Guide To: Caravan Tyre Pressure Monitors
A safety device you simply shouldn’t leave home without...
It’s a real testament to tyre technology that we place so much faith in these air-filled hoops of rubber just about every day of our lives – but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take every possible precaution to keep our tyres in tip top condition.
This is especially so for caravan tyres. The consequences of a blow out when towing at speed can be catastrophic and maybe it’s not surprising that a full third of road-related caravan insurance claims are due to tyre problems.
Maintain The Correct Tyre Pressure
Measure your pressures when the tyres are cold, before you go on tour and at regular intervals, and make sure these comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Under-inflated tyres , will increase rolling resistance, place additional stress on your tyres walls and raise tyre temperatures. This puts you at greater risk of sudden tyre deflation, can affect braking and could dent your fuel consumption by as much as 20% if you’re just 6psi under recommended pressure.
Of course, unless you’re a real tyre geek, a million things will get in the way of manually checking your pressures. The EU recognised this and made tyre pressure monitoring systems mandatory on all new cars from 2014.
Strangely, considering the potentially dire consequences, the laws didn’t include monitors for caravan tyres – so even if you’re van’s new, you may well need to fit your own system
Prevent A Big Blow Out
In many cases a tyre won’t simply go bang if it picks up a nail. More likely, it will gradually lose pressure. As it does so, heat builds up and stresses on the tyre wall increase – until you reach the tipping point and the tyre gives way explosively.
There’s really no way that drivers can detect this gradual tyre pressure loss and the first you’ll know about it is when you’re suddenly wrestling the bucking bronco behind you, if it hasn’t already gone its own way.
This is where a caravan tyre pressure monitor really earns its keep and with a decent Tyrepal system starting a little over £100, it really is a no-brainer to fit one.
Fitting A Caravan Tyre Pressure Monitor System
A tyre pressure monitoring system has two component types: the ‘brain’ which sits on your dashboard or windscreen, and the wireless monitors, which screw to your valves in place of your dust caps.
A few makes require custom tyre valves, so you might need to visit your tyre dealer, but many brands, including TyrePal, simply fit on to your existing tyre valves, making fitting the system a DIY project, even for the less technically minded.
One thing to bear in mind about tyre pressure sensors: the best ones have a securing bolt to keep them safely attached to the valve, as well as covers to protect the units from rain and dust. They’ll also give you a (replaceable) battery life typically of around two years.
Moving on to the monitoring system itself. These are about the size of your average sat nav unit and typically come with similar fixings for your dashboard or windscreen.
When installing, your unit will search for and link to your sensors automatically. This is a one- off process. Then simply key in the correct tyre pressure values to the memory, so that the system knows when to raise an alarm.
Buying A Caravan Tyre Pressure Monitor System
You’ll find all kinds of systems online, but it’s worth going for a well-known brand, as these are not overly expensive and are most likely to qualify for a discount on your caravan insurance (yes, insurers are big fan of tyre pressure monitoring systems!). This is especially for caravan tyres. The consequences of a blow out when towing at speed can be catastrophic and it’s maybe not surprising that a full third of road related caravan insurance claims are due to the type of problems
Make sure that the system you choose is suitable for the weight of your vehicle and your recommended tyre pressures. Also count up the wheels on your caravan and towing vehicle, so you can be sure your unit has enough channels and sensors to monitor them all.
On the subject of towing vehicles, it makes sense to monitor these tyre pressures as well if your vehicle doesn’t have a system built in. TyrePal's systems will even let you ‘unhook’ your caravan tyre sensors at the touch of a button if you’re off for the day and leaving the van behind.
Staying Tyre Safe On The Road…
Tyre pressure monitoring systems are very easy to live with. A decent system will automatically monitor your tyre pressures and possibly temperatures every few seconds and report back.
If the ‘brain’ sees any anomalies, it will sound an alarm and display which tyre is causing it concern. That will then give you the opportunity to pull over safely and prevent a far more serious problem further down the road.
In summary, for a modest investment you can dramatically increase your safety on the road. Find the right caravan tyre pressure monitor online.