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Has anyone used this device or heard of it?
Trikor.com
http://trikor.com/Merchant2/TSG/TPM-...stallation.pdf
Seem like a good solution for tire monitoring upgrade to any coach. Because a bus have so much metal they recommend an antanae be installed that runs down the belly of the coach to help pick up signals.
GregM
Greg
We have somethig similar by Dorian but this product looks to have addresed a shortcoming on ours.
We have to remove the sensors to add air to the tires and on the product you have here it allows you to air up right through them. Very nice.
I love ours best 700 I've spent on anything. Here is what our sensors look like, there is a battery in them that has a 5 yr shelf life. Replacment cost 50 a tire.
Attachment 1209
I think something like this should be standard stuff on all new conversions.
Oh Jon, I'm still fixin to nitrogen up the tires, soon as we get our buts down south again:p
Am I missing something here? The sensor which attaches to the valve stem seems huge. At best, I would guess that would unbalance the wheel? AT worst it would seem to add to the possibility of valve stem failure?
Ray
Ray we have never experienced any of those conditions but we do run the ballance rings on ours along with the sensors. The manufacture has addressed this issue with a note about there insignificant weight that at the moment I can not remember.
We do also have them on the PU we pull and it has conventional wheel weights and there is no wheel imballence on it either. If they dont throw the ballance off on those smaller tires it certianly isint going to affect a 12-22.5.
Joe,
Thanks for the response. But, if I look at the little bitty cap in your picture, versus the large thing that attached to the valve stem in the Trikor product, there's a huge difference in size.
Are we talking the same kind of thing here?
Ray
Ray
Yes I think so. The other device allows you to air up the tire right through it where ours has to be removed. It is a convienience issue and if I were in the market again would be something I would like. That device also gives temp. and although I don't know how usefull that would be, concidering that increased pressures are directly connected to the temp, that might be kinda nice too.
I'm not doubting that this could be a beneficial gadget, however I'm concerned with size/weight. Your gadget looks to be smaller than a quarter dollar, while the Trikor thing looked to be roughly golf ball sized.
How does that affect valve stems, when we've heard other reports (by Jon), where stem extenders cause failure?
ray
If I was to install some type of tire pressure monitoring system in my coach I would focus on one with an internal sensor.
However, none of the systems now available are without their limitations. The internal type may have range issues. The reports I have seen on one brand indicates the sensor signal sometimes has problems reaching the receiver on the dash. I also have questions if that type can be used if Equal is used to balance the wheels.
Battery replacement on the internal type requires the wheel / tire to be broken down. That makes battery life a serious consideration, because even if you want to break down your own tires you will spend some serious time and effort.
The external sensor that mounts on a valve stem brings with it another set of problems that Joe has addressed. Once the sensor is installed it literally opens the valve. Instead of having two valve stem seals the external sensor leaves you with a single seal. That was the problem with the LED type that I tried. When I installed them I soaped them to check for leaks and they were OK. By the time I got to OSH, two were leaking.
Joe still runs that risk, but his are obviously better quality than the ones I tested. Unless a second valve stem is installed like Joe did, every time a sensor is removed and reinstalled, such as to add air, the potential for a leak increases. While valve stem valve leaks are not a factor on wheels with these sensors, the probability air has to be added from time to time is a given, and unless someone uses the second valve stem I question the life span of the sensor seal, something critical because the sensor opens the valve so it can sense pressure and you are totally reliant on that single seal.
I talked to the rep for Trikor about the issue of balance, he said it light and you do have to balance the tire with it on.
On the valve stem issue he recommended using the cable extended if your are concerned about it. Having had a wobble long stem issue on my inner dual this is a concern of mine. I don't know why you couldn't use the wire cable extenders attached close to the main stem and use loctite to keep them secure.
The device appears to me to have a valve core inside that you air thru and you can use a cap still for secondary seal.
I asked him if I could bring this product to the groups attention and he welcomed it and would look forward to your questions.
GregM
I contacted Tim at Tikor about a POG discount and Tim offered the following to get this product.