I recently watched a YouTube video by "Gone with the Wynns" They were motor homing to Chicken, Alaska when they found a nail in a dually tire. They had no spare tire and no cell phone signal. They carried a Viair 12-volt air pump and a tire repair kit. At first, they added air to the tire that had a nail, then drove it down the road, then added air etc. I fast forwarded the video until they used a tire repair kit to temporarily plug the tire. This lasted until they got to Chicken.
After watching the video, I had had several questions: In lieu of carrying a spare, who carries a tire repair kit? What kind and what brand? Would our large RV tires require a "heavy duty" tire repair kit, or would a standard car tire repair kit be OK?
Also, if the dually with a nail lost air at a slow enough rate, then adding air every 25 miles or so might get you to your destination or within cell range, wouldn't you want to inflate the other (good) dually to its max pressure so that it could carry additional weight? And finally, at what point would the other good dually be ruined because it was carrying xx pounds of weight beyond it rating?
Bob
2000 U270 CAI
I think you would also have to be concerned about the rears rubbing against each other. May not be a problem if you go pretty slow.
Rtv sealer and a bigger screw works in a tight spot also.. Tire holes are just that.. typical hole is a typical hole regardless or size of tire.
I would carry 2 regular patch kits like the wynns had just in case.. I have seen larger ones but like him it would be harder to get it set with everything being bigger.. He struggles with getting the hole filler in the tire..
We have a lot of 22.5 and 24.5 tires to keep up with. Me personally, and I am a fairly good size feller, I can't get a plug thru a hd tire so it would do me no good to have a kit with me.. most will drill the hole bigger to get the tool shaft and wad of a plug pushed thru. If I pick up a nail on the road I would just keep the tire aired up with on board air until I could find a repair shop. If I need to replace a tire I have a nation wide account with Goodyear and they have service trucks if needed. I don't concern myself much with tire issues but do keep a close eye on them. I do realize that travel in Alaska may call for one to be more self sufficient but in the lower 48 where I stay I feel ok with my plan and others need to feel good with their's. Oh and what hole drilling I've done on a tire I would end up having to put a boot in the tire to stop the leak. Promise you a plug wouldn't do it.
Carrying a spare works for me,I want the tire fixed right and what if you get a blowout?If your in the middle of nowhere and the
repair truck is 8 or more hours away,I 'll throw the spare on.
We have to do what makes us feel better.
Our Plan: carry cell phones, paid up "breakdown" insurance, credit cards, a little cash, and hope for good Karma.
Are the front and rear wheels different enough to require two spares, one of each?
Trent
Well isn't this a timely post. Getting everything ready to leave Sunday morning for our Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico trip. My DW noticed a roofing nail in the Tahoe rear tire. Need to get that repaired before dragging it behind us.
Remote travel might be worth renting a sat pbone?
Seems like a no brainier to me to carry a tire repair kit. I found this one on AMAZON (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073G9NFSW/ref=psdc_15706711_t3_B0777P76YC) that would be good insurance. Of course, if someone could come sooner rather than later to repair it, take that road, but if not, you have a way to repair it yourself. Even if it still leaked a bit, better than sitting on the side of the road waiting.
Also have a Vaiair RV compressor that the PO left me which I would take in the toad for a road trip. But having a spare tire still means a lot of work. Simpler to stuff a plug in.
I carry this one in my semi truck and have had to use it on a few occasions. I run Michelin supersingle and they are tough twice I have had to plug them over the years. Plugged a steer tire that cought something in the middle of nowhere and was glad I had the kit. If you have it you probably will never use it. But if you need one you'll be glad you have it.
This is the one i have.Truck Deluxe Tire Repair Kit 30 Repairs [SSKTP] - .95 : Safety Seal (https://safetyseal.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_3&products_id=3)
I carry one also and expect to drill the hole so that you can install the plug. Never needed it on the road , so far.
Looks like you can get Stump's kit from Amazon with free shipping (save $9.95).
Amazon.com: Safety Seal Truck Deluxe Tire Repair Kit 30 Repairs: Automotive (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010MSU7P2/ref=s9_dcacsd_dcoop_bw_cr_x__a_w)
I also want to say. Using this is a workout. It is not like ream the hole and then slip the plug in. It takes a lot of reaming to get the hole ready. It tales quite a lot to get the plug in the hole. But it does it real good once it goes in. A credit card and a road service number is much easier! But in a situation with persistence, this will give you a good repair.
On the Alaska Motorcade last year Jack Bradshaw advised us to carry a spare, even though he carried one in the parts trailer. Many of us did, either in a basement bay or in/on the toad. No one had any tire issues. I paid $200 for a spare at a Pilot truck stop and have been unable to sell it for $100 since then. Chicken was a terrible place with lots of dirt and no cell signal until Tok, miles and miles away.
I watched several YouTube "How To Use Plug Kit" videos. Several of them suggested drilling the hole larger to accept the tool & plug, as was mentioned by Dub and Mike. Since most of us carry a portable drill and bits, and we have power readily available, seems like the way to go.
SO, I have amended
our Plan to include carrying a plug kit. Just ordered the one mentioned by Stump...cuz I like their sales pitch.
I figure, even if I (hopefully) never have to use it, perhaps I might come to the aid of a fellow RV driver who is stranded with a "holed" tire.
Always seeking ways to improve my Karma...
I like this one for less money;
Amazon.com: Boulder Tools - 56 Pc Heavy Duty Tire Repair Kit For Car, Truck,... (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E635PGA/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01E635PGA&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=1713835751726239774&pf_rd_r=6QJ3SJDFMHZ5855NTYXF&pd_rd_wg=cZkdD&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_w=9RMTL&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pd_rd_r=2fb19223-7ad1-11e8-a77e-3f5d4c64982a)
80pc vs 56pc Hmmm
They both have the basics of what is needed in an emergency
A word of caution about repairing tires is warranted here.
A tire that is run with low air pressure can damage the tire sidewalls to the extent that it may fail when inflated to operating pressure. This damage can only be determined by dismounting the tire and inspecting the inner sidewall by a person trained to know what to look for, aka a tire technician. Re inflating a damaged tire outside of a tire cage using a remote inflator could result in severe injury or death. This not something to be taken lightly.
The definition we used for a flat tire was any tire pressure 15% less than the set operating pressure. This is constant with what I learned attending both the Goodyear and Michelin Fleet Tire Maintenance training programs. Having over 30 years fleet maintenance experience I have seen a couple of these "zipper" failures. It leaves a lasting impression. Please watch this YouTube video to see what I mean:
Zipper Ruptures - YouTube (https://youtu.be/eFXVOa44oSE)
I'm sure tires are plugged everyday by untrained folks without consequences but why take the risk if there are better options available?
Steve
For local travel .. lower 48... I have coachnet and My regular roadside insurance.. wont catch me playing with a tire unless its the last thing I could do.... In a remote place such as the mountains or Alaska... no service or help and no traffic to ask for help (been their).. I would patch a tire or fill a tire every 10 min if needed.. and then purchase a tire if it gets me out of the situation. Tires are cheap compared to mine or my families safety.
SteveB
What was the purpose of watching that video...?? I was hoping to gain some safety knowledge. I learned nothing.
In a reply to Amos' post,yes Jack had a spare but you would have been charged the Foretravel shop fee per hour and for the part.
In regard to the tire repair kit,yes it would help you out in an emergency but a plug is the worst way to fix a flat,I would much
rather have a patch from the inside.In regard to the spare,these older coaches rims are getting harder to find and what if the rim
is damaged somehow during the flat tire,also even if the road service guy can get there in one hour it does'nt do any good if he
can't find a wheel.If you don't want to change it yourself that's fine but still carry a spare.We went to Alaska last year with a spare
and had tons of room.
My intent was to dramatically demonstrate the effects of an exploding truck tire. Even though the tire failure in the video was artificially induced the results are the same as if it was a true zipper failure. I apologize if my intent was not apparent.
Here is a link with more detail:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.caba.biz/Portals/9/Zipper%2520Rupture%2520Wall%2520Chart.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjs6-20yvbbAhVDYKwKHbcEC9kQFjABegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw2JWO6vNUAXx124n64oTY7L
If you Google tire zipper failures you will find lots of info on the subject.
As a fyi, Discount Tire will not repair a tire if it has been plugged. Their reason when I asked was that they do not know what damaged was done when a plug was installed. I know before you post, How do they know what damaged was done by what put the hole in the tire in the first place. I did not get a good answer to that one.
Yesterday while driving west on I-10 just north of Anthony, TX we got to witness a tire explode. No, not my new Uniroyals. There was 2 18 wheelers just ahead of us when the first one had a passenger trailer tire blow. My DW and I both saw a cloud of smoke then saw what looked like the entire tread fly out with tremendous force 20 feet or more. Glad he was in the far right lane so no one else was injured. Of course both the 2nd trucker and we were able to get over quickly. The trucker exited right after the tire blew.
I've cautioned my wife to never stay alongside a trucker and that was a good example why.
I wonder who last checked pressure in that trailer tire.