R&R tires for repair on full size off the beaten path

[FellowTraveler]

I'm interested in what everyone is doing to R&R tires on their full size rigs off the beaten path?

I've seen small manual tire machine attached to vehicle, jacks to break bead, tire irons of all sizes, even some individuals using lighter fluid by pouring some into tire then igniting it to re-seat tire beads (un-safe but works), device that looks like bicycle tire tubes to help seat tire bead, etc.

I like the split wheel design "hummer" in 16" mainly because tire selection is great and the ease of R&R tire for repair or change out in the field.

Ideas for the disabled would be a great for obvious reasons. I am 100% service connected military veteran with spinal injuries and lots, and lots of titanium holding me together and still get around on my own, however much slower and with limited movement. Just to let you young bulls know, I still can just much slower!

I hope this thread can produce lots of good usable information for all who wander where their are no services.

 

[chasespeed]

Hey man... 10 year vet here. broke many bones in my life... so.. I am with ya...

H1 Rims are 16.5".... which in this case, works to your advantage, as, the 16.5 doesnt have a safety bead, which makes removing the tire from the rim easier.

The problem will come when you try to pick up the rim, and put it back on the truck... You cant leave half the rim on the truck, and swap the tire...wont work....

Okay.... jacking the truck up aside... what about a hilift to lift/lower the wheel? Battery operated impact gun... and a tank of CO2 or nitrgen... maybe that would do the trick?

 

[bondvagabond]

I just saw your sig line, and now have fuel tank envy. I thought my 33 gallon tank in my scout was so large and mighty.

I had a few questions about your problem. You are able to lift heavy weight just slowly? And just want to speed things up a bit? If I read this correctly I would think about saving the time somewhere else. Tire changing is probably a smaller portion of your adventuring day than say setting up/taking down camp. So 30min saved there is more useful than the same 30min saved tire changing maybe. Streamlining your storage system might help you even more.

I have small enough tires on my rig that I can wrassle them around. But I like to plan for an injury, or if my wife needed to do it without me. So I just use one of those lightweight aluminum motorcycle ramps. My inbed spare is lined up for it just fine, and since they are designed for a person to just barely be able to get there motorcycle up, they work great for a tire weighing a fraction of that. Usefull for any other heavy junk you need to load/unload as well.

Oh, don't think you have one, because of your spare tank under your rig, but if you have one of those stupid underbed spare tires, put it somewhere else! that will sure speed you up

 

[ColoradoBill]

Try to avoid having to change the tire to begin with. Carry a good tire plug kit and on board air. If you do loose the bead use a ratchet strap around the middle of the tire to pull the bead tight. It can be done with the tire still on the vehicle as well.

I have used a High lift jack to bust bead before in the driveway. I wouldn’t want to do it on a trail with my truck already sitting with three wheels on it. Then using the jack under the unstable truck to bust the bead. If I ever do run into the situation where my spare is already on the truck and then I have a major tire repair I don’t think I would have any other option. I have heard these work well- http://www.tyrepliers.com.au/New/BB110.html
May be just the ticket for this situation.

 

[lstzephyr]

I tend to just bash stuff into shape until I can get it to somewhere to fix it. If its just a matter of swapping a spare then I will do it, but if it is something bigger that requires removing a tire I am much more likely to just drive it flat. I won't hurt myself for a machine or risk immobilizing a machine by attempting a fix I am not sure I can finish out in the boonies.

My point of view has always been that I will get it somewhere it is safe for me to fix, whether that is a mile, or 100. My friends/family have always been shocked what kind of broken down busted pos I had driven home. Destroyed transmissions(broken shift forks, trashed bearings), blown engines, cracked wheels, broken frames, non-existant suspension, etc. You name it, it can be done. The choice to make is whether it is worth it to risk trying to fix something and making it worse, or risk ruining the part. If it is already destoryed I figure I can't do much worse.

 

[98dango]

I tend to just bash stuff into shape until I can get it to somewhere to fix it. If its just a matter of swapping a spare then I will do it, but if it is something bigger that requires removing a tire I am much more likely to just drive it flat. I won't hurt myself for a machine or risk immobilizing a machine by attempting a fix I am not sure I can finish out in the boonies.

My point of view has always been that I will get it somewhere it is safe for me to fix, whether that is a mile, or 100. My friends/family have always been shocked what kind of broken down busted pos I had driven home. Destroyed transmissions(broken shift forks, trashed bearings), blown engines, cracked wheels, broken frames, non-existant suspension, etc. You name it, it can be done. The choice to make is whether it is worth it to risk trying to fix something and making it worse, or risk ruining the part. If it is already destoryed I figure I can't do much worse.

I agree with assess the damage and your ability's in a given situation. There is alot of things you can do in the sticks with little tools and knowlage. I recomend doing simple things in the driveway with whats in your truck. Try and change a tire when you dont have a flat. Make sure you know what tools are needed and where thay are. In the military your good at wat you do becaus you train and pratice same goes for the rest of your life. Try diffrent things I like the hilift and 2 tire irons but i also do it in my shop this way.

 

[FellowTraveler]

Going to two (2) piece internal bead lock wheels

After careful consideration I have concluded two (2) piece wheels w/internal bead locks are the way to go for ease of R&R tire for repair in remote areas.

Rock Monster 17" aluminum or modified 16.5" steel hummer wheels seem to be the choice. While 17" Rock monster has a 2,900 lb load rating there are more tire selections for my use than for the 16.5" steel wheels.

I have a small stainless crane (used in medical facilities to lift patents into bed/tub/chair/toilet) has about four (4) foot +- reach and lift which I will adapt to bumper ends to help lift and lower wheel/tire at whatever corner its needed and lift wheel/tire into rear compartment. Extension (pipe) can be used to raise crane to place wheel/tire onto roof of vehicle.