Is anyone using any of the electronic sensors to monitor tire pressure in their trailer tires? Buddy recently had a bearing fail and ruin the whole spindle assembly. He was in the habit of checking all wheels at a gas stop when he noticed it. A few more miles and it would have probably done a lot of damage to the trailer. My thoughts are that the pressure in that tire would have increased from the heat. Also, have always been worried about losing 1 of the rear tires and not noticing it until it does a lot of damage. Any thoughts?

 

Thoughts on checking pressures, or thoughts on monitoring hub temps, or thoughts on doing proper trailer wheel and brake maintenance? Yes to 2 of 3 for me until recently. I wouldn't bother with any additional expense for electronic tire pressure sensors for the trailer, my pocket guage works great. I do like to check hub temps periodically though with my little IR heat sensor.<br><br>I had some major enlightenment when I jacked up the boat trailer and pulled all 6 tires/wheels off and had a look-see in there.<br><br>Ruined bearings caused the high temps that destroyed the spindle, not tire temps. If he had and electronic temp sensor, and didn't have to bend over to manually check the temps and feel the heat, he might have had a problem out on the road.<br><br>I know of a couple guys who have lost the rear wheel on the road. One never missed it (until he had to pay for another mag wheel and tire), and the other had sparks flying everywhere until he chained it up out of the way.

 

One major cause of bearing/hub failure is improper tightening of spindle. Too tight is a will do as much damage as lack of lubricant. Too loose causes excessive tire wear. If ya don't know correct bearing adjustment, find some who does. There classes in come areas where you can learn. <br><br>I have done my own bearing maintence and have never had a wheel bearing failure in 45 years, must be doing it right. <br><br>Tire failure while towin is an ever present concern. I keep two tire gauges in my truck and check them against each other. Check pressure in morning before towing. Even then a tire can suddenly go south at cruising speed. That happened on my tandem utility crusin across the salt flats in UT on I-80. One minute everything in mirror everything back there was OK. The next right side of trailer starts to sag a bit and I saw what looked like black smoke from tire. Actually it was small pieces of rubber flying every direction.<br><br>I removed that wheel, checked pressure on remaining tire, a new one. Stopped every few miles to check pressure and sidewall temp. By keeping speed below 40 mph made it the remaining 60 miles to SLC and Wally World to buy another tire.<br><br>Without heat buildup, the rubber in sidewalls and tread remains sound. Heat changes the chemical composition and weakens the tire.

 

I have the sensors in the tires from camping world and had a cracked rim and the sensor didn't work luckly we stopped for lunch and saw the low tire in other words i do not think they are worth sh** they did not work for me and there is no way to test em short of lowering the pressure and driving em to see if they work ??? ??? they are made i9n canada but i forget the name sorry

 

When traveling I check the air pressure in all tires daily by hand just prior to departure.

 

I had them for the six tires on the trailer and the four on the truck. Not sure they ever worked properly? I gave up on that $500 junk investment. :'( :'(