Puncture!

[Ksar-el-kebir]

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

It’s worth noting that alloy rims have a habit of seizing on so best have a rubber mallet in the toolbox.

 

[Freeley]

It’s worth noting that alloy rims have a habit of seizing on so best have a rubber mallet in the toolbox.

If I was trying to change a wheel on the puny standard jack then the last thing I'd want to be doing would be to bash he'll out of the wheel with a mallet trying to get it off.
Much safer to slightly undo the nuts before jacking it up and move the van forwards or backwards slightly to break the seal.

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[Sp0_0k]

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?

yes in other places and throw away the original jack as it is a disaster waiting to happen with such a heavy van.

 

[Velma's Dad]

I'm going to be contrarian here. IMO the scissors jack is adequate and safe for a roadside wheel change, as long as you are on firm ground and/or put it on a suitable slab or piece of wood. And don't change the wheel during an earthquake >M5.5.

I don't think the weight of the van comes into it provided you use a properly rated jack (as supplied). The weight of the vehicle is not a factor in how (un)/stable it is.

I was always taught to put the spare wheel under the sill so if the jack did slip you'll do minimal/no damage (then replace it with the removed wheel for the second part of the operation).

I'd never use the scissors for anything involving work underneath the van, but that doesn't arise in just changing a wheel. For anything involving crawling underneath I'd not be happy with anything less than axle stands or ramps.

Unfortunately I guess people just don't expect to change wheels on cars/vans these days, I think a lot of folks have probably never even done it, and the very basic skills involved have been lost. So we collectively end up paying, indirectly, through higher AA/RAC (etc) fees so a professional can do it. Hurrumph.

But the last couple of times that I've had to call out recovery for anything, it's taken 60-90 mins for them to show up. So personally I'd much rather change the wheel myself - about a 15 min job and then on my way.

 

[Borris]

I'm going to be contrarian here. IMO the scissors jack is adequate and safe for a roadside wheel change, as long as you are on firm ground and/or put it on a suitable slab or piece of wood. And don't change the wheel during an earthquake >M5.5.

I don't think the weight of the van comes into it provided you use a properly rated jack (as supplied). The weight of the vehicle is not a factor in how (un)/stable it is.

I was always taught to put the spare wheel under the sill so if the jack did slip you'll do minimal/no damage (then replace it with the removed wheel for the second part of the operation).

I'd never use the scissors for anything involving work underneath the van, but that doesn't arise in just changing a wheel. For anything involving crawling underneath I'd not be happy with anything less than axle stands or ramps.

Unfortunately I guess people just don't expect to change wheels on cars/vans these days, I think a lot of folks have probably never even done it, and the very basic skills involved have been lost. So we collectively end up paying, indirectly, through higher AA/RAC (etc) fees so a professional can do it. Hurrumph.

But the last couple of times that I've had to call out recovery for anything, it's taken 60-90 mins for them to show up. So personally I'd much rather change the wheel myself - about a 15 min job and then on my way.

I couldn't agree more. I change all four wheels using the standard scissor jack twice a year when I go from alloys to steels with winter tyres and back again. The only thing that I would add is to make sure you are on level ground and securely chock the unaffected axle because if the vehicle moves at all, the scissor jack will be compromised immediately. If it moves a lot then it may well collapse. All the more important if it's a rear wheel puncture where you'll only have one braked wheel in contact with the ground. In short, NEVER trust the handbrake alone to prevent the vehicle from moving.

The other obvious useful feature on most Calis when changing a wheel is the awning. If it's raining and it always is when you have a puncture, then if you are able to stop in a position where you can safely deploy the awning you will then be able to stack all the stuff from the boot under the awning whilst you access the tools.

 

[Sp0_0k]

as long as..

We did over 60k miles "real" travels all over Europe in 3 years and there were not so many of those as

The only thing that I would add is to make sure you are on level ground

Reminded me an anecdote how to prevent STDs. "Put 3 condoms on and avoid any intercourse.."
This vehicle is designed to go further than driving kids couple of blocks to school and tends to stop in numerous unpaved and uneven surfaces

 

[sidepod]

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

Who ties your laces in the morning?

 

[WelshGas]

A

We did over 60k miles "real" travels all over Europe in 3 years and there were not so many of those as
Reminded me an anecdote how to prevent STDs. "Put 3 condoms on and avoid any intercourse.."
This vehicle is designed to go further than driving kids couple of blocks to school and tends to stop in numerous unpaved and uneven surfaces

As I have done, now on 74,000 miles on all types of road. I would have no problem using the supplied jack. In fact any jack can be dangerous, bottle or scissor, if the vehicle is not level or on stable ground. In which case a Trolley Jack is probably the better option, but I will not be carrying one of those, “ Just in case “. In those situations, if the vehicle cannot be moved then VW Assistance.

 

[Velma's Dad]

We did over 60k miles "real" travels all over Europe in 3 years and there were not so many of those as

Yes I've also driven many tens of thousands of km in continental Europe (and a fair few thousand in various parts of Africa, Asia and the Americas, on roads, tracks and mountainsides) in all kinds of vehicles both road and off-road types, but I can't recall having ever had a problem where I was unable to move the vehicle a few yards to somewhere safe enough the change the wheel when necessary.

That's been my experience anyway, others may have had different ones.

Bottom line is though, if you don't feel it's safe to jack the vehicle up, taking into account the situation, your level of competence, confidence and kit available, then don't do it. It's not worth getting hurt for a lump of metal or a bit of a wait.

I bet the next generation of VW vans won't have a spare wheel anyway, as that's the way things are going with most cars it seems.

 

[Velma's Dad]

In fact any jack can be dangerous, bottle or scissor

Completely agree. A bottle jack is unlikely to be any safer in most situations even though quicker/easier to use. The important thing is to have a basic knowledge of safe practices, whatever type of jack you carry.

Unfortunately a lot of the old-school motoring know-how has been lost. Like how to replace a fan belt with a nylon stocking (I actually tried that once, really, and it taught me... to carry a spare fan belt), and how to extemporise a rotor arm out of a cork, a drawing pin and something else, I forget what (ditto).

Or how to wipe a cut potato on the screen if your wipers fail. To be fair that's actually quite a useful one if you have a classic car.

 

[WelshGas]

Completely agree. A bottle jack is unlikely to be any safer in most situations even though quicker/easier to use. The important thing is to have a basic knowledge of safe practices, whatever type of jack you carry.

Unfortunately a lot of the old-school motoring know-how has been lost. Like how to replace a fan belt with a nylon stocking (I actually tried that once, really, and it taught me... to carry a spare fan belt), and how to extemporise a rotor arm out of a cork, a drawing pin and something else, I forget what (ditto).

Or how to wipe a cut potato on the screen if your wipers fail. To be fair that's actually quite a useful one if you have a classic car.

Agree. But you’re showing your age now.
Stockings - rarely used nowadays.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Stockings - rarely used nowadays.

Speak for yourself duckie.

 

[sidepod]

If I told the current Miss Pod we were waiting for a man to come and change the wheel I get a slap, told to grow a pair then make up the lost time.

Are there really people so useless they can’t change a wheel? Obvs there are.

 

[Velma's Dad]

If I told the current Miss Pod we were waiting for a man to come and change the wheel I get a slap, told to grow a pair then make up the lost time.

I hope you've got that wheelnut key stashed somewhere safe or your cohones are toast.

I'd just drive on the rim and tell Mrs VD the potholes were really bad on that stretch.

 

[Borris]

This vehicle is designed to go further than driving kids couple of blocks to school and tends to stop in numerous unpaved and uneven surfaces

Nothing like stating the obvious is there! So why not move it to where you can change the wheel safely?

 

[Jabberwocky]

Stockings - rarely used nowadays.

Great shame!

 

[LisaKent]

I would have no hesitation in calling VW Assist, for the sake of a 90 minute wait it is worth it. It is not just the hassle of changing the wheel it is also having to remove the spare from the carrier and put it back again.

If 90 minutes of your time is so precious maybe you should not own a Cali, I am never in a hurry when out in the van.

 

[Velma's Dad]

If 90 minutes of your time is so precious maybe you should not own a Cali, I am never in a hurry when out in the van.

A lot of people use their van as their daily mode of transport so they might value their time differently from you.

 

[WelshGas]

I would have no hesitation in calling VW Assist, for the sake of a 90 minute wait it is worth it. It is not just the hassle of changing the wheel it is also having to remove the spare from the carrier and put it back again.

If 90 minutes of your time is so precious maybe you should not own a Cali, I am never in a hurry when out in the van.

Might be 90 min wait in U.K., abroad then it can be a lot longer.

 

[Sp0_0k]

Nothing like stating the obvious is there! So why not move it to where you can change the wheel safely?

Because it can take over a hundred miles somewhere among Lapland forest roads

 

[T6 CFO]

Stating the obvious but these are ridiculous comments.
On the basis that a large number of our members are for one reason or another not strong or fit enough calling for assistance is very sensible.
I don’t see the same comments made to people who call for assistance to wash it.
For the record I would hope in most circumstances to change my own wheel but not as I get older and I would hope my other half would not even attempt to.




Mike

 

[Meoncoast]

Having watched tyre fitters struggle to remove alloy wheels and the spare wheel cage on and off on several occasions I am quite happy to call and wait for my breakdown provider in all but the safest and dryest of tyre failures conditions. Yes, I know how to change a wheel having changed many over the years. Put the kettle on have a cup of tea and offer one to the AA assist one when he has done the task.

 

[GrannyJen]

I would have no hesitation and have done so in the past. A number of reasons:

First strength: Why on earth should I endanger my life and potentially that of dozens of other road users attempting to do something that I do not feel that I have the strength to do?

Second: Technical ability. In freezing cold especially, or pouring rain, it would be wholly undesirable to spend time outside waiting for my arthritic fingers to seize up so that I could no longer handle, or potentially drop, a vital component such as a wheel nut.

Third: Safety. A single woman attempting to manage roadside repairs is a magnet for undesirable behaviour, creeps, loudmouths. Also not just a single woman. Why should anyone, of any gender, have to struggle in possibly a dangerous environment to do something they are not familiar with after having paid for someone proficient, trained, and with all safety equipment possible to come and do it?

I happen to believe that providing someone is classed as proficient to pilot a motor vehicle safely then all should be given that opportunity and not to have to pass a macho, chest-beating, neanderthal grunting series of tests to eliminate the physically and technically less gifted or even those who just wish to exercise common sense.

 

[Freeley]

Looks like some people are using this thread as an excuse to declare how manly they are and belittle others in the process, shame on you!
I've not had a puncture for a good few years now but would be happy to change it provided I could get the nuts undone.
But it all depends on where you are when it happens - there's no way I would consider attempting to do it if I was on a motorway hard shoulder or other busy road, particularly if it was an offside puncture.
Far safer to call for assistance and let them decide if it's safe to change there or tow it somewhere that was.

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[Ady77]

I love this forum, only here could an argument arrupt about getting a puncture.

I wonder if there are any heated debates like this at the Dorset meet with everyone face to face