Join the GRR Facebook group. There's always current info. If you don't have FB just create an account with a disposable email address and just use it for groups that interest you.

The Kimberly Guide newsletter found via the link below gives up to date information on the region including GRR.

https://www.kimberleyaustralia.com

If you can, practice plugging an old tyre while not under stress. Once you have gone through the process once it makes all the difference.

We air up & down all the time, but it's quick with 3 compressors.

We have found it is quicker to take off all the sensors, then change pressure, then all back on. Rather than one by one.

 

Put the sensors in a tray off the ground. Any speck of dust in there & they will very slowly leak & then you may think you have an actual leak.

 

Find out the duty cycle of your compressor so you do not cook it.

 

Attach something to the sensor spanner so you do not lose it!

dabbler wrote:

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 If you don't have FB just create an account with a disposable email address and just use it for groups that interest you.

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I did that a couple of years back but after a few months Facebook insisted I give them a phone number so I told them I didn't want to and they haven't spoken to me since :)

When are.....
Don't use the TPMS locking spanner, to much mucking around for tug and tandem caravan, have been using the system for around 20 years and have not had a sensor pinched, but then again rarely park in cities. Van in for service today minus sensors.

Definitely a good idea for tyre plugging practice, if not done before.

Re the use of tyre spanner to lock the sensors, I didn't use mine - I just tightened the sensors by hand. On a lot of corrugations, one came loose. Because I didn't have my caravan on, the monitor was screaming at me all the time, so I turned it off. Lots of corrugations and finally a slide alerted me to a potential problem, so I stopped. On a negative camber piece of road, WAY out in the boonies. Flat tyre. *%^$#@

Jack up the car with my 2 T trolley jack, but the jack wheels were too wide and the bulge of the flat tyre prevented me from putting the jack pad in the correct place. Straight road, but strong negative camber with a very loose surface. Ultimately I got the wheel off and the spare wheel fitted (because of my respiratory condition, this took well over an hour, and considerable distress), and I was about to put the dead wheel back on the rear of the car. I checked the tyre for cuts and nails, screws etc, but nothing showed. When I was about to close the spare wheel cover, my wife asked if the tyre pressure sensor would foul the door. I said that it was OK, but I then checked it and the damned thing was loose! It had vibrated loose on the corrugations, and had let the air out of the valve. We hitailed it into town and pumped the dead tyre up at a servo, and next morning it was still the same pressure so I refitted it to the car again. So make sure that you tighten the sensors tight to avoid my mistake...

Corrugated roads is my concern with the sensors.

 

My view is, ok it takes a little bit longer to tighten up using the nuts, but after half a dozen pressure changes you get pretty proficient at the task.

 

But I think of the few extra minutes for this task from the point of view that you have continuous pressure data for the entire time you are driving. That is an awful lot of peace of mind knowing you have continuous pressure data.

 

Additionally in the morning when you leave your campsite once the car reaches 20kph you have an up to date reading. So you do not have to fiddle around stuffing your back checking each tyre thoroughly.

 

If you do get a pressure warning most of the time you will have plenty of time to pull over to a safe place. You will not have a destroyed tyre on a blind corner.

 

So, tightening your nuts reduces stress while driving!

 

 

P.S. Get a dual compressor, it's twice as quick, a real bonus if towing, & effectively your duty cycle double as you get the job done in half the time. You can parallel them if you already have one.

 

If it does not have a pressure on/off switch it is very simple to add one. When you are between tyres the compressor will switch off so you have its maximum duty cycle not wasted when not actually inflating tyres.

 

Whenarewethere wrote:

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My view is, ok it takes a little bit longer to tighten up using the nuts, but after half a dozen pressure changes you get pretty proficient at the task.

 

P.S. Get a dual compressor, it's twice as quick, a real bonus if towing, & effectively your duty cycle double as you get the job done in half the time. You can parallel them if you already have one.

 

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My rims have 2 valve holes and metal valve bodies. The TPMS never has to come off. 

Dual compressor? That is just 2 inadequate ones bolted together. Just get a decent compressor and be done with it. 

12 Volt Air Compressor PX07 Bare | Boss Air Suspension Shop

Cheers,

Peter

Whenarewethere wrote:

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20 to 35psi 28 seconds. 35 to 20psi 60 seconds.

 

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With air compressors, speed is a secondary consideration (but I bet the PX07 will beat yours).

 

If speed is critical (and I don't know why it would be), get one of these. Endless Air - Engine driven air compressor

The most important aspect is reliability and durability. Does not matter how fast it is if it stops working.

For deflation, I use one of these. 4X4 4WD Rapid Tyre/Tire Deflator Air Deflators with Pressure Gauge Valve Tool | eBay

Cheers,

Peter

I have 3 compressors so there is 2 levels of redundancy. I wouldn't want to rely on just one compressor.

Also each compressor has quick release fastening for maintenance, including air & electrical plugs. Or if needed replace it.

 

Yep.
The other thing I would say is to get off the GRR and onto as many "side tracks" as possible.
That is where the sights are, not on the main road which is simply another gravel road.
And allow lots of time.
Cheers,
Peter

Thanks again for all the tips and suggestions, theyre all greatly appreciated.