Changing Trailer Tires

Fort Kent Dad · 08-30-2009, 09:25 PM

When we parked out Rockwood 8319SS at our site this past weekend, we noticed a nail sticking out of one of the trailer tires - not a good sign. We were at a group event and one of the other campers had said he thought the tire was low.

I pay for AMA-RV (AAA in Alberta), and figured since I pay for it, may as well use it. They sent a truck to our site, but he did not have a tire wrench to remove the lugs on our aluminum rims. He had to come back the next day with a special socket and wrench.

I do not recall any info about needing a special wrench to remove the tires. It is an 13/16th I think he said.

Also found that the tire will not fit back onto the rear bumper tire carrier which held the spare - which had the regular steel rim.

So off to the tire store to get the tire repaired or replaced, then I have to switch out the spare and put it back on the back of the RV.

Lesson learned. Glad I had bought that AMA-RV. This happened a couple of days after the aniversary of the purchase so I guess my Forest River road side would have just expired before this incident.

**KyDan** · 08-31-2009, 07:54 AM

Aluminum "mag" wheels often have the lug nuts recessed into
the wheel. The recess can be small and so a "thin wall" type socket
might be needed.
I often use an old spark plug socket to remove them.
Remember years ago when spark plugs were larger than most
are today?

When I purchase a new trailer whether it is travel, boat or utility
I always check to see that I have a jack and lug wrench that will
work.

I understand having roadside assistance but I would not want
to wait till the next day to get my tire changed!!!

Glad it worked out for you.

rockwood06 · 08-31-2009, 11:37 AM

I have a 4 way lug wrench. I had to replace the axle on my camper and the lug wrench fit well on the lugs.

**KyDan** · 08-31-2009, 06:37 PM

I have found that some 4 way wrenches are cast metal and typically painted. These may or may not fit inside the lug recess on an alloy wheel. Others are much smoother and chrome plated and these tend to be slimmer and more likely to fit.
You should test your wrench for fit at home rather than on the side
of the road!

Happy Camping!
KyDan

NWJeeper · 08-31-2009, 07:26 PM

For my Jeep I purchased a telescoping handle lug wrench that comes with 2 double ended thin wall sockets. Therefore it fits 4 different size lugs. It stows easily beside the seat because it is compact and the sockets fit into the recessed holes on the mag wheels without damaging them. Because it is a standard 1/2" drive the handle can also be used as a breaker bar with any 1/2" drive socket.

Here is one like it at Amazon but they are available at most local auto parts stores and are available in either metric or standard socket sizes:

Lug Wrench

Fort Kent Dad · 09-01-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyDan

. . .
I understand having roadside assistance but I would not want
to wait till the next day to get my tire changed!!!

Glad it worked out for you.

He would have come back later that night, but we were camping about an hour from his shop, so rather than getting disturbed late at night I suggested the next day. We were already set up at the campsite so as long as the tire was done before we left on Sunday we were good. He came at 9:00 am the next morning and was done before I finished my morning coffee.

Had I been on the side of the road, I would have expected to get going or AMA would be putting us up in a hotel.

Fort Kent Dad · 09-01-2009, 11:02 PM

BTW took the tire into a tire shop, $36 later it was fixed. It was still holding air when I took it in, does not look like the nail went all the way through, just into the rubber.

Max Power · 09-02-2009, 08:03 AM

My Sandpiper came with a thin walled socket for removing the lugs. I carry one in the truck for the rims on my truck anyways.

**KyDan** · 09-02-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fort Kent Dad

BTW took the tire into a tire shop, $36 later it was fixed. It was still holding air when I took it in, does not look like the nail went all the way through, just into the rubber.

Wow, that's about twice what our local guys get for a
dismount, patch, remount.

NWJeeper · 09-02-2009, 04:55 PM

Les Schwab tire stores up here in the northwest usually fix tires for free, they just ask that you bring your tire business to them next time you need new ones.

Fort Kent Dad · 09-02-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyDan

Wow, that's about twice what our local guys get for a
dismount, patch, remount.

Who said anything about dismount, and remount. I took the tire to the shop, they did take it out of the back of my truck and pitch it back into the truck when they were done, which was nice as I was dressed for work.

The patched tire is still in the back of the truck, have to get the spare off and remount the repaired tire myself.

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