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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: OT Check your spare tire
 
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LindenTree3
09/18/2017 08:57PM
 
Besides a full spare tire, not a doughnut here is what I carry in Alaska.


12V air pump.
Fix a flat.
Tire pulg repair kit.
Four way lug wrench.


All my crowing and beating my chest on how prepared I was with tire repair while living in Alaska just taught me a new lesson.
I had a flat tire last weekend (picked up a nail for a slow leak.)
Sure my tire pump inflated it for about 6 hours and I'm sure my can of fix a flat would have fixed it, and not left me stranded but I didn't want to use the can, keeping it for an emergency. So I tried changing the tire for my Full Sized Spare.
Only one problem.
Last year I had 2 new rear tires put on my car at a local Alaska tire shop.
They hammered down the lugs so tight that I could not turn three of the four off even with a cheater bar on my four way wrench. (I bent the bar)


I took it into Midas today using my tire pump to keep the tire up a lot over the weekend. The lugs on my Ford Focus were on so tight that Midas rounded off most of them before getting them off.
I had to buy 8 new lugs 4 on each side. I asked them to loosen both sides and retork them properly so I could get my wheels off for a future emergency. It cost me 95 dollars in all. But at least this was a repair that did not happen in the sticks with a totally f--d up tire.


Lesson, check your lugs after taking your rig to a tire shop to make sure you can remove them in an emergency.
I checked the lugs today before leaving the shop, and also checked the lugs on my front tires.
 
DrBobDg
09/18/2017 09:37PM
 
I bet the air the blue with profanity as you tried to deal with that tire..... quite the story. One time I was getting a tire put on my work truck 3/4 ton 6 lugs and this new kid puts the nut in the socket of the air wrench and goes to spin in on the stud... I stopped that in a hurry... the nut is put on by hand first (at least on my stuff) to make sure it isn't going to be cross threaded.
Another time I hadn't gone 15 miles after having a tire changed and something didn't feel right....the tire had come loose. along with ruining the rim by making the holes egg shaped...


thanks for sharing that


dr bob
 
Brp1
09/19/2017 09:37AM
 
I've had my wheel corroded to the hub as some of you mention. I took two of the 5 nuts totally off and slightly loosened 3, leaving a triangle pattern. Then I drove at low speed, hitting a few bumps on purpose. The second the wheel released from the hub I could hear/feel it.


Now, I apply a spray of lubricant to the back of the wheel.
 
Great Melinko
09/18/2017 04:53PM
 
I lowered mine down this spring....it was flat. All the sand accumulated between the bead and wouldn't hold air. Had it cleaned and reseated. The whole process took about 6 beers.
 
NotLight
09/16/2017 11:53AM
 
quote scat: "I lost about twenty pounds, the spare tire, the love handles and most of the fat on my behind. Can barely pinch an inch anymore. And the bony butt gets awful sore in a hurry on a Prism's tractor seat. "


If I get any fatter, I'll be able to get a full time job converting cane seats to ergonomic tractor seats, just by putting my fat ass in them for a while on a hot day. Gotta get to the gym :(

 
overthehill
09/14/2017 05:19PM
 
A buddy had a 74 Malibu and had been commenting on his 20 year old spare tire in the boot and how he could't remember ever needing it.
A few days later on a hot day, it blew the speakers out of the rear deck . Scared him dad.
 
ozarkpaddler
09/12/2017 07:14AM
 
quote Podunk: "2 cans of fix a flat, breaker bar, 12v air comp, plug kit and a scissor jack. Fits under the back seat of the F150. Fix a flat is the best, it has got me out of the boonies and at least to gas station twice. Much easier to mess with a flat tire on the pavement with some light."


Wow, that's a great kit to have. I keep a couple cans of the truck tire sized "Fix-a-flat" too just in case it's too bad of a spot to change a tire. I'd rather pay the tire store a few extra bucks for having used it than risk my life in some spots. Been in trouble too many times over the years.


I agree the Chevy/GMC is a real PIA. Bad enough that a couple years ago I took a flat in and the SERVICE DEPARTMENT had trouble getting the chain back down to put the spare back on (LOL). A ton of gravel road driving apparently makes it even harder?
 
riverrunner
09/12/2017 12:45PM
 
quote LindenTree3: "Besides a full spare tire, not a doughnut here is what I carry in Alaska.



12V air pump.
Fix a flat.
Tire pulg repair kit.
Four way lug wrench.



"



Had those in my truck this weekend when we went to sawbill.
 
Podunk
09/12/2017 05:18PM
 
It works, I plugged a guys tire and pumped it up with my cheesy little air compressor back in the national forest one time. Blew the guy away, I told him to quit thanking me and get going to pavement before the warranty ran out. He didn't have a spare or tool one. Saved him a good walk in the dark.
 
Podunk
09/12/2017 05:24PM
 
Agree with the spare tire setup on pickups. Short of bolting to the bumper none of them are user friendly. Keeping it in the bed takes up to much space.
 
Podunk
09/11/2017 06:46PM
 
2 cans of fix a flat, breaker bar, 12v air comp, plug kit and a scissor jack. Fits under the back seat of the F150. Fix a flat is the best, it has got me out of the boonies and at least to gas station twice. Much easier to mess with a flat tire on the pavement with some light.
 
Canoearoo
09/11/2017 10:07AM
 
We were once in the middle of Chippewa national forest with a flat tire. We always carry a tire patch and Fix-A-Flat. Fix-A-Flat fixed the tire right up and filled it so we were able to get out.
 
egknuti
09/11/2017 10:56AM
 
Had a flat on the Tomahawk Road. Hadn't checked the spare in years (since my last flat on the Tomahawk). Tire pressure was about 15 psi. Should've been at 28 psi. Made it home by driving slow, but the situation could have played out a lot worse. Check your spare!
 
nofish
09/11/2017 11:15AM
 
I've had more than one tire refuse to come off, pretty common for them to seize due to rust. A big hammer and block of wood is really the only solution to that problem.


A can of the fix a flat and a portable air pump are good options in case you get a flat away from home.
 
Grizzlyman
09/11/2017 12:33PM
 
quote nofish: "I've had more than one tire refuse to come off, pretty common for them to seize due to rust. A big hammer and block of wood is really the only solution to that problem. "


My go at this even involved using the full size spare tire as a "battering ram" over and over from all angles. When it won't come off... B F H
 
Basspro69
09/11/2017 03:38PM
 
I take the spare out and put it in the bed of the truck for the trip, and I make sure I have a breaker bar to get the lugs off.
 
Grizzlyman
09/09/2017 11:12PM
 
I had one once where I WAS able to crank it down (Ram truck) and jack up the truck just fine, but couldn't for the life of me get the tire off the hub. This sounds stupid I know, and it sounds like I don't know what I'm doing, and it frustrated the hellout of me, but it was not coming off. I tried for an hour and it just wouldn't budge. This was at the MSP airport after a week and a half trip so finally I called a tow truck and they had to hit it repeatedly with a sledgehammer from the inside before it popped off. I've never seen anything so stupid. But yeah, this can happen too. I now carry a BFH in the truck.
 
alpinebrule
09/10/2017 05:46PM
 
Relatively cheap fix to repair. Part on Rock Auto also: even if you pay to have it done well worth it, couple hundred bucks even at a dealer. Have tried to save the rusty safety catch but only a temp solution. You can support the tire and depress the safety catch with pliers but is a tight fit. I'd consider it normal maintenance. Thank you genius engineers who thought metal exposed constantly to salt and water wouldn't rust. Don't forget the tire pressure as well on that spare occasionally.
 
gkimball
09/10/2017 07:26PM
 
Started carrying a tire pump several years ago and have needed it twice. Yes the kind you pump with your arms. Weighs about 2 lbs. Great exercise for the triceps!
 
scat
09/11/2017 08:28AM
 
I lost about twenty pounds, the spare tire, the love handles and most of the fat on my behind. Can barely pinch an inch anymore. And the bony butt gets awful sore in a hurry on a Prism's tractor seat.
 
Canoearoo
09/11/2017 10:09AM
 
quote LindenTree3: "Besides a full spare tire, not a doughnut here is what I carry in Alaska.



12V air pump.
Fix a flat.
Tire pulg repair kit.
Four way lug wrench.



"



Yes we always have this! It really works
 
nofish
09/11/2017 12:52PM
 
quote Grizzlyman: "quote nofish: "I've had more than one tire refuse to come off, pretty common for them to seize due to rust. A big hammer and block of wood is really the only solution to that problem. "



My go at this even involved using the full size spare tire as a "battering ram" over and over from all angles. When it won't come off... B F H"



I've laid flat on my back and kicked at the tire with both feet only to have the rusted tire laugh at me. Its BFH time!



 
shock
09/09/2017 02:03PM
 
when I worked in the towing business came across this issue many times , sometimes I was able to get the tire down other times not, definitely not a good design.
 
DrBobDg
09/09/2017 03:13PM
 
quote mastertangler: "Go deep and go long and a dead battery is right up there as a top concern. After 55KM of gravel one lane rd and 24 days in the bush the sound of that starter is music to the ears. "


That's why I keep a battery pack along..... just got back from Alaska using an old RV. Alaska and Yukon rquires lites on when driving... well the 1989 Ford 300 doesn't have that buzzer to remind you that you have your lights on....finally I kept the high beams on to help remind me...but it was still hard to see that blue light on a bright day.
just another thing to keep the stress level up....


dr bob



 
Oisinirish
09/09/2017 04:14PM
 
That Chevy design was so stupid I almost sent them hate mail.
Ford's lock over the crank hole on the bumper, supposed to match the truck key, ruined one of my keys. Hade get in from behind with channel locks and force it out.


Half tempted to go old school and bolt it into the bed.
 
awbrown
09/09/2017 06:45PM
 
Years ago I returned to the landing at one of our local Forest Preserves along the Rock River to find that someone let the air out of two of my tires (Japanese car). Ever since then I've carried a 12v portable compressor.
 
arctic
09/10/2017 08:15PM
 
Dang! That happened to me years ago on the way up to Armstrong, Ontario, for a 3-week paddle in Wabikimi. Had a flat, and the spare was hanging from a badly rusted cable that could not be lowered. Very luckily, I had a hack saw in my tool box and cut it loose.


The Canadian bush is a BAD place to have mechanical problems--way worse than the vast majority of the USA, outside of Alaska.
 
LindenTree3
09/10/2017 08:24PM
 
Besides a full spare tire, not a doughnut here is what I carry in Alaska.


12V air pump.
Fix a flat.
Tire pulg repair kit.
Four way lug wrench.



 
DrBobDg
09/10/2017 08:44PM
 
quote LindenTree3: "Besides a full spare tire, not a doughnut here is what I carry in Alaska.



12V air pump.
Fix a flat.
Tire pulg repair kit.
Four way lug wrench.



"



A bar to go over that 4 way wrench so you have more leverage....or you break the wrench if it is a cheap one, round the lug nut if it is a cheap one, or just break the stud itself...but you have 3, 4, 5, nuts left depending on what beast you are driving..


dr bob


dr bob
 
LindenTree3
09/10/2017 09:10PM
 
quote DrBobDg: "quote LindenTree3: "Besides a full spare tire, not a doughnut here is what I carry in Alaska.




12V air pump.
Fix a flat.
Tire pulg repair kit.
Four way lug wrench.




"




A bar to go over that 4 way wrench so you have more leverage....or you break the wrench if it is a cheap one, round the lug nut if it is a cheap one, or just break the stud itself...but you have 3, 4, 5, nuts left depending on what beast you are driving..



dr bob



dr bob"

True Dr bob, FYI all,
I have a 1998 F-150.
One time I had a flat, I could not get the tire released from the rim even though it was jacked up.
It was seized on due to rust. I had to use a sledge hammer to knock it off. It took over an hour and could not have done it without the sledge hammer.
Since then I put a ring of grease on the rim/hub of my old rig, the tires/wheels have come off easily ever since.
 
FOG51
09/09/2017 04:17AM
 
Before we left for Ontario last week I did the usual stuff on my truck [2009 chevy 1500], changed the oil, blew out the air filter, took all my wifes junk out,checked the tire pressure, did the old truckers trick. whack the spare with a 2 pd machinst hammer, all was good. After a week in the bush came back to a truck with a nearly flat front tire. 75 miles of graverl logging road to drive to get anywhere near a gas station. I have not had the spare on the ground since the trucks madien trip up this road when it was new, anyone guessing where I'm going? We worked for nearly 2 hours trying to get the spare to come down, seems theres a little second catch on the part that holds the tire up, according to Chevy your suppose to put the jack under the tire and raise the tire up this is suppose to release the catch and the tire will be "easily" turned down. I put a 10 ton jack I always carry along under the tire, raised the whole truck 10 inches and it wouldn't come down, the part you turn was rusted solid. There was no choice but to drive on it, it's a good thing I had 10 ply tires on , the sidewalls are super strong. We drove to the Sparkling/kashishibog bridge and meet some Canadains who had a portable compressor and they kindly pumped it up so we could get out. With the use of a 4 inch grinder my spare is now happy in the bed of my truck. Guys make sure your spare will come down if you need it. I know I should carry a lighter compressor. FRED
 
DrBobDg
09/09/2017 07:08AM
 
I have those portable battery packs with a built in compressor... However I discovered that cheap rubber used in the compressor that goes bad with cold weather makes the thing worthless....and then you find when you try to take the tire off that tire is rusted to the rim, there is always that one bolt that won't loosen.... fun


dr bob
 
ellahallely
09/09/2017 08:10AM
 
I remove the spare from under my truck every couple of years for this exact reason. I also carry a 12v compressor.


The reason for the tire locking in the up position is that cables were breaking and the tire falling off. Often resulting in death or injury.


The road salt and gravel are a problem. A stainless steel cable from the factory would have been a real good idea.
 
Savage Voyageur
09/09/2017 09:10AM
 
I lower and remove the tire when I'm going on a long trip. I also use never seize on the any of the hardware that lower the tire down.


I had a flat tire at the end of the Gunflint trail on a new to me used car. I looked and had no spare tire. I had to use my friends car and drive to GM and buy a new tire, then drive back. A lot of time and money lost because I had to pay premium price for the tire. Never again.
 
mastertangler
09/09/2017 02:38PM
 
Go deep and go long and a dead battery is right up there as a top concern. After 55KM of gravel one lane rd and 24 days in the bush the sound of that starter is music to the ears.
 
DrBobDg
09/10/2017 06:57AM
 
I drive old stuff and those rims can be rusted on pretty good....not easy to use a BFH on the inside of the tire when your chariot is on a little jack on the side of the road with a semi driving by occassionaly.


dr bob