we only carry one spare--plus an extra bottle-jack---plus a big breaker bar and socket and an extension bar for the (dual) rear wheels and we have always got the levelling blocks we use to level the camper, at least we can change a wheel when needed. We do also carry two cans of tyre fix/blow up stuff.
My biggest fear now is getting a rock between the rear tyres---it happened in Portugal this winter and wrecked the wall of one tyre (we were so relieved they were not both written off!!)------we had quite a job to locate a new tyre.
We did get a slow leak in Alaska---but got to a tyre shop and they did ALL the work !!
Nigel & Pamala----Suffolk-UK----NO RAIN today
As a matter of interest----when we had our new tyres fitted before our winter road-trip, the tyre fitter had to use a sledge-hammer to get the rear wheels off--we would NEVER have got them off if we had to on the road !! ------they now have anti-sieze on them !!!
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edited 05/12/12 06:01pm by sundowners *
Skipj, the tire gun works well on truck tires or passenger car ones. My son in law had a flat here at the house not too long ago, on his Ford F250 with the big mudder tires on it. LOL I plugged the tire, ran the air hose out to it and within 20 minutes he was headed down to the tire shop, to get it patched inside the tire. Just pulled the screw out of the tire and never had to take it off the truck to plug it.
Again without an air compressor with you, the plugging kits are not of any value. Last summer's flat west of Dawson City Yukon, taught me to always take my 12 volt ViAir compressor with me. I had decided with the new Silent Armor tires on the back, I shouldn't have any flats and due to a shortage of space in our Lance 845 TC, the compressor was not taken. Judgment error on my part, not to be repeated.
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joe b.
Stuart Florida
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Chevy 3500 DRW Dmax CC - Rockwood 8281 SS 5th Whl & 2008 Lance 845 TC www.pajbcooper.com web site
Alaska Trip 2011 posted
Colo-Utah-Ariz 2012 trip posted
"Without challenge, adventure is impossible".
Get yourself a tire plug kit. It may just save you from having to pull the flat and fighting with the spare. On our last outing in the hills of Arizona I punctured the left front tire on the truck. I was able to plug it with two tire plugs and use my portable compressor to fill back up with air. The next day we stopped at a tire store in the first town we came to and they pulled the tire and patched it properly.
Just remember, a plug is not intended to be a regular permanent fix. But they work great in emergency situations. In my case it saved me alot of work and headaches.
2009 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually D/A, Supersprings, Stable Loads, Bilstein Shocks, Hellwig Sway Bar, Front Timbrens.
2010 Arctic Fox 1140 DB, 220 watts solar, custom 4 in 1 "U" shaped dinette/couch, 59 interior and exterior mods to date and still adding
Agree with the tire plug kits-Ive seen guys use a whole pack to fix a sidewall rip-sketchy yes but if it gets you a few more miles closer to help.... But there relativly easy to use work good for punctures. A tube can help if youve ruined a tire-getting hard to find though, if you do Id get old patch kit for them as well.
Not mentioned are valves stems, easy to snag break or yank out. And or reseating a bead. Stems are cheap easy to replace once you break the bead, smaller the tire the more dififcult. However breaking bead & reseating a bead unless you have serious air source takes a bit more umm creativity. A high lift or other jack can be used to break the bead-tire on ground jack against frame-or another rig driving on it (tire). Depending on wheel/tire some you can push one wall toward middle to get stem in. Some need to pull one side off wheel to get enough room, need pry bars to get back on. Reseating with out air, main tool is a racthet strap large enough to go around tire. And 'just' enough explosive propellant to pop bead. This can be extremly dangerous though, but common practice. Using the ratchet requires less force (less explosive propellant) forcing tire walls out instead of expanding whole tire, tying wheel to something not a bad idea. Ive never lauched a full size but didnt scale down my propellant application when I reseated a wheel barrow tire. 20' straight up in the air.
We carry a tire puncture repair kit (and, 12V compressor will alligator clips to run off one of our 2 under-hood batteries in front; and to fill rear tire(s), tap into the camper's rear battery). I don't use tire repair gunk (sprayed into tire cavity).
We carry one full-sized spare only. I have a breaker bar, etc, too.
If its for an African expedition, & I was using your truck/combo I would:
-carry 2 full-sized spares;
-use at least a Load Rated: D tire with the thickest tread depth available;
-bring a set of 4 steel tire valve stem replacements;
-bring 2 tire puncture repair kits (1 back-up);
-appropriate high lift jack with large baseplate;
-a bottle jack (as a safety under frame).
*its a toss-up if I'd bring a back-up 12V air compressor...hmmm?
As you have guessed I am concerned about the scenario where you fit the spare tyre, then that gets punctured 20 miles later and now you are stuck in a desert still with a long walk to convince someone who speaks a different language to help you
There was mention of re-inforced tyres. However I bought a set of new BFGoodrich AT KOs in January, so I'll be looking to live with them.
The tyre repair kit that Joe B points to is the same as one I bought the other week while in South Africa - so I'm glad I've bought something that several of you have mentioned. Never seen the tyre plugger gun - that looks very interesting and a reasonable price - I might investigate one of those to go alongside the tyre repair kit. Anything that can be used to repair the tyre temporarily without having to break the bead on it would be good. I don't carry the type of 'serious air' that AnEv942 mentions as being necessary to put a tyre back on - I guess if desperate I would have to resort to the lighter fluid and stand back method beloved of those in Iceland ). I do carry fairly heavy duty ratchet straps so that is a good tip.
I have one of those Viar type 12v compressors - Bought it after experiencing using one in Namibia - it definitely needs to be one of those that clips onto the battery rather than the silly inflators that just plug into the cigarette lighter socket . Silver mentioned a backup, but I do keep a cheap foot pump in the truck as well as backup so I've got something that relies only on human power.
Re. the tyre sealant - I heard it was available for permanent installation (the way I have it in our mountain bike tyres where it is excellent). However, reading the experiences of several people who have used it there is quite a risk of finding the tyre repair company will refuse to repair the tyre if you have used this stuff, including the temporary sealant you can buy in aerosol cans. So I won't be fitting that. I do have a couple of cans of the aerosol sealant - if there is no other choice it gives me yet another option, but having read others experiences I would relegate that to my last choice.
Silver has of course guessed why I am asking the question .
Tyre valve stem replacements (and valves as well I assume) - that is a really good tip - do I need a special tool to install them (I've seen them do it at the tyre shop where they seem to have a special set of pliers)?
I have the OEM Ford jack - but it would be a sad day when I resort to using that. I carry a 12-ton bottle jack - a bit of overkill for my little truck, but it is a left over from when I owned WWII GMC duece-and-a-halfs years ago. I've got some timber that can be used as a base plate, but one thing I am looking to obtain in Germany next month is some glass fibre 'waffle boards' to act as sand / bridging ladders - these can also make a good jacking base.
I do have a big breaker bar (3/4" drive) - I can throw that in as well - again another hang over from the GMCs.
Of course this just leaves the question about a 2nd spare. Would be nice, but the question is where to carry it. Too big to carry inside the camper, or behind the front seats as that is where the recovery equipment, spare water, diesel cans, etc. go. I could strap it to the aluminum roof of the camper, but I don't want all that weight up there - it isn't just the weight of it pressing down, but the mass when the camper sways - like an inverted pendulum which will be stressing the camper as it tries to yank it one way then the other. My truck is quite narrow - so could I strap it to the side (like the spare wheel on a WWII Dodge weapons carrier) - but it is nearly a foot thick in total, so would be sticking out of the side of the vehicle. A final option is to fabricate a front carrier like Sleepy's. There would be some affect on air flow to the radiator / intercooler / oil cooler, but the other issue is making it strong enough that when bouncing up and down it doesn't cause a fatigue failure at the point where I mount it to the chassis (assuming I can find suitable points on either side).
So again, many thanks for some excellent things for me to think about.
Steve.
'07 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab diesel + '91 Shadow Cruiser - Sky Cruiser 1
'92 Suzuki Samurai 4x4 1.6
'09 Fiat Panda 1.2
'10 Citroen DS3 1.6 turbo
Quote: There was mention of re-inforced tyres. However I bought a set of new BFGoodrich AT KOs in January, so I'll be looking to live with them.
....I'd say you've get pretty good tires then ! Good deep threads for sure.
Valve stems:
Use a valve insertion/removal tool to do this (they are quite inexpensive at about $15).
The process isn't easy!
*a big caution: you need to wedge the tire bead down constantly with a lot of weight, or it could spring back and capture your fingers between rim and bead!
I have never had a tire go off road. I did have a rock between dually tires once, both tires are shot. I do use good load range tires and change sooner rather than later. I check the spare regularly. When off road, and probably in general, I have learned to take it easy.
Tools, I have a small box of tools with some bailing wire, duct tape, screws pipe strap bolts etc. Also some silicone caulk. I have seldom had to use it on one of our trucks, maybe once in the last 500K miles. I do a lot of maintenance and more preventative maintenance.
I have had wiring issues on trailers, and carry a portable set of trailer lights and the usual bulbs, fuses, tape and testing equipment, pretty complete.
When towing a boat trailer, I carry a trailer box, with a complete set of bearings, oil seals and bearing changing tools, gloves, grease etc. I have found that maintenance has really reduced the need for this piece of equipment but I find compelled to take it anyway.
I have found more need for a fuel can, even on that I have gotten better.
if you can't carry second spare could do like i always thought of and carry couple of innertubes and some tire boots to cover any larger holes...use boots in farm tire all the time, but for truck and tc would get you home to replace the tire...
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. Silver mentioned a backup, but I do keep a cheap foot pump in the truck as well as backup so I've got something that relies only on human power.
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