Fifth Wheel Magazine
Get answers to questions
×

 

Tire Pressure Monitoring System TPMS

5th Wheel Tire Pressure Monitoring System TPMS

When it comes to tire safety, fifth wheel owners recognize the importance of being alerted to a potential tire problem before the problem escalates into a safety issue. Tire blowouts on a fifth wheel or on the tow vehicle often result in extensive damage being done to the underside of the trailer or the tow vehicle. If a tire overheats and catches fire then the problem instantly turns into a nightmare scenario for all involved. A blowout on the tow vehicle will often result in difficulty controlling both the fifth wheel and the tow vehicle.

The Solution

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) have come a long way since their inception. Todays systems offer features that play an important role in identifying a potential tire problem before it becomes a safety issue.
Color Tire Pressure Monitoring System TPMS

Why Monitor Both Temperature and Pressure

Having a TPMS that monitors both tire pressure and tire temperature helps cover all of your bases when pulling a fifth wheel.
Often a tire will start to show signs of failure by an increase in heat which will then be followed by a decrease in air pressure. Catching the problem long before it starts to escalate is of great importance. It gives you time to reduce speed and get to a safe location where you can visually check the problem tire.

The TPMS can alert you to other problems on the axle. If a bearing on the axle of the fifth wheel is starting to overheat or perhaps the brakes are binding or getting hot, the tire temperature will alert you to the problem. With a TPMS that only monitors tire pressure you would get no warning until the tire starts to lose pressure or there is a failure on the axle. That loss of pressure could be the blowout which you are trying to detect before it occurs.

How the TPMS Works

The TPMS consists of transmitters that screw onto the valve stems of the fifth wheel and tow vehicle tires.
The transmitters can be either a cap type or a flow-through which allows the tires to be inflated without removing the sensor.
Each transmitter has its own unique identification number that is recognized by the monitor. These unique identification numbers ensure that the monitor knows which transmitter it is getting data from. If there is another fifth wheel near yours that also has the same TPMS system, your monitor will not be affected. A monitor resides in the tow vehicle. The transmitters from each tire send tire pressure and temperature data to the monitor. Should a specific tire experience a sudden air loss or increase in heat, the transmitter immediately alerts the monitor which will then alerts the driver with audible and visual warnings. The tire that is experiencing a failure is shown on the monitor.
TPMS black and white monitoring system
5th wheel damage caused by tire failure

Tire Damage

When the tire on a Fifth Wheel fails, it can do extensive damage to the underside of the trailer. The driver of the Fifth Wheel may not know that a tire has failed as it is not always apparent until alot of damage has been done.
One of the main causes of tire failure is due to incorrectly inflated tires. It is standard procedure to check all 5th wheel tires inflation pressures before a trip. When a TPMS is fitted, it is easy to check your tires before each trip. Simply turn on the 5th wheels TPMS and all the tires inflation pressures will be shown. No need to use a tire gauge and check every tire manually.

The Truck Systems Technologies TPMS system is available directly from Fifth Wheel Magazine. Invest in your safety and get one of these systems. Install it on your fifth wheel and be safe while travelling.

USER REVIEWS OF THE TPMS

Great System and I am very relieved to have it fitted and now have peace of mind that I am not headed for a disaster without even knowing about it.
Ken G - Virginia
This system saved me on the first trip. I had an alert and pulled off only to find that one of my wheels had picked up a nail and was losing air. I would never have know this had I not have had this system and probably would have been stuck on the interstate somewhere.
Mike S - Utah
I use this system to check all of my tires prior to a trip. It's so much easier to turn on the monitor and see all tire pressures without having to go and check each one. Beyond that I have alerts whenever there is a problem and it certainly has saved me a few times. Once the system is fitted it's easy to overlook what could have happened each time the alert goes off. I love this system and really believe that every Rv'er should have one for safety.
Alice M - Montana
I could not have spent my money on a better system. I am so relieved that I averted the failure and the costly damage that would surely have resulted. If I had not have had a TPMS showing heat buildup I don't think I would have been alerted to the problem. It was now my turn to see how hard it is to get a tire changed in a rest stop :) But hey at least I was not stuck in the outside lane on the interstate dodging hectic holiday goers and 18-wheelers and my family is safe.
Andrew B - North Carolina

Video of How to Setup The TPMS