Tyre pressure monitors

Hi Kerry,
Do a search of the forum. Lots of recent discussions.

Got home last week after 7,000 km. First trip with Safety Dave TPMS worked fine. 4 on car 2 on camper didn't charge the internal unit the whole trip which reminds me still haven't. very happy with what I have

Yes, many people have, they are sold everywhere.
Some are stem fitting and some internal band styles. The pressure may be indicated well enough but the stem isn't indicative of the tyre temperature. Internals read the temp at the rim which is bolted to a heat sink flange and axle. Therefore it can't be the true tyre temp either. If the batteries go flat it is tyre off to replace them, silly.
A stem system I think is ok and 4 wheel system can be used to read rear tyres and 1 axle on a caravan. I can feel front steering tyres if not near correct.
If you want to know tyre temps, stop sometimes and read them first hand with an infrared temp gun. Far more accurate because it is real time . Once read, you have ability to know the situation/s as it applies to you.

Hi Kerry,
I had SensaTyre on my previous 200 Series. It is an internal system which measures both temperature and pressure. It worked well and with the one puncture I had it set off the alarm and when I stopped the tyre was only half deflated. Unfortunately it was a side wall issue so the tyre could not be repaired otherwise it was undamaged.
I found that the temperature measurement was of greater value than the pressure measurement. As mentioned in another post it may not be absolutely accurate, however it does give a good indication. If the temperature rises either slow down or pump the tyres.

I have used a cheap eBay set for the last 4 years. It's an external model and so far I had to replace one battery (out of 4 units). I am not too concerned about inaccurate temperature readings because pressure and temperature are directly proportional. I aim to keep my "hot" pressure no more than 4psi above "cold". Occasionally I manually check the pressure and temperature to calibrate. So far so good.

My ebay set saved me a near new tyre up near Arkaroola last year so I'd say they're worth it.

Exploroz search is hit and miss Kerry, so this should help:

Google TPM search of Exploroz

or, enter this in Google: tyre pressure monitors site:exploroz.com

You'll more than likely get external sensors, and my advice is if you air down and up a lot for beaches, or changing outback road conditions, get a 2nd valve hole drilled in the rims, opposite the factory one.
You can leave the sensors on permanently and use the 2nd valve to do the airing down / up.
Some of the sensors are a pain when removing and replacing (security features, potential cross threading), and if doing this often as many 4WDrs do, it leaves you open to eventually damaging one.

I bought a set of Masten TP-19 some time ago.
It comes standard with 6 external sensors and I have used them with success on outback trips.
I don't run them all the time, only when traveling and usually towing our Camper Van.
After initially finding the monitor was not consistently picking up the two Van sensors (I think due to the portable fridge in the back blocking line of sight to the monitor) I added the optional booster module and this fixed the problem.
Another option is internal sensors can be purchased and employed if desired, even with a mix of both external and internal sensors.
When the Van is not being towed, a simple push of two buttons together, will revert monitoring to just the 4 vehicle sensors. When you hook your Van up, you simply re-activate full monitoring with the same button sequence.
Up to 22 wheels can be monitored by the purchase of additional sensors, either internal or external.
I do not bother with the lock nuts on the external sensors, as I can more easily remove them to air down the tyres when traveling off-road. But lock nuts and angled spanner are included in the kit, if extra security is required.
The external sensors have removable button batteries and the sensors can be disassembled with the use of two supplied tools, when batteries need replacing after a year or so,

This tyre monitoring system does everything I require of it and I find it very flexible and reliable.

I also have just the basic set of 4 Masten screw onto the valve type monitors, and they have performed flawlessly. Plenty of corrugations, but no deep water crossings. Batteries still going after 2 years.
A quick glance and I know how the tyres are going ...... very reassuring.

Cheers
Jim

I have six tyredog tpms over three years old and still ok. I have fitted short valve stems so they are a little closer to the rim and less flexing.

Hi, just fitted 10 - "Safety Dave" for this trip to Darwin now, all good so far...

Have been running Safety Dave for 6 years now. Have travelled over 70,000 km in that time on all sorts of roads (Tanami, Oodnadatta, Binns, Gibb, east Arnhem, and gravel Savannah Way for example ) and never had a problem.
No issues with cracked or broken valve stems, has saved me 4 tyres over that time including a failed drum brake on my camper.
I don’t bother with security screws, just screw them on like a valve cap. We mount the display in front of my wife so she can easily keep an eye on pressures and temps. Replaced the batteries once.
Can’t speak highly enough of them. Another BIG plus is the after sales service from Safety Dave.
David

Just came out of the Simpson last Friday, where I used a friend's spare TPMS for about a week. So impressed with them, I ordered a couple of sets last night.

Bob

I have the Doran external monitors. Sold here by LSM Technologies. Generally accepted as best available ( but most expensive) and used by the trucking industry.
I have had to replace 2 of the eight due to battery, but that’s after nearly 4 years use as we are full time travellers.
Have broken one sensor (rock climbing) but corrugations and stones don’t seem to bother them.
Very accurate and a good clear monitor that allows for various changes with different warning levels of pressure loss.
As I said expensive but well worth the price in my view.