Tire Pressure

[caldwell]

Ok so I am new at this. I check my tire pressure every morning. If I have a low tire where is the best place to go to get air

[tims52ford]

number one, you don't want to drive to far on a low tire.
number two, look into buying a small portable compresssor.

[CD]

Originally Posted by caldwell

Ok so I am new at this. I check my tire pressure every morning. If I have a low tire where is the best place to go to get air

Probably the best is to have a small pump (that plugs into cig. lighter etc.). If tire is really low ( very noticible) it won't go far before damaging the tire.

[caldwell]

OK Thanks Tims and CD. Does anybody have any comments about Hopkins Nvision TPMS
Caldwell

[jwomack]

I have a little Craftsman compressor that fits easily in the front bay of our 5vr. Cost about $100 and will pump up to 150psi in less than a minute (small tank) With a 50' air hose on a reel and an extesion cord, I can top off my tires when needed almost as fast as I can check them each morning.

[Wayne M]

I use my on-board air system. On my DP, under the front cowling, there is a port for hooking up an air hose. I bought 50 feet of air hose and the correct fittings. It takes no time at all to top off a low tire. I do not know if your particular coach has a fitting like this, so others will have to chime in.

I know this. I have a Craftsman 150 psi canister air compressor at the house. The only way I can top off low air in my tires is to let the canister fill to the 150 psi pressure, then apply that to the tire. Then repeat as necessary. It takes a long time to top off a tire that is 1-5 psi low. I tried one of those plug into the cigarette lighter types, a high volume one, and I never could get up to pressure, even though it was 150 PSI also.

Good luck.

[JC2]

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[4Knights]

We have a Husky 150psi compressor from Menards, works great and not too expensive. I think less than 100 bucks.

[CJ7ole]

Originally Posted by caldwell

Ok so I am new at this. I check my tire pressure every morning. If I have a low tire where is the best place to go to get air

Uh, you want to do more than just go and get air don't you if it is low? Low air = tire leak. So you need a tire shop that will do tires as large as you have. Many automotive tire shops won't do 19.5" and up, you need a truck tire repair shop. Look in the Yellow Pages or online.

[Ray,IN]

re: the Hopkins TPMS. I've read both praise and put-downs about the system, as have I about all TPMS systems at some time or another. I suggest visiting as many RVing forums as you can find and run a search for Hopkins TPMS. I've never even seen one so I can't say anything. I investigated several brands prior to purchasing one. My research narrowed to three: Pressure Pro, Hawkshead, and TST. I decided on the TST brand because of monitor size, price, reliability based on internet reading (I searched), features, and customer service after the sale. I only have monitors on the trailer wheels.
No matter which brand you purchase it will provide peace of mind while traveling.

As to adding air to your tires, all tire mfgrs. recommend less than one mile driving is safe to add air to tires; any more distance will cause the tires to heat up and increase air pressure.
I echo the many suggestions to buy a small air compressor. I have this one,
although I caught it on sale for $39.95 at a local store a few years ago.

[rmmpe]

I'd not recommend a compressor that plugs into a lighter socket. If the compressor must be run for more than a few minutes the plug will overheat and eat a fuse and/or the plug. Better to connect the fused power wires directly to the battery with clips as shown in Ray's post.

Experience with this also taught me the new square style fuses (not available at Wal Mart) are hard to come by and a new 20 Amp for the lighter cost me $5.26 at the 3rd Ford parts store I stopped at.

[JimM68]

When I had the pace arrow (19.5" tires, with a mounted spare) I used to check my air pressure at every stop and every morning. That coach, I could handle changing a tire if I needed to. (and I needed to more than once)

The new coach, with 22.5's, 450 ft-lb lug nuts, and no spare... I bought a tst system. (Knock wood) air pressure has been perfect since I picked the coach up last March.
I do carry an air hose, and can use coach air should I ever need it.

[Ernie n Tara]

Do you check the pressure in your car tires every day? My observation is that tire pressure needs checking monthly at most. That said; I have a TPMS and find that if I got anal (demanded within 3-5 PSI of optimum) about it I'd add/subtract air almost daily. In fact, the range of temperatures during most days is sufficient to make that much change in pressure.
Checking for duals that are leaking/very low is reasonably easy to do with a tire iron and you can simply look at front tires to tell (as you would for your car).
JM2C
Ernie

[caldwell]

Thanks Ernie
Good point
Richard