Changing flat tyres on remote roads

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Scottie5.3
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by Scottie5.3 »

My dad told me once if you can't kick it don't ride it, if you can't change a tyre don't drive it.
I understand not all people are capable but part of my work is for aant and I don't know how many people can't change a tyre, honestly had to change a a tyre for a bloke about my age the other day, physically fine and nothing wrong with him other then not having a clue.
Only thing that will help these people is have a good breakdown assistance program, training may help if they have a ill give it a go attitude but unfortunately most people I help don't even try.
Exhaust jacks are good but need a straight cut exhaust tip as well as knowing how to use it, a spare trolley jack is what I have on me at all times as well as tyre plugs and a compressor.
Btw you can get support plates for bottle jacks that spread the load over a greater area.


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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by balou »

Thanks for everyone input.

Went into ARB to quote up a half dozen kits consisting of

Exhaust jack
12 v ratchet
12v compressor
Repair kit
Mat for uneven ground

The manager recommended against using the exhaust jack saying it more for bog recovery and not for changeing tyres and said it take 2 people to operate safely. He said the 12v ratchet will not tighten the nuts tight enough for it to be safe and you could not loosen the nuts to even take the tyre off.

He wasn't very helpful at the start but after a lot probing question he suggested I upgrade the standard bottle jack to a 4 tonne king chrome bottle one with an extended bar . He also recommended getting a breaker bar.

Your thoughts ..
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Hemi
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by Hemi »

Have you tried the other shops around Darwin.?

I personally find ARB in Darwin the most useless, rudest, unhelpful & uninterested mob in town.
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by sheps »

Have to agree with hemi. See Steve at opposite lock. They fitted a winch bar to my car that even the bar manufacture didn't think would fit.
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by sheps »

As for needing a mat for uneven ground. I will drive on a flat tyre until I find a safe spot to change the tyre. My 79 series work car weighs
around 3700kg, last thing I want is for it to fall off the jack.
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by nomad »

Good to see arb are on the ball. :banghead:
i had to use a rattle gun to undo nuts that i couldn't do by hand.
agree the air bags are nfg
use a trolley jack on level ground.
like sheps said, drive a few extra meters to flat ground. you have already flogged the guts out of the tyre while it was deflating. a few extra m wont hurt it.
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by Fisherman-Rob »

This is a good subject.
Agree with and learning from the other comments already posted, very informative posts.

Yes I would agree, training for remote staff travelling on remote roads is paramount, for both males and the females, this is good OH&S as well.

Also ensuring before they travel everything is already supplied within the vehicle, from the jacking equipment, checking the spare tyre, even first aid kit, and extra water in the vehicle, car phone charger, two way radio(if you guys have them), Satellite phone (if you have them) etc. Also to stay with the vehicle and not wonder off in the bush somewhere looking for help. etc.

Maybe off the subject a bit ... but I take it you guys have sign in and sign out sheets or means of checking & tracking staff and making sure they arrived at their destination at their Estimated time of Arrival? From point A to B. And raising the alarm if they are not there. (for remote work and less travelled roads).

If they aren't aware on road-side basics ..I would suggest you arrange for a training session for all your staff to get familiar with and get hands-on and participate in : checking equipment, preping vehicles, changing a tyre safely on sealed and off-road roads, basic survive tips, if completely stranded, what to do?, how to radio or call for help on Sat phone (if you guys have them), When the road is water logged, what to do? even changing tyre at night safely what to do, etc.

Its that peace of mind and level of training to help them hopefully cover and prepare them for contingencies that might occur out on the road in the middle of nowhere by themselves.


As suggested I would drive carefully to an area of level ground to change the flat tyre as well. (you wont rim the tyre, if driving for miles and miles, maybe but short distance should be fine).

Also a can of wd40 is handy to spray on the tough stubborn wheel nuts not coming off to lubricate them and loosen up a bit.

When wheel is taken off, can place the other tyre under the vehicle, in case the jack fails or slips on the off-road. then put new spare tyre on and slide out the other tyre from under the car.

Also not many people know, but when replacing the tyre nuts on the spare tyre again, you should follow the "Star" formation when tightening. For Example: finger tightening position 12 o'clock nut on, then say 5 o'clock, then 9 o'clock position, then 3 o'clock, then 7 o'clock, then tightening in same order with tyre wrench until tight. (if that makes sense).

Also don't know if you guys used it before, but you can get that foam in a can, that sprays in the tyre value and covers/seals the puncture of the tyre as well? l haven't used it myself, but its been on the market for a while.

Education, know-how and the right equipment is the key :)

Hope that helps.

Cheers
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by mickkk »

He may well be right about the exhaust jack, I have only ever used they in recovery.
Might be worth as suggested to drop in to opposite lock, and also try Donn kytes, also in winnellie, on winnellie rd.

Also if you are getting a few blow outs, might be worth looking at the tyres. Both the quality and also the age. Don't know how many Kms your cars do, but if your tyres are 4 or more years old, you will get a lot more flats. A lot of tyre shops won't repair tyres over 5 years old.
I'm a fan of the bfg, at. But any quality all terrains will go along way.

The other major contrubiture to flats and tyre ware is tyre pressures. If you run high way pressures on a corrugated road you are bound to cop flats, any your tyres will clip out pretty bad, not to mention it will be an uncconfortable trip. If you drop them around 10 psi on dirt,if it's a real bad road maybe more.
Each car if different, depending on tyre and weight, but I run around 25 to 27 on dirt roads and if it's a real cr.p road that's badly corrugated I will drop them down to 20 to 22. This helps smooth the corrigations out, and makes it a lot more comfortable to drive.

So maybe just a compressor, tyre deflator, plug kit (if they are tubeless tyres) suitable jack, ( this may be just the factory one if it fits fine, I had to get a different one as I put bigger tyres on and the factory one didn't go high enough. Cordless rattle gun (if they work) although this may be another issue if they don't use it for ages, go to use it and it has a flat batterie, don't know if you can get 12v ones. Would need a back wheel brace anyway, one long enough that smaller people could crack the nuts.
The matt they are talking I can only assume is a small tarp to lie on so you don't get dirty.
As for a 4 ton jack that is just plain stupid. It would only be a 2.9 ton car fully loaded, and you only be lifting 1/4 of that. A trolley jack would make it much easier than a bottle jack.
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by balou »

Some great points Mickey and Fisherman Rod.

All our regional reps do carrying a satellite phone, dried food , 10l of water and are required to check in and out. They all have a car assigned to them when they start so theres no execuses for gear going missing . All the vehicles have dual batteries, long rang tanks , 2 spare tyres.

I believe there are some gaps in the training specifically around 4wd driving to remote locations and breakdown which I will bring up in the next HS meeting.

These reps can be cruising down the Stuart Hwy @130 km one minute and then on corrugated the next so I know they do not deflate/inflate their tyres.

Will have more time to check out afew more shops tomorrow.
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by JC »

Hi Tran,

If she can't change a tyre on an uneven track perhaps she shouldn't be in that situation? I bet the vehicle wasn't high enough to put the good tyre on.

The jacks that are supplied with vehicles are designed to do the bare basics. I reckon you should invest in a good jacking plate/block and a decent hydraulic bottle jack so you can get the height needed to replace a flat tyre.

:cheers: JC
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by shaggs »

Biggest problem for a woman changing a tyre is getting the wheel nuts undone
Half of these tyre mobs around town either don't know or are just too lazy and use a rattle gun but there is a torque setting for wheel nuts
I've actually snapped a cross brace trying to undo some out on the Hardies 4X4 track, I've had wheel studs shear off while driving and tightness is the reason why
I would definitely give all staff a hands on lesson of changing a wheel on the vehicle they will be driving out bush so as they are familiar with where the tools are to do the job and how to go about doing it
If your a serious 4x4 man you would know a high lift jack and a bog board under that jack will get you out of most situations but not ideal for the office lady going on the occasional trip out of town
A good screw multi tier bottle jack with a base board and a fitting made up to fit on a battery operated rattle gun would be the best option in my opinion for elderly and women to jack a vehicle up
With the right training the should not have a problem

A good size breaker bar is a must for most women to undo a wheel nut and also handy as a self defence implement
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by ELKMZ »

i also take hydraulic floor jack - easy to use just takes up some space
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by Matt Flynn »

Shaggs is spot on, breaker bar of steel box or pipe kept under the back seat and a good quality brace that hopefully won't snap.

And I assume greasing the studs is OK, I've always done it :)

Love the trolley jacks, so easy to use, for the sealed roads of course but in a pinch can usually be stabilised and/or raised on rough ground.

Punctures and tyre failure happen in twos I reckon, just had two in a row again ...
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by callmejoe »

After a good read I would like to add.
1stly there is no mention on how to get the spare tyre off the back door. Can be quite a challenge in itself. Then getting the stuffed 1 back on can be even harder.
2nd As already mention if you are getting flats on a regular basic it more likely comes down to setup. Eg type of tyre and even more important pressures.
3rd Go to a truck spares shop an ask about The Nut Cracker. They come in a kit and are use on truck nuts (for undoing). The are fantastic. I have seen them in action, takes away all dangers of bars slipping etc.
4th I would NOT use a exhaust jack. They are more of a hindrance. Big bulky and if used incorrect can be quiet dangerous. Great for sand and mud where it can "mould" itself to suit. Sharp stones hot exhaust mufflers hard rubber you do the maths..
Just some thoughts but definitely look up the nut cracker.
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Re: Changing flat tyres on remote roads

Post by callmejoe »

Here a you tube video showing the nut cracker.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uribk1Yha6M
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