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Checking tyre pressure on Caravan

J

Javert

Do I need to buy a tyre pressure inflator and checker for my new caravan? I'm guessing that it's pretty hard to drive your caravan up to the tyre inflators at most normal filling stations?
 
We did buy one for the reasons you give. It can be difficult to get a car and caravan in position to use the garage ones. Make sure whatever you buy will go up to the tyre pressure you need for the caravan. We also ask them to check it when it goes in for it's service.
 
Some tyre pressure gauges don't go high enough for caravan tyres, some of which need to be 65 psi.

It's always best to set tyre pressures when cold - so taking the car and/or caravan to a forecourt defeats the object.
 
The tyre inflators at all our local petrol stations are unreliable and at worse plain wrong. I use a plug into car pump more than adequate, and you can check it where ever you are. there pretty cheap but as with all things you mostly get what you pay for.
 
You might want to consider if you get tyre inflator, will you be able to get it to reach either of the tyres.

They're usually 12v powered from the car 12v socket but I can't get my car near enough when at home.

I have a 12v socket in the caravan but its still out of reach for the inflator to be able to connect to the tyres. Fortunately I have an old 12v car battery so I just lug that out and connect the inflator to it.
 
I used a car foot pump, or my cycle track pump. Both have woefully inaccurate gauges. So I bought a PCL digital gauge. Very good to use, no mishaps that lead to leaks as you are fitting it. Also provides tyre depth gauge too. Big variation in prices so shop around. At present Amazon by far cheapest.

Gauge pcl
 
Sam Vimes said:
Do you have a make or link for that please?
Click to expand...
It's a Von Haus, purchased on Amazon. It also has a cable to connect the charger to a cigarette lighter connection as well as a mains connection. It has a digital display that can be set to psi or bar. We've had it about 2 years, I think it was about £30.
 
I have an AA inflator and a 12volt socket in each side locker. There is also a 12volt socket in the boot of the car and a 3 metre extension for when I forget about the sockets in the lockers which is just about every time.
I also run a cheap TPMS on the van so checking pressure is easy 🤔
 
I've been using Ryobi (18v battery) one for few years. 12v ones are hassle, even when you have gelcel to power them remotely not as convenient as built in battery ones.
 
Andy Norfolk said:
It's a Von Haus, purchased on Amazon. It also has a cable to connect the charger to a cigarette lighter connection as well as a mains connection. It has a digital display that can be set to psi or bar. We've had it about 2 years, I think it was about £30.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I have a couple of Von Haus tools and they've proved to be good.

I forgot that I also have a Jump Start pack that has a 12v output on it, but equally forget it's in the car buried with the spare tyre so it doesn't get used.
 
Sam Vimes said:
You might want to consider if you get tyre inflator, will you be able to get it to reach either of the tyres.

They're usually 12v powered from the car 12v socket but I can't get my car near enough when at home.

I have a 12v socket in the caravan but its still out of reach for the inflator to be able to connect to the tyres. Fortunately I have an old 12v car battery so I just lug that out and connect the inflator to it.
Click to expand...
I have a lighter socket adapter which has crocodile clips on the other end so use the caravan leisure battery for the side of the caravan I can't reach from the car.
 
Dustydog said:
Seeing all these great gauges how do you know the level of accuracy! How are they calibrated?
Click to expand...
Ask the manufacturers..........

Whilst absolute accuracy would be nice, in practice for normal road cars as long as they are within +/-1.5psi of the indicated value there isn't much a problem, as after a few minutes on the road most tyres will warm up by a few degrees which will naturally increase the pressure. What is more important is the consistency of the gauge, so they you can inflate each tyre consistently.

I dont know of any way in which the public can get a tyre pressure gauge calibrated, Commercially where pressure measurement may be critical there are laboratories that offer proper calibration against National Standards, but at a considerable cost.
 
ProfJohnL said:
Ask the manufacturers..........

Whilst absolute accuracy would be nice, in practice for normal road cars as long as they are within +/-1.5psi of the indicated value there isn't much a problem, as after a few minutes on the road most tyres will warm up by a few degrees which will naturally increase the pressure. What is more important is the consistency of the gauge, so they you can inflate each tyre consistently.

I dont know of any way in which the public can get a tyre pressure gauge calibrated, Commercially where pressure measurement may be critical there are laboratories that offer proper calibration against National Standards, but at a considerable cost.
Click to expand...
With most cars I've had in the last 50 years, I've treated the car makers' inflation figures as starting points for my own experimentation and usually end up with a difference from their figure - most of those cars would show different handling and wear qualities with a 3 psi difference in cold pressure, ie +/- 1.5 psi - but I'm aware that some cars are insensitive to small differences in tyre pressure.
 
Sam Vimes said:
Thanks. I have a couple of Von Haus tools and they've proved to be good.

I forgot that I also have a Jump Start pack that has a 12v output on it, but equally forget it's in the car buried with the spare tyre so it doesn't get used.
Click to expand...
Isn't Von Haus manufactured in China?
 
Buckman said:
Isn't Von Haus manufactured in China?
Click to expand...
What’s the problem with Von Haus being made in China? It’s a respected make, retailed by many reputable British outlets. I don’t understand this paranoia against items made in China. I bet if you did a domestic, caravan and car inventory you will find numerous items made in China , all of which are doing their job perfectly well.

My Alko mower has a Chinese engine, and given seven years faultless service.
 
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