Posted on 06/12/2021 10:34
What do people generally do in the event of tyre punctures? Our caravan doesn't have a spare wheel so I'm not sure what we would do if a tyre got damaged and deflated.
Do people generally buy a spare wheel and carry it on board? I don't even have any means to jack up the van to replace the wheel.
Posted on 06/12/2021 17:59 by peedeeMy advice would be if you cannot change the wheel yourself why carry a spare. Also bear in mind you are not allowed to change a wheel on motorways, you are supposed to call for assistance. I don't have one on our car or my motorhome, I could change the wheel on the car but not the motorhome. I rely on keeping my tyres in good condition and my breakdown cover to attend. In the last 30 years of motoring I have not had a puncture but have had to call our tyre repair service once about 3 years ago to my motorhome because of a leaky valve which I could not fix myself.
peedee
Posted on 06/12/2021 17:59 by peedeeMy advice would be if you cannot change the wheel yourself why carry a spare. Also bear in mind you are not allowed to change a wheel on motorways, you are supposed to call for assistance. I don't have one on our car or my motorhome, I could change the wheel on the car but not the motorhome. I rely on keeping my tyres in good condition and my breakdown cover to attend. In the last 30 years of motoring I have not had a puncture but have had to call our tyre repair service once about 3 years ago to my motorhome because of a leaky valve which I could not fix myself.
peedee
Posted on 06/12/2021 18:18 byI wouldnt go along with that PD, those wheels and tyres are not stacked up at every tyre depot and as I said earlier if you dont change it yourself at least it wont turn into quite such a drama. I don't have a spare for my car and , when I had a puncture in Germany we were recovered to a dealer. They were preparing to put us up in a hotel if the workshop couldnt repair it because getting a replacement tyre was going to be the next day at least.
Posted on 07/12/2021 08:12
I have time on my side, I have no dead lines to meet perhpas others do. The only time I have called out a tyre repair service they have asked what size my tyres were and have brought along a spare. That said I do have a spare tyre which I do carry on my tow bar when going across the water but don't bother taking it in this country.
I firmly believe unless you are unlucky most punctures/blowouts are due to lack of care of tyres and/or overloading. I never push mine to the limit, the latest they are changed when old is at 7 years.
peedee
Posted on 07/12/2021 11:51
MY old Avondale caravan had the best solution. Wheel well in the floor. Low down, centrally balanced, easily accessible. Why on earth caravan manufacturers don't design them in is beyond me. I wouldn't have thought the manufacturing costs would be any greater than supplying ALKO carriers. Wind down cable is more wind-up if you've ever had to wrestle with one.
Posted on 07/12/2021 08:12 by peedeeI have time on my side, I have no dead lines to meet perhpas others do. The only time I have called out a tyre repair service they have asked what size my tyres were and have brought along a spare. That said I do have a spare tyre which I do carry on my tow bar when going across the water but don't bother taking it in this country.
I firmly believe unless you are unlucky most punctures/blowouts are due to lack of care of tyres and/or overloading. I never push mine to the limit, the latest they are changed when old is at 7 years.
peedee
Posted on 07/12/2021 12:22
like PeeDee, I carry a spare tyre (but no spare wheel) as it will be the (MH) tyre that's tricky to source..any tyre/rescue firm that arrives will be able to change the tyre.
I may get a wheel at some point but so far I've felt the tyre was the more necessary.
Posted on 07/12/2021 13:12
I am pleased to say I have the peace of mind to have both spares for Caravan and Car and the car being a full size spare. Many many years ago I had a tyre blow on the Caravan on a Friday evening in Mid Wales and didn't have spare wheel, hell did that tyre replacement cost us !..................I have learn the hard way as per usual.
Posted on 07/12/2021 15:19
My first motorhome came with a spare wheel but my second one didn't so it was one of the first accessories I purchased. Fortunately it fits in an AlKo cradle under the rear of the van. I can see that carrying a spare tyre in a motorhome could be a good halfway house, assuming the breakdown service has suitable equipment for changing a tyre. I imagine most new motorhomes have a TPMS system which can give you forewarning of a more serious incident. Perhaps caravanners should also consider such an after market system as it could alert you before a more serious issue happens like breakup of the tyre?
David
Posted on 07/12/2021 15:19 by DavidKlyneMy first motorhome came with a spare wheel but my second one didn't so it was one of the first accessories I purchased. Fortunately it fits in an AlKo cradle under the rear of the van. I can see that carrying a spare tyre in a motorhome could be a good halfway house, assuming the breakdown service has suitable equipment for changing a tyre. I imagine most new motorhomes have a TPMS system which can give you forewarning of a more serious incident. Perhaps caravanners should also consider such an after market system as it could alert you before a more serious issue happens like breakup of the tyre?
David
Posted on 07/12/2021 15:55
There are a lot of comments here about he Al-Ko spare wheel holder. It is a disgrace for a so called safety company. I wrote to them years ago suggesting a simple modification to make them easier to use. My comments were ignored and the design still remains the same. My suggestion was to use "R" type split pins to hold the rack to the chassis on the offside. The whole rack could then be easily dropped to the floor to enable access to the spare wheel. These "R" type pins are commonly used on the rear of many trailers.
Posted on 06/01/2022 14:15
get a spare and use an alko underslung carrier, if you van doesn't have a spare as standard
the weight comes out of your user payload
as for a jack I have a kojack they have the bracket to bolt on your chassis, I think their better than an alko scissor jack,
NEVER us a jack under the chassis you will put a dent in your chassis
AndyJF