Customer Reviews

Hopkins 38100VA Towing Solutions Tire Pressure Monitor System

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read several reviews and was pretty impressed. But how come nobody mentioned the no-battery-replacement philosophy? Well, the first thing I noticed is no sensor battery replacement. Dead battery, buy new sensor. A few years (maybe 4?) from now, I get to spend about $250 to replace the sensors. Not likely - - either they come down in price or I buy a different product. User interface is okay, and the icons are mostly understandable except for the one that looks like a bullseye target. If it worked as advertised, I'd give it three stars. But that's only if the sensors ever work, which 5 out of 6 don't right now. I'm installing on a rainy day in a 27' Itasca. Only the right front wheel is reliable. Got one reading on left front and one reading on left rear, both of which disappeared immediately. Supposedly there's a repeater, but I believe they're about $100, and just one more thing to keep a steady power drain on the battery. The unit has its power cord poking ridiculously out of the front of the base. It's impossible to get a "clean" looking installation, it always looks as if it was just tacked into place. Why in the world didn't they put it in the rear with the antenna??? The base has no provision for attachment at all, so Velcro here we come. If I keep it. I'll call tech support tomorrow, but I'm not optimistic. This is a very poor start. Unless this thing works solid with no fuss (and no repeater), I'll return it and buy some other brand. So far, it's pretty disappointing. UPDATE: Had a very encouraging conversation with tech support, very helpful and friendly. They suggested using the antenna extension, which was sent to me for free. Nice try, only slightly better behavior and still flaky on all the rear tires. No matter where I put the antenna, sooner or later one sensor or another would quit. And this was just sitting in my driveway, no vibration or anything. I gave up and returned the unit.

After experiencing a number of blow-outs on my RV and being surprised by a low tire that almost rolled my towed Jeep, I looked for a solution I could afford. I had no wish to go through the cost and time of mounting internal monitors, which greatly narrowed the field.

I settled on the Hopkins system and after more than 5,000 miles with them, I can say that they save me time & effort with accurate readings. If I hear or feel something strange, I need only look at the monitor to see if the tires have a problem. They give me peace of mind to drive long hours on the road without worry.

This is a "must buy" for anyone who spends long hours on the road. Between ensuring proper inflation to improve gas mileage and preventing costly repairs after a blowout, they have saved me far more money than they cost.

I bought the six sensor system and two additional sensors (8 sensors) for my truck and my travel trailer. First problem, the set up instructions are incomplete. A call to customer support cleared that up (they know the instructions are confusing). Problem two: One sensor went "Dead". Another call to customer service (press in on the sensor stem) fixed it for a while but it failed again. Then another sensor went "Totally Missing" as in Alarm! Pull Over! But the sensor was there and the tire OK. That sensor never worked again. By this time I really wanted to just reset the whole system and try to install it and all the sensors again but there is no Master Reset and removing the sensors and unplugging the console didn't reset them. When I re-plugged the console in it said it was reading the sensors and showing their air pressure but the sensors were in my pocket at the time. Hmmmm.... By this time I was only trying to get 4 of the eight sensors working on just my truck but the console was showing 2 sensors working, 1 sensor not showing any pressure at all, and 1 sensor location indicating the tire was missing. (Yeah, it really can do that.)

Because I had put off installing the system until we were getting ready to start our vacation the return window for the system expired so I'm out the full cost. I have ordered a "Pressure Plus 8000 Series" system directly from Pacific Dualies with overnight delivery. I hope it works better.

Concept is fine, Sensors are a hugh problem installing on Bud wheels. Screen is so small to read for seniors, but the worse problem is instalation as one always has to restart the monitor, by removing and replacing the sensors. Awful job!!!!

we were told that we need a tire pressure system for our RV. Love that feeling of being safe, need to know when you are loosing tire pressure. You can spend a lot more, but this system is all you need.