you like on the ground. I did that about 5 times and it worked perfectly.

There are some great features for 4wding and caravaning. Fast discharge, over temp, over pressure, 25% down, 50% down, individual pressure and temp setting, and up to about 10 sensors per unit with configurable displays for caravans, spares etc. The main unit runs of a USB port or batteries. The battery mode is great. It has a movement sensor so it turns off when the vehicle is not moving and turns on when you open the door and get in. The batteries only last about 60 days like this though.

I put it near the speaker on the top RHS of the dash ( near the base of the drivers A piller) and it just sits there. It is quite compact.

As mentioned the batteries last 3 years ( I thought it was 5) but they turn off if there is no pressure. They are $50 ea.

It is a great little unit.
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AnswerID: 456085   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011 at 18:55

Gone Bush (WA) replied:

Thanks Boobook & Landy,

I've seen the pictures on their website but they only show the display for a vehicle.

What does the display look like for 8 sensors and a caravan?

I'm glad I ain't too scared to be lazy
- Augustus McCrae
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FollowupID: 729067   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011 at 18:59

Gone Bush (WA) posted:

Sorry, 2 more questions.

Do the sensors have little lock rings like the Tyredog? They were a pita to undo and do up and meant that adjusting tyres pressures was avoided sometimes.

If no lock have they stayed on properly?

I'm glad I ain't too scared to be lazy
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FollowupID: 729077   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011 at 20:01

The Landy posted:

Hi Gone Bush

I haven’t required the boost, and my understanding is these are used when there might be some sort of radio or electrical interference, and isn’t necessarily to do with distance from the receiver in the vehicle. At times I have a transmitter drop out, and it is random, sometimes on the camper trailer, and also on the vehicle, but I usually find it comes back fairly quickly.

The unit I have is the standard multi-tow unit which is capable of monitoring up to 11 positions (from memory) which includes the vehicle spare if you want to.

And they come with a ‘locking’ device which I use, so I’m not certain how secure they would be without it, I haven’t found it too cumbersome, but I guess there is an element of inconvenience associated with having this type of accessory on the vehicle.

Cheers, The Landy

Cheers, The Landy

"Those who think it can't be done shouldn't bother the person doing it"


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FollowupID: 729107   Submitted: Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 at 06:11

Member - Boobook posted:

I don't use the locks and they have been there for 12 months or so. They screw on fairly tightly and seem safe.

You can sisplay several patterns, these are the ones I can remember.

Vehcile only
4 tyres, 5 tyres ( one in the middle sof the rear for the spare), 2 at front, 4 at reat 9 for dual wheels at the back

The trailer shows as another pair of tyres behind the vehicle, or 2 pairs.

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FollowupID: 729117   Submitted: Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 at 08:55

The Landy posted:

Boobook

I might take your lead on not putting the locking device on as it is a little cumbersome to remove. I’ve no concern they will come off, more that someone will unscrew, but in that event I doubt the locking device will help that much.

Cheers, The Landy

Cheers, The Landy

"Those who think it can't be done shouldn't bother the person doing it"


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FollowupID: 729122   Submitted: Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 at 09:48

Member - Boobook posted:

I live in Melbourne and touch wood no probs so far. I think you would have to look closely to see that they are sensors.

The other thing I do is carry the display with me when I am airing down or reinflating. It is nice to have the right pressure according to the unit. I get it about right with a pressure guage then use it for the final calibration. Also I set my alarm for 34PSI at the front and 36 at the rear then mostly I tyre down to about 20 PSI. It will alarm at 50% or 17 / 18 PSI. If I have to go below that, I just keep an eye on the display.

The most amaizing thing I notice is how much pressure difference there is when you park with one side facing the sun, even if it isn't very hot. 8PSI is not unusual after an hour or more. Same if you are driving with one side to the west, 4 or so PSI difference even at 100K. I though it would even out.

It certainly gives you a great insight into what is going on down there. It is way more dynamic that I thought.
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FollowupID: 730489   Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 14, 2011 at 09:05

The Landy posted:

Just as a matter of interest, I checked on the weekend to see whether the valve would screw out if I tried to remove the transmitter with the ‘locking’ device on.

I have metal valves, and my concern was that if someone tried to remove them all they may well unscrew the valves, and it did!

So I have taken all the locking screws off...

Cheers....
Cheers, The Landy

"Those who think it can't be done shouldn't bother the person doing it"


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AnswerID: 456126   Submitted: Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 at 08:09

Robin Miller replied:

Good to see you are happy Landy - not so here - I got the tyredog brand which screw onto valve cap. Mainly because I have several sets of wheels.

Sensor died after only a few weeks and a few days into corrugations on the Canning.













Robin Miller
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FollowupID: 729115   Submitted: Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 at 08:53

The Landy posted:

Hi Robin

These ones also screw on, although they have an internal version also I believe.

I haven’t experienced any real problems at all, sometimes I find one might ‘drop-off’ line for a short period but that is about it. The only other thing I did on ‘The Landy’ was to put steel valves, but ‘Red Rover’ has normal rubber stems... At next opportunity I will change those.

Cheers, The Landy

Cheers, The Landy

"Those who think it can't be done shouldn't bother the person doing it"


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FollowupID: 729125   Submitted: Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 at 10:25

Robin Miller posted:

Just a comment on your "drop off line" message Landy.

I lost interest in mine because I also suspected that the "drop off line " feature is much more frequent than people realiize.

I never got to quantify this though , and it easy to get the wrong impression of their effectiveness.

This is because the radio signal essentially goes in a straight line and in many cases the receiver aerial is on the dash making it very difficult to pick up signals.

This mostly occurs when in the bush/desserts etc - they work better on bitumen roads and with passing traffic to reflect the radio singal.

I have specifically watched the display not change for many minutes driving along a road , then passed a line of traffic , and hey presto the reading changes.

When I get around to it I will probably modify mine to include a long wire as a distributed aerial snaking down to under the car.







Robin Miller
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AnswerID: 456131   Submitted: Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 at 09:43

Member - Alastair D (NSW) replied:

Landy,
I also spent a lot of time looking at all the different types and reading comments. Eventually I got tempted by a deal for the Jette system with 6 screw on sensors, relay booster and display. I installed them on my 100 series and CT without the locking ring since I could see straight away I would get lazy and not adjust tyre pressures with it on. At this stage I have not used the relay as everything has worked ok without it.

The sensors have screw on caps and replaceable batteries so I smeared a small amount of RTV sealant around the thread of the cap just as a precaution.

All good so far. I had one sensor keep losing contact and so I took it apart, cleaned the battery contacts and put it back on a wheel closer to the receiver. All good since.

My one dislike is that it only displays the pressures/temps for one wheel at a time. In the end I don't think it matters as it brings up the relevant readout if there is a problem. After the novelty has worn off I don't keep looking at it.

cheers
Alastair
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AnswerID: 456157   Submitted: Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 at 16:03

Rockape replied:

Landy and Boobook,

Thanks for the feedback on the sensors, I have been researching and your feedback settled it. I ordered a kit today, all will be well until the controller of all things fun finds out. LOL.

Have a good one,
RA.
I thought I was only dumb but I have now been told I am an armchair expert. Quite chuffed about that I am.

The Burdiken at full noise.
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