Hopkins tire air monitor system $359

[Danss]

Does anyone have experience with this system from Camper World? To monitor all tires it would be $89 more. Dan

[merle&louise]

Dan,

I looked at the Hopkins system, and it looks like the TireMate system that I had about 10 years ago. I had trouble with the TireMate: the sending units were screwed onto the tire air valves and they would get scraped up when I hit a curb. Or the batteries inside the sending units woud short out when it rained. Or they would just give a false reading; telling me I had a flat when I didn't.

I now have a Smartire system, and I like it much better. I had a bad sensor in the passenger side front tire, but the company has replaced it with a new one at no charge. These sensors fit inside the tires so they should remain dry and protected from curb damage.

The SmartTire is considerably more expensive than the Hopkins system. Like anything mechanical it can and sometimes does give trouble.

Ray Davis and a few others here on POG have the SmartTire and they seem to like it.

My Smartire has an audible alarm that notifies me when my tire loses 16# of air. Since the cause of most blowouts is a loss of air pressure, the system could give a warning BEFORE the tire blows. That to me is worth a lot!
Not only in protecting me and my family, but in possibly saving me the cost of replacing a tire.

[Gary & Peggy Stevens]

get scraped up when I hit a curb.

protected from curb damage.

So Tuga, I guess it goes without saying " DON'T HIT THE CURBS"

Sorry for picking on you Tuga, I had a New type of Cocktail tonight, and it REALLY HIT THE SPOT, if you know what I mean... !! ?

Gary S.

[merle&louise]

Gary,

Take it easy on that juice - that stuff can jump up and bite you!

Do you have a tire monitoring system on that American conversion? If so, what kind?

Why don't you and Peg come to the Space Shuttle rally? It's going to be the last shuttle launch as I understand it. We're going to have a good group.

[Ray Davis]

My Smartire has an audible alarm that notifies me when my tire loses 16# of air.

Hey Tuga, even better, you have complete flexibility in programming each axle's desired pressure, and you can control the amount of pressure loss to trigger a warning, and the alarm.

Ray

[merle&louise]

Thanks Ray, I only have Smartire on the 2 front tires. I am going to add it to the tow car and the rear of the coach in a few months. I just wanted to try it out before I purchased the whole system.

Thanks for the update.

[truk4u]

Brian put Pressue Pro on my Liberty and it seems to work well.

[Danss]

I am confused! When you go to the Smart Tire Website it tells you it can be purchased at Camper World. When you go to that link guess what? The Hopkins tire Monitor comes up! I need a clue!

[merle&louise]

Sounds like some creative advertising on Camping World's part. Just give them a call and tell them which system you are interested in buying.

[BrianE]

After visiting The Hopkins website: http://www.nvisionsafety.com/TPMS and the Dorian website: http://www.doranmfg.com/rvtirepressuremonitors.htm, I called the Hopkins tech support folks and have come to the conclusion that the wheel sensors for these products are identical. The specs are the same and they are both made in China. There appears to be some difference in the monitor panels however with Hopkins claiming almost double the reception distance as the Dorian. The price seems to be more or less equal with both units. The Pressure Pro system that I purchased for Tom's bus is identical to the earlier Dorian unit but Pressure Pro is now an independent company that seems to be made up of independent dealers as I couldn't locate a Pressure Pro company per see on the internet. I really liked this system and would purchase it again unless I can talk Tom out of his.

Bottom line is all of these units seem to be very similar with the latest entry (Hopkins) claiming more range and a nicer monitor panel. FWIW