Tymate TPMS Review For RVs & Trailers 6 Sensor M12-3 Model

Disclaimer: We received the Tymate RV TPMS M12-3 for free to test and review. This review is our honest opinion and experience.

Tymate Tire Pressure Monitoring System Overview

Most cars have built in tire pressure monitoring systems, also called TPMS, but most RVs and trailers don’t. 

The tires on your motorhome or trailer are just as important as the tires on your vehicle. 

Things can go wrong at any time, and if you have quality TPMS sensors like the Tymate M12-3 (click to view on Amazon) on every tire, you will know instantly if a tire is having or starting to have an issue. 

It might sound a little silly that a sensor needs to tell you if your RV or trailer tire has had a blowout, but believe me, it isn’t always as obvious as you might think. 

I’ve seen trailers on the side of the road with bare rims. The tires had blown miles back and the driver was unaware, so they kept driving until just the rim was left.

A tire pressure monitoring system for an RV or trailer will alert you when it senses certain issues to help you avoid those kinds of situations. 

See Also: The 5 Things You Must Do When A Trailer Starts To Sway

Tymate has a few different TPMS models. Each one is for different kinds of vehicles. The M12-3 is made specifically for RVs and trailers. 

Just as a warning, tire pressure monitoring systems can have issues just like any wireless electronic.

If it feels like something is wrong when you’re driving you should pull over, even if the TPMS says everything is ok.

Now, let’s talk about the Tymate RV TPMS and its capabilities. 

Tymate TPMS for RV & Trailer

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Tymate RV TPMS Features

• Fast Leak (Tire Blowout) Alarm
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• High Tire Pressure Warning
• High Temperature Warning
• Sensor Battery Low Indicator
• Real Time Tire Data
• Up to 87 PSI
• Monitor Auto On/Off 
• Solar Charging Monitor
• 2 Year Warrenty

Sensor Range

The biggest difference between the RV tire pressure monitoring system and the regular ones made by Tymate is the distance the sensors can be from the monitor.

Regular TPMS don’t need to have very strong antennas, because the signal doesn’t need to travel very far. 

But on RVs and trailers, there’s a lot more distance and things that can cause interference. 

See Also: Best RV 5th-Wheel & Travel Trailer Tires Review/Buying Guide

The M12-3 Blue Model with 6 sensors works up to 45 feet. That’s the distance between the furthest TPMS sensor and the monitor that goes inside the cab. 

There’s a black M12-3 model as well that comes with 4 sensors. That version is only rated for distances up to 36 feet.

Make sure you get the blue model if you’re using it for an RV or trailer. 

The Tymate blue model also comes with a repeater antenna that will boost the signal from the sensors.

This will help them stay connected to the monitor when the distance is further and at higher speeds.

See Also: Slime Heavy Duty Tire Inflator Reviewed For Truck and RV Use

TPMS Tire Sensors

The sensors are little stem caps that screw onto the Schrader valve of each tire. They’re only 3/4 of an inch in diameter and a little over 1/2 an inch tall. 

Each sensor goes on a specific tire, so make sure you pay attention to each sensor’s label before installing them. 

There’s also a dust cap included to help protect the sensors, so don’t forget to install those as well. 

Important: Make sure you turn on the monitor before installing the sensors to make setup easier. 

The sensors use CR1632 batteries (click to view on Amazon). They come with batteries already installed, but you may need to replace them sooner than you might think. 

There’s a tool included to help you change the TPMS sensor batteries. Scroll down to the end of this review to see more detailed instructions on how to change the batteries. 

See Also: How To Install Solar Panel On RV Roof & Connect To Battery

Dash Monitor Features

The Tymate RV TPMS comes with a small monitor with an LED screen you place somewhere on the dash in your vehicle or RV. 

The monitor can be charged with a mini USB cable or by the sun through the built in solar panel on top. 

The monitor can display pressure information in bar or PSI and temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius.

When everything is set up the monitor will show you the real time pressure and temperature of each tire once you’ve started driving faster than 10 mph. 

Most TPMS systems won’t start updating the PSI until the vehicle has reached a certain speed. 

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You input the different alarm parameters manually and the monitor will both beep and show the alarm code on the screen when something is wrong. 

It also shows the battery levels and when it’s being charged by the solar panel. 

The LED screen has a blue backlight. It’s easy to see both during the day and at night. 

It uses a vibration sensor to wake itself up when you enter your vehicle or motorhome.

It will also turn off after a few minutes when it senses inactivity. 

You can manually turn it on and off by holding down the “-” button on the top. 

Ways to Use the 6 Tire Sensors

The Tymate RV TPMS comes with 6 tire sensors. There are a few ways you can use them. 

The 6 sensors are perfect for dually motorhomes and triple axle trailers. The monitor can display a dually diagram or show 3 separate axles. 

It’s also ok to use just 4 of the sensors if you have a tandem axle trailer but you need the blue version for the long distance capabilities.

See Also: Towing Cars Behind RVs – The Flat Towing Guide

Some RVers use 4 of the sensors for their motorhome tires and the other two for a tow dolly or trailer. 

It’s even possible to use the 6 sensors for multiple trailers. For example, you could put 4 on a travel trailer, and the remaining two on a small single axle trailer.

It will still work even if you tow the trailers at different times.

There are lots of different ways to use the 6 sensor option, you just need to know how to set up the monitor correctly. 

Alarms

The most important feature of a TPMS is the alarms that are in place to help you avoid accidents. 

The Tymate M12-3 RV tire pressure monitoring system has multiple alarms for low and high tire pressure, fast leakage, and high temperature. 

The low and high pressure parameters are manually set so you can customize them to the front and rear tires.

You also set the temperature limit manually, which is useful for summer and winter driving. 

When an alarm goes off you can silence it by pressing the “set” button, on the top of the monitor. 

Sometimes the alarm will continue to sound until the issue is fixed. 

Spare Tire Sensor

The Tymate monitor is capable of connecting up to 7 sensors.

The kit only includes 6, but if you want one more to put on a spare tire you can get that here (click to view on Amazon).

People often forget to fill the spare tire and check its pressure regularly. When they get a flat tire, they pull out the spare only to find that it’s flat and unusable. 

Putting a TPMS sensor on the spare tire will prevent this issue. You will see the spare tire pressure in real time and know when it needs a little more air. 

See Also: RV Truck & Trailer Towing Capacity – How Much Can I Tow?

What’s in the Box?

Here’s what’s included with the Tymate TPMS for RV & Trailer with 6 tire sensors. 

• Solar Powered Dash Monitor
• Dash Pad
• Repeater
• 6 Tire Sensors
• Battery Change Tool
• Anti Theft Nuts
• Wrench
• Dust Covers
• Mini USB to USB charging cable
• Extra O-Rings
• Batteries
• Instructions

Tymate TPMS Setup

Installing the tire sensors and setting up the dash monitor is pretty simple and straightforward. 

First, you want to charge the monitor using the included USB cable.

The initial charge should be for 2.5 hours. After that, the solar panel should be able to keep the monitor fully charged. 

Turn on the monitor by holding down the “-” button on top of the monitor.

The monitor must be turned on before installing the tire sensors to ensure connection.

Once the monitor is on you can start installing the tire sensors. 

Make sure you install the sensors according to the label on the top of them. 

For example, the L1 sensor will go on the first tire on the driver’s side. The R1 will go on the first tire on the passenger side. 

Start by putting on the rubber dust cap with the big opening facing the tire.

Then screw on the locking nut that helps hold the TPMS sensor in place and prevents theft. 

When you screw on the tire sensor some air will be released from the tire.

This is normal and the best way to prevent air loss is to screw on the sensor as quickly as possible.

See Also: Best Weight Distribution Hitches With Sway Control 

Once the tire sensor is snug and no air is being released you turn the anti-theft nut counter clockwise until it’s firmly against the back of the sensor. 

Then take the rubber dust cover and flip it over so it covers the nut and sides of the sensor. 

I installed the sensors with the monitor next to me so I could make sure each one was connected before moving on to the next sensor. 

When we installed the sensors on the triple axle trailer the monitor automatically showed the first 4 sensors on one screen and then the last two on another. 

The two screens switch every 10 seconds so you can monitor everything without having to press any buttons. 

Installation on Dually Motorhome

Our motorhome is a dually, which means the tire sensor installation is a little more difficult than a triple axle trailer. 

In our case, the gap between the tires was big enough for me to reach my hand through. So I was able to carefully screw on the tire sensor. 

Some dually owners aren’t so lucky. If the stem is in a difficult to reach place, or it’s too tight to fit, the outer tire will need to be removed to install the sensor. 

See Also: How To Find Nearby RV Dump Stations & Fresh Water Fill-Up

It can be a hassle, but one of the benefits of installing a TPMS on a dually motorhome or trailer is you don’t have to go through the often difficult process of checking the tire pressure regularly.

Once the TPMS is on, you will know the real time pressure of the inside tires, so you won’t have to worry about what’s going on underneath your RV. 

On that same note, if you ever need to fill the tire, it’s going to be difficult to get the TPMS sensor cap off. 

So it’s a bit of a catch-22. But for safety when driving a TPMS can be invaluable, especially because you can’t see the inner dually tires easily. 

Tymate RV TPMS Review

We tested the Tymate M12-3 (click to view on Amazon) on a 25 foot triple axle flatbed trailer and on our 24 foot dually motorhome. 

The installation of the sensors on the triple axle was very easy and the whole process only took about 15 minutes. 

The hardest part was putting in the pressure parameters for each tire. 

I installed the Tymate on the trailer first because I wanted to see how strong the signal was between the monitor and the sensors.

The monitor had no issues showing us the information from the tire sensors, even when driving at highway speeds. 

We didn’t need to install the repeater, but it may be necessary for a 40 foot travel trailer or 5th-wheel. 

I recommend trying it without the repeater first because it seems like the antenna in the monitor is pretty good and can handle most RV and trailer lengths. 

See Also: Jackery Explorer 1000 Power Station Review (For RV/Camping)

I thought having to use 2 screens for the triple axle would be annoying, but it wasn’t an issue.

The monitor switched between screens at just the right speed and I was able to monitor all of the tires while driving. 

I tested the alarm by setting the parameters to higher than the actual pressure of the tires, and it worked perfectly. 

The audible alarm is loud enough to be clearly heard even over the sound of the engine, and the screen is very easy to see. 

The installation on our motorhome was a little more difficult since we needed to put the sensor on the inner dually tires, but once they were on, everything worked perfectly. 

There were no signal issues in the RV, so we didn’t need to install the repeater. 

I’ve read that people install them inside closets or cabinets when they are necessary. And they use a light or the RV propane alarm as a 12 volt power source. 

Overall I was impressed by the Tymate RV TPMS. There were zero signal issues and the screen connected to the sensors instantly. 

The monitor was easy to see while driving and the solar panel seems to be keeping it fully charged. 

Even if we switch to an RV with only 4 tires someday, the 6 sensor version will still be useful since it can be used with just 4 sensors. 

What I Like

• Strong signal and long range even when not using the repeater
• The monitor is easy to see
• Solar and USB charging for the monitor
• Easy to set up
• Dust covers and anti-theft locks included
• Can connect to a 7th sensor for a spare tire
• Monitor has an automatic on/off
• Can be used on dually tires
• Tells real time PSI and temperature
• The alarm is loud and easy to hear when driving

What I Don’t Like

• Has a PSI limit of 87. Not the best for tires that are going to be filled to 80 PSI. 
• Many report batteries needing to be replaced after just a few months.
• Occasional false alarms

Tymate TPMS Battery Info

As I mentioned earlier in this review, all Tymate tire pressure monitoring systems come with batteries already inside the tire sensors. 

The batteries are supposed to last around 2 years, but depending on how long the kit was sitting at the store, the batteries might not last that long.

See Also: 5 Most Useful RV & Camping Gadgets That Use Drill Batteries

It also depends a lot on how often you drive, a full-time RVer who camps year round will need to replace the sensor batteries before a weekend camper will. 

Battery replacement is simple, and the included tool makes it easy to open the sensors. 

The sensors use CR1632 batteries (click to view on Amazon)

To open the sensors all you need to do is unscrew the top from the bottom. The tool makes it really easy to get a grip on the small parts without damaging them. 

Once the sensor is opened you can see the battery inside. Just slide it out and replace it with a new one. 

Make sure the rubber O-ring is still at the bottom of the threads. The O-ring helps with waterproofing the sensors.

There are also extra O-rings included with the kit.

For more information about Tymate’s different tire pressure monitoring systems or to find their product manuals online check out their official website.

Have any more questions about the Tymate RV tire pressure monitoring system? Leave a comment below.