Punctures ?

jeffmossy

jeffmossy

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If you got a puncture when out in your van , do you change the wheel yourself or do you call your breakdown company to change it for you ? . I would have a go at changing it myself ,unless I was stopped on a dangerous road or motorway .
 
hi, change it myself, need a good bar and socket, makes the job a lot easier.
jim
 
Speaking as someone who has had several tires shred down to the wheel rims and a load of punctures, (7 new tires in the last 3 months), I change them myself. I was in a dangerous place on the M6 on one occasion and the police kindly put a cordon around me and kept me safe, although they weren't very happy about it. I think it was the best of 2 evils as it would have taken longer if a breakdown truck had been called.

Phil.
 
I called breakdown when I had blowout as wheel wrench had disappeared but having said that seeing the length of bar the guy used I wouldn’t have been able to crack them anyway
 
I've changed them on cars in the past, but that was many years ago.

Tyres seem so much stronger these days and I can't remember when I last had a puncture.

I've got breakdown cover with the new van, and also a spare wheel, so I'd have a crack at changing the wheel myself first.......and if I found I couldn't manage it, then I'd call breakdown feeling rather ashamed with myself.
 
I would call the breakdown insurance...for a variety of reasons

1 They are used to doing it and so it will be done quickly and properly

2 They are more safety aware and have big van with warning lights etc

3 They will have a suitable mega-jack and other items (eg a compressor if the spare is under-inflated)

4 They will be wearing protective clothing etc

5 Should there be a problem (eg spare no use) they have backup and further resources/contacts

6 It has been paid for and

7 I prefer not to crawl about on the ground
 
Like wot he said, assuming a phone signal.
 
I had a rear wheel puncture in the Summer and called the RAC to put the spare on. The biggest difficulty was extracting the spare from its cradle. No way I could have done that. A motorhome is an ideal vehicle to wait for the breakdown service in.
 
2cv said:
I had a rear wheel puncture in the Summer and called the RAC to put the spare on. The biggest difficulty was extracting the spare from its cradle. No way I could have done that. A motorhome is an ideal vehicle to wait for the breakdown service in.
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Agreed..all part & parcel of my post.
 
***** said:
I must agree, you do need a spare that is easy to get at and not under the middle of the van.
Our last three vans have had the spare in the garage!
If yours is in a cradle, make sure the cradle bolts are not seized. Even the AA or RAC bloke could have problems !
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This is a very important point. When I got my VW T5 it had the usual spare in the cradle. The two bolts were so tight it took around 45 minutes, using a extended breaker bar to undo just one of them as it must have been years since last removed (I hate spare wheels in cradles!)

Also, if contemplating changing a wheel, do you remember the last time it came off and how easy it was? it is not always as simple as undoing the 5 or 6 nuts/bolts and the wheel drops off! sometimes you need a 'persuader' - I used to use an 8lb rubber mallet for the awkward ones. I remember back to the T5, those wheels used to really grab onto the hubs (despite using anti-seize compounds, etc. before that is suggested) and when I went to change the wheels from Steels to Alloys before I sold it, I could not get some of the wheels off AT ALL. drove to tyre place and they couldn't either for ages. Took a fella with half my years and twice my muscles to get the wheel off.

Changing tyres on the road ... on the LT I would do the fronts as they are quick and easy. Puncture on the rear I would probably check how close I was to a tyre place if in opening times and just drive there if relatively close and let them take it off and sort it (the advantage of a Dually)
 
I have had a puncture on my tag axle, and only realised when I had stopped and noticed it.
The middle axle had a flat tyre on one side, which allowed me to travel slowly to a place of safety to change the wheel myself.
My spare is also in a cage under the moho, which would not be pleasant if it was raining.
I have upgraded the supplied scissor jack which is made of monkey metal, to a bottle jack, and have a couple of wooden blocks and a portable compressor on board.
 
i would have to call on breakdown svs now........much safer, they take all the stress out of it....yes may have to wait half hour or so......however, well worth it...........
 
2cv said:
I had a rear wheel puncture in the Summer and called the RAC to put the spare on. The biggest difficulty was extracting the spare from its cradle. No way I could have done that. A motorhome is an ideal vehicle to wait for the breakdown service in.
Click to expand...
Better fitted on ones bum.sw 3.jpg
 
Luckily never had a puncture in any of our vans but would use breakdown cover if we did best leave it to the professionals
 
I'd change it myself , but I don't have a big motorhome. ( VW T4) I would be very concerned on a motorway with a O/S wheel change though.
I think I'd pump in some sealant and inflate the tyre with my 12v inflator and get off the motorway.
 
***** said:
I would recommend anybody contemplating changing their own, do a trial run at home and carry suitable wooden blocks/ jack support and a bar and tongue wrench!
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Yes , I take the wheels off my van at home a couple of times a year and clean the bolts , I take the spare out of the cradle once a year and grease the retaining bolt.
 
My question is .....Do you grease your nuts ? or bolts ? I always grease mine.
Some folks say you can get a smoother tightening with a bit of grease on the threads, some say they will vibrate loose.
 
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