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Don Halas 
Senior Member 
Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
 Topic: Being Prepared for a flat tire on your podPosted: 20 May 2016 at 11:14am |
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Well I'm not limiting my concern to the blow-outs caused by tires of questionable quality but any blow-out that occurs on the road.
The questionable quality of the Chinese tires just makes this unfortunate circumstance more likely. I guess I'm looking for re-assurance that typically a tire blow out doesn't involve much more inconvenience than using the spare and continuing on your journey. Albeit a stop at a tire or rv store will be necessary in the near future. |
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Pod People
Senior Member
Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067 |
Posted: 20 May 2016 at 9:26am |
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My earlier post addressed the question of damage to the pod(none) after a blowout. The latest question Don asked was about the 'chinese bombs'. This is likely to start a whole new group of posts about tires.
I will add that my blowout was not because of 'chinese bombs". My blowout was caused by running over road debris. I could not avoid it because I was in a center lane of a a 3 lane interstate with traffic on both sides of me. I replaced all 3 of my tires with Maxxis 8008 units about 2 years ago. I had them balanced and metal valve stems installed.I have had no problems with them. they hold air/nitrogen well and don't leak or lose pressure. I would not hesitate to recommend them or buy them again myself. Vann |
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Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 
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Don Halas
Senior Member
Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
Posted: 20 May 2016 at 8:17am |
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This thread has shifted towards changing the flat. My concern is what effect the blowout will have to things other than the tire.
Is it likely that after a blow-out the tire can be replaced and you're back on the road. I've got concerns that based upon the single axle and size of the trailer, that at least the wheel (not rim) will be damaged from running without the tire. Or perhaps the frame or stabilizer jacks will get wrecked dragging on the road. What have the problems been to some of those who've experienced this, and under what conditions (highway, back road, traffic jam, etc.). I see the one example earlier in the thread that resulted in minimal problems, but is that typical? I'm not just looking for horror stories, but I do have concerns about travelling on a busy highway at 60 mph and one of these questionable Chinese tires blow. |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp 
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 19 May 2016 at 8:43pm |
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Ditto on the TV's scissor jack.
And make sure you check your lug nut torque before every trip (until the lugs seat themselves), and your tire pressure which will reduce your chance of having a blowout.
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Mountainrev
Senior Member
Joined: 22 Jul 2014 Location: Eagle, Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 193 |
Posted: 19 May 2016 at 7:00pm |
You don't need to get an expensive, heavy-duty floor jack if you're only going to use it for your R-pod. They weigh under 3,000 lbs., and you're only lifting one wheel--the rest of the weight will be distributed between the other wheel and the tongue. A 2-ton would be more than adequate. They can be had for well under $50. As far as being spooked, though, let me just say that in towing campers for almost 25 years (and probably somewhere north of 100,000 miles), I've never experienced a blow-out. I've had a blowout or two in my tow vehicle, but not in the camper. That's not saying you won't, but it's far from a common occurrence. Another thought: I've been able to use the scissors jack that's in my tow vehicle to jack up the Pod in our driveway. You may not need to purchase or haul around a floor jack. |
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2014 177
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Turbodiesel "I lift my eyes to the hills." 
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Jeffpugman
Newbie 
Joined: 26 Mar 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
Posted: 19 May 2016 at 12:21pm |
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Okay. We have a long trip planned this summer and now I'm spooked about having a flat. I would love some advice on what type of floor jack to get. There are many types, weights, etc. Don't want to get more than I need for my 179.
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sailor323
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2015 Location: S Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 281 |
Posted: 19 May 2016 at 8:56am |
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Another problem with a bottle jack is that it won't lift the pod high enough to put a fully inflated tire on the wheel. We have a scissors jack, use it in combo with a bottle jack.
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jato
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3227 |
Posted: 18 May 2016 at 9:58pm |
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Not a good idea, even with an emergency. Stabilizer is not meant to lift the pod, could do some damage to the rail/frame it is attached to. Use a floor jack please.
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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fwunder
Senior Member
Joined: 04 Oct 2013 Location: New Jersey Online Status: Offline Posts: 1676 |
Posted: 18 May 2016 at 9:12pm |
Wow! Great tip Vann! I use a bottle jack all the time to lift my pod, but honestly never considered lifting it with a flat tire. Floor jack on order! Just curious if you considered lifting with stabilizers just enough to get jack under? I'd hate to do it, but might consider in an emergency. fred |
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2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
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Pod People
Senior Member
Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067 |
Posted: 18 May 2016 at 6:15pm |
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We had a blowout on our last trip. We were on a 4 lane interstate. Luckily my wife was looking in her passenger side mirror helping me move over a lane to the right and saw the tire bulging. she alerted me about the same time as the tire blew. I was able to immediately pull over on to the shoulder. the Pod did not fishtail, sway or do anything unexpected. We suffered no damage to the pod fender, rim or axle.
We did learn a very valuable lesson from this incident. I had a bottle jack, my torque wrench with proper socket and all of the wheel chocks. the problem was that the bottle jack was too tall to fit under the axle mounting brackets when the tire was flat. We waited on the side of the road andsoon a roving safety/repair service stopped and had a floor jack. We changed the tire in about 5 minutes and I tipped the driver $20. We went to a near by tire service and got a new tire. We stopped at the closest Harbor Freight and paid about $80 for a floor model jack. the jack I bought has a 3.5" minimum height and weighs about 35 pounds. I have practiced with this jack and it works great. I hope there will never be another flat tire or blowout. but I feel prepared now with the proper equipment to take care of it myself Vann. |
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Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179
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Being Prepared for a flat tire on your pod
