how to get tire changed out on the road

[tomdavisDOTcom]

Sunseeker 2400 -- I'm currently in a parking lot w flat rear outside passenger side tire. My $3900 American Guardian w tire changing benefit cannot locate a provider to come change it. How can they offer it w out confirming that these covered services can be performed.. Do I drive w the one flat.. hesitant .. I'm in St Pete Tampa, so its not like I'm out in the middle of nowhere ... help

[Gsxrgrizz]

I’m in Canada but have you tried

http://www.mptires2you.com/

[Gsxrgrizz]

If not try 877-769-8177....says it’s 24 hours

[KenandCarol]

I just googled tire service in Tampa and came up with these two that are still open, they close at 7PM. All the rest are already closed:

Tire Kingdom (813)628-0800
The Tire Choice (813)574-0940

Or search for a truck center?

[KenandCarol]

Freightliner of Tampa - Tampa Truck Center

Open until midnight
877-918-7885

[Steve-W]

If you have a Ford chassis and its less than 3 years old you should have roadside assistance through Ford which is handled by Coachnet.

[tomdavisDOTcom]

they say they found a vendor to do it .. let's see what happens...THANKS for the replies!

[grumpy0374]

Spare tire and rim...Got it.
20 ton bottle jack....Got it
Electric impact wrench powerful enough to take E-450 lugs off...Got it.
Flat tire...no problem.
Grumpy

Also, if not able to change it yourself, at least carry a mounted spare tire and rim so you are not "gouged" by the responding service for whatever tire they bring you.
Grumpy

[tomdavisDOTcom]

Thanks Grumpy... I think that's the route I will go... I finally got service last nite.... I've read so many times not to do this yourself... yet the guy came , put a jack under (hooked to air compressor), changed tire... 10-15 minutes... why no local truck or tow service would do it I don't know... this guy came from 30 miles away. I have the bottle jack but not the impact wrench... will have to get one

[TryingToLearn]

Make sure you stop at a tire service center (my experience is any will do) and have the lug nuts re-torqued after 100 miles or so.

[grumpy0374]

I carry a Lowes Kobalt 24 volt 1/2 inch drive battery impact wrench. 650 ft lbs...more than enough to pull lugs off and back on.
20 ton bottle jack is the minimum you need to carry. Only weighs a few lbs more than a 12 ton, but MUCH MUCH easier to jack up.
My Lexi came with a mounted spare tire/rim that I now carry on a Curt Spare Tire Carrier via a front mounted hitch.
You may not be able to change your own spare, but you need to at least carry a spare.
Lots of stories about service companies responding to change a flat, bringing low rated/used tires to change with, and charging up the ying yang for the tire.
And, there are many locations where you might not even be able to get phone service, much less a service company to respond. Think Alcan Highway in Yukon/Alaska.
Many, many areas where we could not get cell service for miles and miles/hours and hours.
Glad you were finally able to resume your trip.
Grumpy

[Ran3se]

What is a good brand to get?
Electric impact wrench powerful enough to take E-450 lugs off..


Thanks
Randy, lynn ear

[grumpy0374]

Lowes Kobalt 24 volt 1/2 inch drive impact wrench. Most powerful, for the money, you can get. Around 200 bucks. But, there is really no other in that price range that will do the job. All the discount places like Harbor Freight have battery impact wrenches, but none have anywhere the power to remove the lugs.
A corded one with a minimum of 350 ft lbs will do it, if you have a genny to run it off of.
Battery, you need as big as you can get as it does take a lot of torque to pull those lugs.
The Lowes Kobalt works better than the corded one I used to carry. Pulls the lugs off with ease. It's rated at 650 ft lbs. I also have the Lowes corded 1/2 inch drive, and it does the job almost as well. Rated at 350 ft lbs, and is only around $125. If you have a genny, it makes for a good wrench. I just find the battery wrench to be more powerful and no genny needed.
Grumpy

[5picker]

grumpy is right, the Kobalt is probably the best bet for the money.

I have both the Milwaukee and the Dewalt.
Both have twice the torque as the Kobalt but are about twice the price.
I got them because I have just about every other Milwaukee & Dewalt cordless tool and could simply buy the bare tool for less and not have to get a kit with batteries and a charger.

[hankpac]

I haven't changed a tire in over 40 years.
I don't get flats all the time, but if I do, I have AAA RV plus, and they come out to me, even if I am in my own driveway.

[stillontheroad]

I cannot help on this one but we have traveled for the last 20 years and found that Good Sam roadside service is available everywhere and the price is inexpensive for the peace of mind. (they have come out and changed tires in a campground, on the road and where necessary provide towing out of a mud engulfed site). Excellent response time and real constant follow up to verify everything is happening as it should.

[grumpy0374]

I have AAA RV Plus also (won't go near GS/Camping World), but have never needed them. That being said, if we did have a flat, I'm pretty sure I could change it and be on my way before the service company was even dispatched.
As long as I can physically change my rigs flat (class c Lexington) (I'm 67 years old) I see no reason to contact service. It's there if I need a tow due to a mechanical breakdown. I don't consider a flat tire a mechanical breakdown...I consider it an "oh S__t"
Then, there are many places where you may have to wait for hours on end for service. We've been in locations where the nearest town/village was 35-40 miles away, and service was even further. We carry what is needed to do the job, have done it, and helped others do it, and all it cost me was an hour of time and dirty hands.
Not saying AAA or GS is a waste, just that if I can do it myself, why bother to call them...
Grumpy

[rjshiflet]

Originally Posted by grumpy0374

I have AAA RV Plus also (won't go near GS/Camping World), but have never needed them. That being said, if we did have a flat, I'm pretty sure I could change it and be on my way before the service company was even dispatched.

As long as I can physically change my rigs flat (class c Lexington) (I'm 67 years old) I see no reason to contact service. It's there if I need a tow due to a mechanical breakdown. I don't consider a flat tire a mechanical breakdown...I consider it an "oh S__t"

Then, there are many places where you may have to wait for hours on end for service. We've been in locations where the nearest town/village was 35-40 miles away, and service was even further. We carry what is needed to do the job, have done it, and helped others do it, and all it cost me was an hour of time and dirty hands.

Not saying AAA or GS is a waste, just that if I can do it myself, why bother to call them...

Grumpy

I totally agree. At 68 years I’d rather spend 20 or 30 minutes changing a tire than waiting an average of 90 to 120 minutes which has been my experience with All road services.

I’ll save it for major issues.

[NoviBill]

If you know what you are doing a bottle jack and impact wrench are a great combination. Two cans of fix-a-flat works fairly well and can get you to a service station most of the time.
A beautiful DW standing by the the MH can work even better.

[D-Man]

I carry two spare cans of Fix-A-Flat. Believe me, they are like gold out on the road.