Your car is already packed with electronics. The dashboard tells you speed. It shows fuel levels. It flashes when a door is ajar. Luxury models even give you rearview cameras. Advanced radar warns you if you drift lanes or triggers automatic braking before a collision. Modern vehicles are smart. They often outthink the driver.
But there is a blind spot. Your trailer.
When you pull a heavy load, you lose direct feedback. If a tire on the trailer is bleeding air, you won’t see it in the side mirror. If the suspension is vibrating enough to shake apart your cargo, you might not feel it until it’s too late. You need eyes on the back end. That is the specific job of towing monitoring systems.
These devices provide real-time data about the trailer behind your tow vehicle. They track tire pressure. They monitor tire position. They check if brake lights are functioning. They verify battery charging status. They even detect dangerous vibration levels. The technology is pricey. If you tow occasionally, it might feel like overkill. But if you haul frequently, the cost pays for itself. A proper monitor protects your investment in the trailer. More importantly, it helps you avoid a catastrophic accident on the highway.
We will break down the different types of towing monitors below. This should help you decide if this tech belongs in your garage.
Types of Towing Monitoring Systems
Checking tire pressure manually is tedious. Stopping every few hours to crawl under the frame with a gauge breaks the flow of the road. It also exposes you to risk. A remote tire pressure monitoring system solves this. It protects the investment in your tires. More importantly, it can prevent a blowout or accident. Several options exist on the market.
The Tire Sentry has been around for a while. It monitors pressure on both the tow vehicle and the trailer. For a higher-end solution, consider the PressurePro Wireless Tire Monitoring System. You can mount multiple sensors on the trailer wheels. They provide continuous data while driving. The display unit mounts to your dashboard. It shows pressure in psi, bar, or kPa. Choose the unit that makes sense to you. A telescoping antenna keeps the dashboard unit linked to the tire sensors. The system also logs up to 45 days of data. You can review trends later.
Detecting Vibration and Separation
Pressure isn’t the only metric that matters. The Tattle-Trail TTK towing monitor system watches for vibrations. It alerts you if they become excessive. What causes these shakes? Bad tires. Suspension issues. A loose hitch. The monitor detects the anomaly. It warns you before something snaps.
In extreme cases, it detects total separation. If the trailer disconnects from the tow vehicle, the system triggers an emergency alert. That kind of warning gives you time to react. It prevents a runaway trailer scenario.
Smart Diagnostics for Lights and Battery
The Yazaki Intellitow Monitor, announced in 2007, offers deeper intelligence. It provides real-time diagnostics for electrical systems. It checks running lights. It verifies left and right turn signals. It monitors brake lights and backup lights. It also tracks the trailer battery charge circuit status.
Yazaki designed these monitors to be submersible. You can use them when towing a boat. Saltwater exposure won’t kill them. They complement pressure and vibration monitors. They cover the blind spots in other systems.
The market for these devices shifts. Availability for specific models like the Intellitow may vary. But the technology exists. It works. Use it.
