TPMS Story Addition
The Tire Patrol from RVI, makers of RVI towed vehicle braking systems, should have been included in the “Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems‚ article in the June 2023 issue (page 34).
The Tire Patrol tire pressure monitoring system comes with preassigned sensors labeled for each tire, which expedites the setup and pairing process for the RV owner. The system provides real-time tire pressure and temperature information, as well as alerts in case of a blowout, low or high PSI, and high temperature in a tire. Data is transmitted every three minutes, and the sensor performs a tire diagnostic every three seconds and will alert immediately if it detects an issue.
Tire Patrol can monitor one to two vehicles and up to 14 tires. It comes with the Command Center tablet and hub, which has a 7-inch screen. Batteries are expected to last 2 years or more. When a battery needs to be replaced, owners mail a copy of their receipt for the sensors to RVI, and they will ship new sensors for $16 each.
The MSRP for a six-tire system is $540 with the Command Center; $720 for a 10-tire system.
For more information, visit www.rvibrake.com or call (800) 815-2159.
DEF Warning
Thank you for the increased understanding of diesel emissions systems provided by the May 2023 article (“Diesel Emission Systems Primer,‚ page 30). Be aware! On two occasions, once in Nebraska and once at an auto parts store in Bowling Green, Kentucky, I purchased a container of DEF that had been emptied and refilled with water. Fortunately, I noticed the seal had been tampered with before I added the contents to the DEF tank.
The first time, I purchased the DEF along the interstate, and I was miles down the road before I opened the container to use it. When I took the lid off the plastic jug, I noticed that the seal was missing. I poured a little out and instantly knew it was water. The second time, at an auto parts store in Bowling Green, all seemed fine until I noticed the dried urea crystals around the spout. The collapsible pour spout hadn’t been used, but some DEF had spilled inside the box. The seal was loose under the cap. I went back into the store and showed the manager, who replaced the box with a new one.
Our View/Navion group has others who discovered DEF that obviously was refilled and returned. So, open the cap and check the seal!
The only solution is for retailers not to accept returns of DEF.
― Jack Rigby, F482655
Hudson, Ohio
Good Directions Needed
These days, campground directories do not contain driving directions for all their listings. Not everyone has a smartphone or GPS, so a phone call to the campground is necessary to make a reservation and get directions. Nothing is more frustrating than to hear, “Gee, I’m new here and don’t know the area‚ or, even worse, to get incorrect directions because the person on the phone doesn’t know north from south or right from left.
Owners/managers, if you don’t have knowledgeable people on the phone, give them a “cheat sheet‚ and make it detailed and complete. For instance, “If coming from the south on northbound I-7, take exit 14 Apple Avenue. At the bottom of the ramp, turn left on Apple and go to the second stoplight and turn right on Plum Road. Our campground is µ-mile on the left. Enter the second driveway to check in at the office. Or, if coming southbound on I-7, take exit 15 Peach Street and turn right on Peach, etc., etc.
We can’t support you if we can’t find you.
― Chuck Blodgett, F325637
Duvall, Washington
We want to hear from you! Family RVing welcomes comments about articles published in the magazine or topics of interest to RV owners. Email readerswrite@fmca.com; mail to Readers Write, FMCA, 8291 Clough Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45244. Please include your name, city, and state/province. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.