Quote:
Originally Posted by earlbalentine
I learned my lesson when I had my 1st RV flat tire, that is keep all your road maintenance tools all in one place. I had tools behind the truck seat, tools in the trailer storage and tools in a tote in the truck bed. I had all my cargo spread along the hwy to get to all my needed tools. Now everything fits in one tote, bottle jack, breaker bar with sockets for both vehicles, flashlite, blanket, impact wrench, tire repair kit, airecompressor, rags etc. That tote rides in the back seat for easy access. And never jack up your trailer on the axle, place jack under suspension instead of axle.
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I agree with the keeping it all together. I'm adding another basement access door to get to where there is extra room and all the emergency stuff will go in there, and not be in the way with the regular basement stuff.
For our first big trip two years ago, not knowing what to expect, I got a Harbor Freight 20-ton jack. It was on sale and my only negative comment is that it is heavy. But what did I expect for a bottle jack of that capability. Wondered if I over-bought, that is until I needed it. (See rest of posting).
I added a piece of diamond plate and some 2x10 scrap pieces. I also bring my big torque wrench for the lug nuts.
Sure enough, on Alligator Alley in FL, we got two flats at once on the same side. Needed the truck jack to raise the axle enough to put the bottle jack under it. Two flats, one spare. Not cool. Luckily we were 1/4 mile from the only exit and service plaza for another gazillion miles so got off at idle speed and was lucky enough to not destroy the rim.
Rest of story was finding a place at 4:30 pm 30 miles away that had trailer tires, leaving the 5th wheel at the gas station, taking off the second wheel, throwing them both in the bed and racing to the place before they closed at 6 pm, and getting them mounted. Was happy to get there by 5:20. When one of the women at the desk said they couldn't get it done today, I had to clarify her thinking. The service people were amenable to my way of thinking. (8-)
Got to our RV park in Miami by 9pm and got chastised by one of the campers for pulling into the place in the dark. Had to clarify his thinking, too. Our first introduction to RVing in the fast lane. Planning a trip cross-country next year and will be trying to imagine the unimaginable, just in case. But, of course, "we don't know what we don't know".