Puncture!

[YvonneGoodwin]

So last Weekend in the Peak District I ran over a small object on a moorland road only 3 miles from our campsite. It punctured the back left tyre almost straight away so we stopped. Of course it was pouring down , anyway main purpose of this post is how awkward to get to the jack and the other gubbins needed to change a tyre. We had to get virtually everything out of the boot. Does anyone keep all the tyre changing gubbins somewhere else where easier to access?

 

[calikev]

if you owned a beach you would be able to get to it as its stored in the side panel just inside the boot.
but this is a common problem on most cars you have to empty the boot first just to get to the spare wheel

 

[Hotel California]

On a SE/Ocean/Coast , a clever person would just slide the rear seat forward so you have acces to the jack-kit while standing in the sliding door .
Next time you are maybe one of those...

Please fill in your verhicle details ....

 

[T6 CFO]

I’ve removed the stops in bench seat so that I can have more space in the load area when required and access the tools by sliding bench seat all the way to the front.


Mike

 

[EddieEagle]

So last Weekend in the Peak District I ran over a small object on a moorland road only 3 miles from our campsite. It punctured the back left tyre almost straight away so we stopped. Of course it was pouring down , anyway main purpose of this post is how awkward to get to the jack and the other gubbins needed to change a tyre. We had to get virtually everything out of the boot. Does anyone keep all the tyre changing gubbins somewhere else where easier to access?

Only thinking out loud here, would sliding the bench seat forward give access to the tool box through the side door?
I have removed the front stop from the floor rails which allows (a small) one to get in the back with seat fully frontwards.
I empathise with your dilemma and well done in actually changing the wheel.

P.S.Well, in taking ages writing I have been guzzumped......I thought it but took too long composing this............

 

[YvonneGoodwin]

Hello , thanks for replies, guess it’s one of those situations you don’t tend to plan for so all a bit of a faff first time it happens. Hopefully there won’t be a next time but you never know.

Ps. Updated profile now

 

[Rich20]

Let VW Assist do it for you. No hassle then.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Let VW Assist do it for you. No hassle then.

Where do you keep your security bolt socket?

 

[bigmac77]

Let VW Assist do it for you. No hassle then.

Change a wheel in 15 mins or wait ages for assistance. I know which one I’d choose.

 

[SimonB]

Where do you keep your security bolt socket?

In the tool box with the jack & socket. Otherwise when you take it to the dealer they might say they can't find it.

 

[Victor]

We have had several punctures over the years and we always call VW Assist as why anyone would want to risk using that scissor jack to lift a 3 ton vehicle at the side of the road is beyond me

 

[blakeley]

Change a wheel in 15 mins or wait ages for assistance. I know which one I’d choose.

I would rather wait an hour or so and put the kettle and have a cuppa rather that risk damaging my Cali or damaging myself, I would change the spare on my car at side of road but never on my Cali

 

[Jabberwocky]

In the tool box with the jack & socket. Otherwise when you take it to the dealer they might say they can't find it.

Thanks Simon, the point I was trying to make was that even if you call VW assist you still have to get access to the tool box behind the bench seat for the key and in doing this do not remove all the hassle as had been suggested. Oh and particularly as I would not be too keen to have Mr VW Assist rooting around my luggage to get to the tool box for the key. I would still do this myself.

 

[Rich20]

Thanks Simon, the point I was trying to make was that even if you call VW assist you still have to get access to the tool box behind the bench seat for the key and in doing this do not remove all the hassle as had been suggested. Oh and particularly as I would not be too keen to have Mr VW Assist rooting around my luggage to get to the tool box for the key. I would still do this myself.

You could always keep the key in a more accessible place. It does not need to be in the toolbox as long as you remember where you have put it.

 

[Billy]

I am in the VW assist camp on this discussion, why on earth would you go through alll that grief when someone can do it for you for free ? Yes you might need to wait an hour or so but we do have Campervans at the end of the day

 

[Amarillo]

I keep essential items - such as snow chains, waning triangles and hi-vis vests - under the driver's seat. But no jack, the essential item there is VW assist number.

 

[Jabberwocky]

You could always keep the key in a more accessible place. It does not need to be in the toolbox as long as you remember where you have put it.

Absolutely agree!

 

[westfalia]

If you was charged about 200 quid each time for the assist i think
you´d soon be changing a wheel yourself.

On a dangerous road or in a dangerous place, then yes calling
assist is the sensible thing to do but just to rely on that service
and not have a jack with you is cwazy man.

 

[Alan Andrews]

How long do you get VW assist for? I have just bought a 2017 Ocean. I have read the assist booklet, but can not find the period it is valid for. I do have RAC cover separately.

 

[T6 CFO]

As there is a possibility that I could be somewhere remote I’ve gone for having the ability to change a wheel myself and carry a bottle jack as I’m not over impressed with the jack supplied.

Chances are if you do get a puncture It will be either in a safe spot to change it or possible to inflate it with the compressor I carry.

So far I’ve had one puncture, a blowout but on a motorway which wrecked the tyre. So much for Plan A. I had to pull off the motorway and ended on a sloping bank. VW jack was not an option and bottle hack had not yet been purchased.

VW assist in Portugal managed to change the wheel in situ with a specialist lorry jack.

Moral of the story plan for the worst but know ones limitations.

I’m early 60’s fairly fit and have all the tools. It’s just about doable for me in good conditions.

Biggest issue is getting the spare wheel out, getting the wrecked one back under was impossible until I got somewhere safe and flat and then it wasn’t easy.




Mike

 

[Amarillo]

If you was charged about 200 quid each time for the assist i think
you´d soon be changing a wheel yourself.

On a dangerous road or in a dangerous place, then yes calling
assist is the sensible thing to do but just to rely on that service
and not have a jack with you is cwazy man.

I do have the Jack, stowed in the Beach’s tool compartment, not in the void under the driver’s seat where I stow other car tools and emergency equipment.

Changing a wheel with the jack supplied would be a last resort for me.


Follow my blog: www.au-revoir.eu

 

[westfalia]

I do have the Jack, stowed in the Beach’s tool compartment, not in the void under the driver’s seat where I stow other car tools and emergency equipment.

Changing a wheel with the jack supplied would be a last resort for me.


Follow my blog: www.au-revoir.eu

Oh. i thought you´d jettisoned the jack.

 

[Ting Tong]

So there’s no point in me buying a spare wheel then or a carrier? What if you’re somewhere that VW assist doesn’t go.... like French autoroutes?

 

[westfalia]

So there’s no point in me buying a spare wheel then or a carrier? What if you’re somewhere that VW assist doesn’t go.... like French autoroutes?

That´s when you get your 200 quid out.

 

[SimonB]

So there’s no point in me buying a spare wheel then or a carrier? What if you’re somewhere that VW assist doesn’t go.... like French autoroutes?

You can fit a suitably rated 17" spare on in place of an 18", as far as I'm aware, being careful of speed, etc. The circumference has to be the same for the speedo to work correctly with the different wheel sizes.
The danger of not having a spare would be if you are in a situation like @T6 CFO where your tyre is ruined and you can't use the liquid sealant. You would have to wait at the roadside till a replacement tyre can be found and fitted.

Our Cali had 18" wheels when purchased and we had a spare wheel carrier fitted and got a 17" wheel for it. As I'm pretty sure the 18" wheel doesn't fit the carrier.