I thought about this last night. There was one wheel that i had so tight that I broke two breaker bars undoing the lug nuts. I worked on it for about an hour. It must have been done with an impact wrench or something that I don't have. Anyway, I was thinking how much it would have sucked if I had to change that on the road. Well, I don't know how I would change a flat on the road unless I am carrying my hi-lift, which I am not. How do you all prepare for this situation? Do yall have your hi-lift with you at all times, just on long trips, or not at all? Is there a bag for a hi-lift so if I mounted it in the bed of my truck, it'd be protected from the weather? Thanks!

 

I carry a 4-way and a bottle jack in my toolbox. I really hate when shops excessively tighten lug nuts. The factory tire iron is a pain to use.

 

i actually like my factory jack/tire iron setup.

i've had problems with shops overtightening, i like using a little antisieze on my threads. the guys at 4 wheel parts actually busted off one of my front lug studs once, so i got to sit there and watch them tear my axle halfway apart for free

 

I carry mine everywhere. I never know when I'll have a flat tire, plus I love the look on the basket.

Here is the bed mount:
http://www.4by4connection.com/lr200.html

Here if the cover:
http://www.4by4connection.com/jackprotector.html

Hope the was a help.

 

Torque wrench is the best, torque sticks are perfectly acceptable, straight impact never. Antiseize is always a good idea on lug nuts. Am I ready to change a tire on the side of the road, you bet.

 

thanks guys. i also have a 4way and a bottle jack but that 4way wasn't doing a thing for me til i broke them loose. the bottle jack doesnt come close to touching my rig when fully extended.

 

A bottle jack or the stock jack will lift your lifted rig, just go from under the a-arm in the front or under the u-joints (if not flipped) in the rear. It works fine. I also agree, toss some anti-seize on your threads. Also to answer a question, there is a cover for the hi-lift. I always go home and double check all my lugs when I come from a tire place. Make sure they aren't too tight or too loose.

 

ya but you said changeing them "on the road" im rearly flexed out on the side of the interstate with a flat.

Ive used the stock bottle jack under the A arm and under the rear axle tube.

I carry a piece of 2x10 for soft ground (say on the sholder)

My highlift is always in my truck anyway and the last 2 times ive gotten a flat i just use that off my sliders.

 

Wanna know how to not have to change your flat?
Get an air source whether it is C02 or a 12v pump.
My air source

Then get yourself a tire plug kit.
From Trail-Gears site

The plug will hold for a long time, and you can also then go to a tireshop and have them professionaly put in a rubber plug if you want.

Want to watch a good vid on using the kit?
Trail-Gear has a good vid here.
http://www.trail-gear.com/videos/tgtv5.wmv

It is in about 1/3 of the way into the video.

 

well ya theres that option to

 

Best option for me.
Had my old '90 truck at work before I got the 4Runner.

Got a call on my jitney radio at Boeing that my truck had a flat tire.
I responded to my dispather saying how can that be?
I was driving my work truck at that moment.
He said no, your personal rig.

Sure enough, went to the lot, had a green spike in it from an aircraft part.
Instead if putting on the spare, we used one of these plug kits and a compressor to air back up.
Total time?
Less than 5 minutes.

I would always go for that option instead of having to use a spare tire, unless of course the sidewall was ripped out.
Been there done that last year.
Had to drop the spare that time and limp to the tire store on it to get a free replacement.

 

Other than an on board air compressor, do you know of a 12V compressor (cigarette lighter plug type) that is good? I have been through several, they are usually cheap and do not last very long.

 

I'll look into getting a patch kit. However, if I do have to jack the rear, my u-bolts are flipped so what does that mean as far as using a bottle jack?

 

Do many of you change your own tires (off rim). Have you ever needed to?? Would you like to know how?? I have been thinking about doing a write-up w/pics on this. It's not really as hard as it sounds.

 

I'd like to see that write-up, if it isn't hard, itd be nice to do it myself rather than taking my separate wheels and tires to a place to get them seated

 

We could use the write-up for the tech section.
See that section with info on how to submit an article.

 

Always torque your lug nuts to proper specs yourself. I've NEVER had trouble taking a tire off as a result w/ a metric 4-way. You'd be surprised how OVER tight some folks put them on...WAY over torque spec.

 

As soon as I get home from having tire work done, I losen and then retighten each lug nut, that way If I have a flat, i know they will not be too hard to loosen.

 

Most tire places will hand torque your lugs if you ask them nicely. When I get tires changed, I always go to a place that has windows between the waiting room and garage, so that I can watch to make sure that they aren't using the impact to put them back on.