Actually ARENGCA, your input was very much appreciated. To show you how out of touch I can be at times, I had no idea that the military had anything like the CTIS you just spoke of!
I have noticed the triangular lever looking thingie on some of the Hummer's.......now, I finally know what that thing is.....thanks!

Tread.

P.S. Cool system, they should consider incorporating the CTIS system in passenger cars.

Sorry I missed the thread the first time around...

Tread.

Actually, Tread...they do offer the CTIS on some (very) high-end vehicles. It is an expensive option.

Example: I used to own (in the Army "I signed for it so it's mine" way) a 2-1/2 ton truck, one of the modern ones. The CTIS valve body had crapped in it, and it sat on 6 flats anytime it was parked. After a lot of fooling around trying to get the part, my AMSA shop chief (who happened to be my 1st Sergeant) finally got to digging. The Army bought X number of vehicles. They also bought the manufacturers assurance that the CTIS valve body was indestructible. So they bought X+N number of spare valve bodies, where N is nowhere near the number of valve bodies required in the life cycle of the vehicles. The valves were no longer in production, and would require setting up a new line to make. Cost per copy: ~$6000. For each valve.

At any rate, the system is not cheap. I have heard that the Hummer has it as an option, though. It is also available for off-road/construction equipment, which is where it might actually come in handy. And for now, all military cargo vehicles and even the Stryker have it installed as standard equipment.