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Story & photos by Don Tansem
As a new RVer Snowbird, I was both excited and nervous about setting out on our new adventure. We purchased a 35-foot Winnebago Itasca and decided on a 2014 Jeep Wrangler as a tow vehicle. After getting the tow bar installed and outfitting the coach, it was time to hit the road. We left Scotch Creek, BC and headed south to California. After stopping at eight different RV parks along the way, it appeared one of the most common topics at Happy Hour was blowing a tire on the coach or tow vehicle, and all the stress and damage that it creates. I believe the stories were to scare the hell out of the virgin RVers from Canada, and get a few laughs along the way. Nevertheless, it was time to take a closer look at tire monitoring systems.
I had talked to a sales rep from HawksHead at the Snowbird RV Show in Abbotsford, BC last fall, and they were promoting the Talon 22 wheel system. It would monitor high and low tire pressure, and provide a fast leakage alarm. Perfect. It would do all this from a monitor in the coach and works for up to 45 feet from each sensor. I ordered the system and it came with everything to monitor the six tires on the coach and the four on the Jeep.
Lets get started.
First off, take all the pressures from the tires and write them down for each location. I used a tire gauge that I had in the Jeep and all four tires on the Jeep were at 35psi. The tire gauge would not work on the coach, as I needed a high-pressure tire gauge, so it was off to the auto parts store. Checking the tire pressure on the coach was a bit more challenging. The front tires and outside duals were easy. But it took extra time wiggling around on the ground to get to those inside duals.
Now with the pressures in hand it was time to set up the monitor. This was a pretty easy, straightforward task. Once the high-low pressure and temperature settings were setup in the monitor, it was time to install the sensors.
With the monitor in hand, screw on one sensor at a time and synchronize it to the monitor. The Jeep was easy, and the front wheels and outside duals on the coach were easy as well.
However the inside duals were impossible. This is a job for the tire shop. Either get extensions put on the valve stems or use the internal sensors that are available from HawksHead. I had to go with the valve extensions for this install.
I have had the HawksHead system operating for the past 12 months and feel a lot more comfortable knowing my tires are operating at the right temperature and pressure. It also makes your pre-trip inspections a lot easier.
The sensors have functioned perfectly, but on my next tire change I would install the internal sensors so as to eliminate any battery issues or chance of damage to the sensors.
From start to finish it took roughly two hours to install and was well worth the effort. The HawksHead Tire monitoring system provides piece of mind regarding the safety of your coach and of course your family.
Don’t leave home without it.
HawksHead - www.tpms.ca