Automatic tire inflation systems

We use them on trailers and they are great, looking at ~$500 for a complete system, so they pay for themselves if it saves 1 road failure. Ours are Hendricksons, which has a white light on the trailer that comes on when air is flowing into the tires to let you know there's an issue.

I've never seen ones for steers. I have seen them for drives, but they were not like the trailer systems that use air from the truck. They were actually compressors mounted the axle flanges. We didn't opt for that, it was over $1000 to do 2 axles and hey didn't look so reliable. They are heavy on 1 side, so they stay level and tire rotation causes the pumping.

IMO, on a truck, you might be better off with a tire pressure monitoring system rather than a tire airing system. The monitoring systems only have a sensor in each wheel that transmit pressures to a dash mounted unit. I've seen them for $400-500 and a few for a little over $900 that'll do truck and trailer.

 

Haven't used a system for drive tires. We have used both meritor and Hendrickson systems for trailers. We have had a couple of blowouts on retreaded tires. Another thing you still need to keep an eye on the tires, if the stator filter going to a wheel gets too dirty it may give a false reading to the system and the warning light won't come on alerting you to slack tire. If your trailer is properly aligned the systems do help with tire wear.

 

Is this with Meritor systems? I only have experience with Hendrickson, which have a flow switch for light. If air is flowing, the light comes on no matter what. There is a petcock right after the box that you can crack open during a PM to verify that the light works. The light is the only "electronics" in a Hendrickson system. It's just a regulator set to the tire PSI. We did try some Pressure Guard systems and they were prone to leaks in the hubcap putting pressure in the hub and blowing out seals, I do not recommend Pressure Guard systems. We converted those to Hendrickson Hubcaps and haven't had an issue since.

One think I've noticed with the Hendricksons is that you have to snug the wheel hoses up with pliers or it wont seat in far enough to open the valve. Finger tight usually doesn't cut it. Other than that, they're very simple systems that have been little trouble. The worst part about them is 1 light for 8 tires, with a small leak, the tires still come in full, so you have to check every tire, usually with soapy water to find the leaker.

 

i forget what exactly the cost is for a retrofit, i have a thread from a few years ago when i had it installed on my belly dump a few years ago. the system has been great. biggest problem i have had is tire tecs breaking the airlines off the hub.

 

I have Meritor PSI on my new trailer. its awesome! quoted $2200 at utility dealer to install it another trailer.

 

I love them. Saved me from a shop quite a few times. I'll show up for a drop and hook and find a really low tire. After rolling a few miles its aired up and good to go.

I run crossfire wheel equalizers on my drives. So nice to have a single point of air fill up and a quick gauge to see your over 100 psi.

I didn't know you could get the setup for $500. That's cheap.