Flat Tyre

BRAGGABB · Senior Member

Flat Tyre

Ginger · Veteran Member

PamWithers wrote:
I was reading the letters in the Wanderer about flat tyres and the weight of your motorhome. I have a Sunliner Holiday and it is over 2 tone my question is can you get road assistance or what do you do I am sure I could not lift the tyre to change it . I am a member of the NRMA but have not put the Motorhome on it as yet do anyone one know if they come out .

-- Edited by PamWithers on Wednesday 4th of September 2013 07:03:33 PM

Pam you should have your motorhome on your NRMA policy, yes it will cost you extra if you have another vehicle but well worth it. I did an alternator in Tamworth and they came and took me to a garage to have it replaced. They could not have been more helpful.

-- Edited by Ginger on Wednesday 4th of September 2013 07:25:47 PM

The dog lady · Guru

I would like to know the answer to this too as I am a member of RACQ and my 4WD HiAce weighs over 2t, and I am certainly not capable of changing a tyre. I will try to remember to phone them tomorrow and check. Don'tknow what I'll do if they say No!

Ginger · Veteran Member

I am in NRMA. I was 2 kms from my home and NRMA changed my tyre for me.

jetj · Guru

This might relate to motorhomes. I would give them a call to check though.

http://www.mynrma.com.au/images/Members-PDF/membership-tcs-01-May-2013.pdf

Vehicle Weight

We will make every effort to provide Roadside

Assistance to Vehicles over 2.5 tonnes Laden Mass

which are nominated on a Basic Care or Classic Care

Subscription Package and 3.5 tonnes Laden Mass

for Vehicles which are nominated on a Premium Care

Subscription Package. However, there may be

circumstances where we are unable to mobilise such

Vehicles. In these cases, we will assist you to make

alternative arrangements at your own expense.

rockylizard · Guru

Ginger wrote:
I am in NRMA. I was 2 kms from my home and NRMA changed my tyre for me.

Gday...

Woz the tyre they changed one of those on your avatar ?

cheers - John

justcruisin01 · Guru

My truck has a capacity of 4.5tonn. When I inquired about road service NRMA said it can be covered in a slightly higher catorgory.

Will look at it again before we start to travell & when the rig is finished being setup.

JC

pambaz · Senior Member

Hi Pam ,

We are with NRMA ( life members )and they have changed the tyre on our van. We had a blowout on the Kwinana Freeway (WA) we rang NRMA and they arranged with the WA equivalent to come and change our tyre. We were in a very precarious place so didnt attempt it ourselves. Had no trouble at all.

Pam

hako · Guru

There is a winch arrangement you can fit to remove, lower and raise the spare back to it's location, plus another device for lifting the tyre up from the ground to line-up with the studs on your axle. This means than anyone (with training) can change heavy 4WD/truck tyres.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

With converted bus it takes a SKINNY person to fit jack under axle.. We have invested In an air jack with 2m handle..
NOT going through that again!! We arranged to have mobile truck tyre company change tyre..
Invested in torque multiplier [$107] to undo wheel nuts..
PAYS to have the right gear !! Was fairly red faced .. Sheesh !! Didn't have crank handle to lower spare tyre ...

goldcoaster · Senior Member

Our motorhome is 4.495t car licd, RACQ said they wont attend when I tried putting it on our policy, I am a gold member been with them since '69. However I was desperate in NSW when I couldn't get the nuts undone tried my luck with the NRMA as a reciprocal member, they were there in an hour. Not sure if you can join a interstate automobile club living in a different state but NRMA are tops. I wonder what would happen to a NRMA member in QLD, would RACQ respond to a vehicle under 4.5t when they won't respond to there own members.
Interested to hear comments from Interstate travellers with large vehicles who have had RACQ attend.

Gwian · Senior Member

We too have the same problem with RACQ in Qld. When we purchased the motorhome and asked it to be included on our membership we were advised "we don't do motorhomes as they are too heavy"

We will be interested to hear what other interstate clubs do as well.

countryroad · Senior Member

I have been quietly wondering what happens if you are in an out of the way place and you have a flat tyre, or a slow leaking tyre.

I think I may have to learn how to change the tyres...used to have a husband who considered that his job and didn't want me doing it...the man thing.

I have used NRMA to change a tyre but in local area as the tyre places always use the machine, also when you have a service and tyres are rotated same things happens.

Otherwise guess you would have to wait for some help to stop. Could be a vunerable place to be.

You can buy a spray can of something to fix the tyre but I think it damages the tyre or there is some good reason for not using it.

aussietraveller · Guru

Yes the NRMA does have a roadside package to meet different weight categories from car and 4x4 they also have a package up to three ton and another up to ten ton but they are expensive, and in Pam's situation or any other female sole traveller I believe you will always get another Caravanner who will stop and give you a hand, I would suggest not trying to do it yourself as there are many things that could and probably would go wrong and thats if you could get the wheel nuts undone.

BRAGGABB · Senior Member

I rang the NRMA yes they will cover your Motorhome under NRMA Premium Care Plus for $122 + you have to have as well
Premium Care which is $159 so for $281.00 you are covered for10 tone. If you have any other cars it is another $159.00 I forgot to say this is with Gold Membership.

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

I carry a 12v air compressor which if the tyre has a slow leak will enable me to get to the nearest town and get it repaired, otherwise I would now call the NRMA to come out and change same, no longer have the strength in my wrists and shoulders because of arthritis, to change tyres, but I do carry a cross brace to undo wheel nuts and a large piece of pipe for additional leverage, if there is someone younger and stronger to maybe lend a hand.
Cheers
David

pambaz · Senior Member

We have never had a problem with NRMA ,Barry has been a member for over 50yrs. We have had a van for the past 6yrs.

As I said in our previous post they came to our aid interstate after they contacted the equivalent association of WA and we were back on the road very quickly. Sorry to hear RACQ isn't so helpful.

I think we just pay a higher premium and they have always covered our van, that is most reassuring when travelling around Oz and well worth an extra fee. We have a Prado and 20ft Roma van

Pam..

BRAGGABB · Senior Member

I hear you Dave that my biggest problem to. It looks like I will be taking out the higher coverage.

Ginger · Veteran Member

rockylizard wrote:
Ginger wrote:
I am in NRMA. I was 2 kms from my home and NRMA changed my tyre for me.
Gday...
Woz the tyre they changed one of those on your avatar ?
cheers - John

That little blighter at the back biggrin biggrin I sat in the deck chair and watched

hako · Guru

countryroad wrote:
SNIP
You can buy a spray can of something to fix the tyre but I think it damages the tyre or there is some good reason for not using it.

Some new vehicles come with no spare - not even one of those skinny emergency spares but instead carry a can of that puncture seal, so it is another viable option.

for more see this link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mg74/features/spare-tyre

allinone · Senior Member

In NRMA premium care for MH 4.495tonnes. In Brisbane with flat tyre called RACQ who came and driver advised they did not carry equipment for trucks. Luckily with my equipment and both weights we were able to crack the nuts with a hammer so wheel nuts came loose. Needless to say when asked to assist further with tyre change it was not in the service agreement.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Roving-Dutchy wrote:
I carry a 12v air compressor which if the tyre has a slow leak will enable me to get to the nearest town and get it repaired, otherwise I would now call the NRMA to come out and change same, no longer have the strength in my wrists and shoulders because of arthritis, to change tyres, but I do carry a cross brace to undo wheel nuts and a large piece of pipe for additional leverage, if there is someone younger and stronger to maybe lend a hand.
Cheers
David

YEP came to me big time I'm not as tuff as I use to be !! Rotator cuff issues in both shoulders.. Lineworker for 30 years does that !!

Often thought of some type of ladder bar which can be dropped from chassis and drive forward to lift vehicle or exhaust type air bag ??

Again some experience comes to hand here "safety" wise..Air bag to lift BUT use stand, chocks to support load whilst changing tyre/s..

If outer wheel on duels is flat just a chock on inside tyre is often enough ??

oldboar · Senior Member

Just purchased a 2 tonne 12V electric scissor jack with 12V rattle gun - $110 from e-bay. Takes all the effort & skinned knuckles out of the equation. Can't fault it on it's maiden test run.

Darrell & Sandra

-- Edited by oldboar on Friday 6th of September 2013 07:58:04 AM

johnno02 · Veteran Member

Cant help with lifting heavy wheels etc,

but for undoing wheel nuts,you can't beat something like this

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-1-2-half-inch-emergency-impact-wrench-92349.html

This one does seem too cheap to be ok.

The one I have cost around $85.00 from memory,and will undo any wheel nut

4wd or otherwise.

even if it has been tightened,by an air spanner

Don't do it up too tight,just 2 clicks is enough,or you may break studs

I would check Supercheap,or similar,for something a little better

John

beiffe · Guru

I use tool that works on a gear action where you wind a handle and it breaks the nuts off very easily. They cost about $100 + but anyone can undo a nut that a rattle gun has put on.

I bought mine at a field day and it came with the two sockets that I needed.

If buying one on EBAY ensure you get the RIGHT size sockets as these can cost up to $50 each when bought separately. eg when I changed buses it had different size nuts so I had to replace the ones I had.

Never use it to tightened the nuts as you will shear the studs off they are that strong.

Also to lift a wheel up to the studs when replacing a wheel try using a shovel. Put the wheel close to the studs and line up as best as possible and then lift with the shovel and then do the final line up and then push on.

Also after changing a tyre make sure you check the nut tension after about 100Kms.

I also use a paint pencil to mark across the nut and whee when set so you can see if a nut has moved.

If you see rust on a wheel (normally from a stud/nut) then that is a tell tale sign you have a loose nut.

Also if the rust is coming from the ring on a split rim then it is possible your tyre pressure is too low.

Regards
Brian

countryroad · Senior Member

Appears the can of puncture seal spells the end of your tyre due to labour costs..so 1 new tyre required. Takes too long to clean out the tyre.

The cross brace wrench and long piece of pipe seems to be ok for a campervan..... I'll be practicing.

Thanks for all added information, quite amazing how easy it could be to be stuck.

Cheers...Robyn

-- Edited by countryroad on Sunday 8th of September 2013 10:56:11 PM