Before leaving how prepared are you for the unexpected?

ozi2 · Guru

Before leaving how prepared are you for the unexpected?

goinsoon · Guru

I had exactly the same problem, I saw these in a caravan magazine and got one, plugs into cigarette lighter and removes the tightest nuts.

blaze · Guru

If A tyre fitter ever did my wheel nuts up with a rattle gun I would seriously rattle him. Thhat is the biggest cause of wheels coming off. You should have your wheel studs checked now as more than likely the threads have been stretched and the nuts now will not stay at the correct tension. THE WHEEL NUTS ON ANY WHEEL NEED TO BE TENSIONED WITH A TORQUE WRENCH OR AT THE VERY LEAST USE THE MANUFACTURES SUPPLIED TOOL. A extremely stretched wheel stud will have a wine glass shape but a slightly stretched one is just as dangerous and not as easy to detect. My advice would be to have the tyre company that used the rattle gun replace your wheel studs. Not trying to scare you or be an alarmist but thems the facts
cheers
blaze

blaze · Guru

To further add to the above, rattle guns are only to be used to undo nuts, NEVER TO TO THEM UP.
cheers
blaze

goinsoon · Guru

The fact is blaze, that every tyre company and garage in Australia uses rattle guns, it is the overuse by some operators that is the problem.

I have never seen wheel nuts tightened with a tension wrench, unless some zealot was doing his own tyre changes.

I haven't seen a rash of wheels falling off vehicles because of the use of rattle guns.

blaze · Guru

Its a legal requirement for tyre dealers to correctly tension wheel nuts, my mate manages a beurepairs store in tassie and they dont tolarate using a rattle gun to do up wheel nuts, they are often used on the weakest setting to locate the nut upto the rim but this is not much tighter than finger tight, Im am a mechanic of 36 years I have undo more wheels nuts than the average punter, dont normally get hot under the collar but the facts remain. Please dont do the nuts up with a bloody rattle gun.
cheers
blaze

blaze · Guru

I have seen the effects of stretched studs and have had to work on the side of the bloody road replacing them on trucks because of the use of rattle guns. Its not just light vehicles that have the problem.
cheers
blaze

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Well, whatever they use to tighten them at the tyre place it was very difficult to loosen them (at home) using an extension on the wheel brace.
Furthermore, on my own car a couple of years ago, one wheel was so loose after tyre rotation it wobbled. I was lucky another motorist warned me after only a short distance. I went back, they did the nuts up tightly, and the boss said "heads will roll over this".
Never trust them, always check your wheel nuts.

ozi2 · Guru

ozi2 wrote:
Hi everyone,
I am currently in the final stages of preparation prior to departure & I have found a few instances of things overlooked that could have severely impacted on my trip. In one instance it was after having new tyres fitted I decided to test getting one off using factory supplied wheel brace equipt. No way!
The rattle guns used apply too much tension to the nut and I had to get them to back it off. Tyrepower staff were great and worked with me to see that I could do it using extending wheel brace that I purchased and now all is fine......but on say the Oodnadatta track in the heat it would have been a different story. So, have you tested your jack works as advertised, can you safely raise vehicle/van and remove nuts? Do you have the ability to repair tyre in remote area's?
I can see a potential "sticky"once forum members post their own idea's/suggestions on preparation and safe travel tips; ie, basic tools required for safe travel and just how prepared are we to help ourselves to avoid a difficult & potentially life threatening situation.
Cheers,
ozi2
Hi guys, I think we all agree that a problem exists with tyre companies using rattle guns. I would like to see what forum members do in preparation to avoid/address issue's that could be encountered, ie, what basic tool kits to carry and what do you put in them.
I start off with a good first aid kit, basic tools of metric spanners, screwdrivers, repair kits like Knead it, spare fluids, filters, proper snatch equipt and how to use it.
Sadly, I have seen elderly citizens stuck on the side of the road with a puncture and no means to replace it or inflate it, in 40 degree heat on the Oodnadatta track. If we had a basic checklist for forum members to refer to it just might make a difference to someone; the ignorant we can't help.

justcruisin01 · Guru

Due the fact that we have travelled many isolated areas over the years & long distance my list of spares & tools are to long to post on here.

Bloody rattle guns, I've just had to replace all wheel nuts as the tappers were squashed to the point that the nuts had to be turned all the way with a wheel brace. Ive used these guns for many years in the trade & only ever use the low setting to just run the nuts up to contact & then finish off with a proper brace.

The van has a trailer jack so the chassis lift bracket is great, it lets the suspension hang so removal of wheel is good.

JC.

-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Wednesday 25th of January 2012 07:47:59 PM

cannylass · Senior Member

We did not have that problem but changing a flat that was a different story, not one caravan stopped to see if we needed any help and the road was busy. Because the mud guards on our roadstar van are not high enough we could not get the wheel of we had to dig a hole in the hard dirt to change tyres

JRH · Guru

cannylass wrote:
We did not have that problem but changing a flat that was a different story, not one caravan stopped to see if we needed any help and the road was busy. Because the mud guards on our roadstar van are not high enough we could not get the wheel of we had to dig a hole in the hard dirt to change tyres

Had a similar problem a few years ago, several vanners slowed down for a look and then kept going, only person to stop and ask if we needed a hand was a truckie.

DeBe · Guru

APAC 750Kg Jack.JPG I carry this little jack in the caravan to lift the axle when the tyre is flat as its compact. Then i use the vehicle jack to lift the van chassis a little to be able to remove the wheel tjhrough the wheel arch.

DandS · Senior Member

We tend to do quite a bit of 4x4 adventures when we travel.

Prior to a trip our vehicle has a full service, including brake & clutch fluid replaced, coolant replaced, fan belts and radiator hoses replaced (then keep the old ones for spares if they are still ok). Anything that may be worn but appears ok, we replace prior (eg, brake pads, winscreen wipers etc)

In brief the spares we usually take are: bulbs, fuel filter, oil & filter etc. tie wire, elect wire & terminals, cable ties, hose clamps, fuses, solder, "MAP" gas, 2 jacks, jacking plate, a car stand, wheel nuts & studs, drill bits, full assortment of tyre repair gear. Insulation, self amalgamating, and duct tapes, silicon. We also take a spare fuel pump, starter motor, alternator front & rear shock. Plus a good range of tools, and a small selection of nuts, bolts & self tappers. 12volt modified cordless drill that connects to the vehicle battery. Replace both batteries once they are around 2 years old. Most of what we take has either helped us or someone else out of stressful situations.

I think knowing the basics and the "how to" with your vehicle and tools is an important part of preparation.

I came across one guy who had broken two of his wheel bolts on a Ford Econovan trying to change a tyre. He had no idea they were left hand thread.

Usually after a day on rough dirt roads, tracks, we will check for anything that may have come loose.

Laugh as you may, but the night before we are due to head off, I head outside and spend some time having a heart to heart with the vehicle. Hey!, works for me, we have always got to our destination and back home.

Regards

Daryl

-- Edited by DandS on Wednesday 25th of January 2012 10:38:51 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

Don't forget a packet of fuses. Never know when you might need them

Gerty Dancer · Guru

After a couple of small but inconvenient things breaking in the caravan, we added a packet of mixed size screws, and some drill bits to the tool box. The drill comes with us to windup/down the caravan legs, so had it already.

HeadnHome · Senior Member

Thanks for the reminder, I checked mine awhile ago and no way could I undo them if I needed to, van going in for some minor repairs soon so will ask them to loosen them for me and tighten again by hand only.. when I did get a blow out late October 2010 just out of Vic River NT, about lunch time, stinking hot, no caravans would stop, but then again I wasn't waving anyone over, but was struggling, managed to get tyre off but difficult getting spare on as jack sinking in dirt on side of road, in the end wided loaded truckie stopped and helped me, his hint to me was have good pair of gloves as everything I touched was hot and also got myself a chunk of wood that fits under the jack so hopefully won't sink into ground next time.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

That chunk of wood x2 makes for handy supports under the caravan legs or jockey-wheel if its soft. A bit bulky but get lotsa use. This is in addition to the rising chocks for leveling the wheels.

cannylass · Senior Member

We tried that still did not work
I carry this little jack in the caravan to lift the axle when the tyre is flat as its compact. Then i use the vehicle jack to lift the van chassis a little to be able to remove the wheel tjhrough the wheel arch.

justcruisin01 · Guru

you need to be able to jack the chassis so that the suspension will hang down , then you can remove the wheel.

JC.

B-T · Veteran Member

Other than ensuring your vehicle and van are regularly serviced and that you carry basic spares.... then the most critical things are (a) communications, critical if you are going off-road in low population areas (b) First aid knowledge and a good first aid kit. (c) water to sustain you for a few days.

Make use of the federal government subsidy scheme for satellite phones. Ours cost only $123.75 and at between $1.00 (fixed phone) and $1.20 to mobiles it is cheap insurance.

John

ozi2 · Guru

DandS wrote:
We tend to do quite a bit of 4x4 adventures when we travel.
Prior to a trip our vehicle has a full service, including brake & clutch fluid replaced, coolant replaced, fan belts and radiator hoses replaced (then keep the old ones for spares if they are still ok). Anything that may be worn but appears ok, we replace prior (eg, brake pads, winscreen wipers etc)
In brief the spares we usually take are: bulbs, fuel filter, oil & filter etc. tie wire, elect wire & terminals, cable ties, hose clamps, fuses, solder, "MAP" gas, 2 jacks, jacking plate, a car stand, wheel nuts & studs, drill bits, full assortment of tyre repair gear. Insulation, self amalgamating, and duct tapes, silicon. We also take a spare fuel pump, starter motor, alternator front & rear shock. Plus a good range of tools, and a small selection of nuts, bolts & self tappers. 12volt modified cordless drill that connects to the vehicle battery. Replace both batteries once they are around 2 years old. Most of what we take has either helped us or someone else out of stressful situations.
I think knowing the basics and the "how to" with your vehicle and tools is an important part of preparation.
I came across one guy who had broken two of his wheel bolts on a Ford Econovan trying to change a tyre. He had no idea they were left hand thread.
Usually after a day on rough dirt roads, tracks, we will check for anything that may have come loose.
Laugh as you may, but the night before we are due to head off, I head outside and spend some time having a heart to heart with the vehicle. Hey!, works for me, we have always got to our destination and back home.
Regards
Daryl

-- Edited by DandS on Wednesday 25th of January 2012 10:38:51 PM

HI Daryl,

this is the type of comment I was hoping to see posted; to give inexperienced GN's some idea of what preparation should be done and equiptment carried in order that we can make a check list pre trip.

I'm not saying everyone needs to carry such a comprehensive list but certainly for safety reasons we should be addressing the servicing of our vehicles and basic spares and tools. How simple and handy is a solid plate for jacking!

Keep the suggestions coming.

cheers,

ozi2

ozi2 · Guru

B-T wrote:
Other than ensuring your vehicle and van are regularly serviced and that you carry basic spares.... then the most critical things are (a) communications, critical if you are going off-road in low population areas (b) First aid knowledge and a good first aid kit. (c) water to sustain you for a few days.
Make use of the federal government subsidy scheme for satellite phones. Ours cost only $123.75 and at between $1.00 (fixed phone) and $1.20 to mobiles it is cheap insurance.
John
Hi John,
would you be able to give a bit more detail or link for the satellite phone and how you went about it. Apart from myself there would be many GN's interested in your setup.
cheers,
ozi2

DandS · Senior Member

Somehow I managed to duplicate the post, so I removed it.
Daryl

-- Edited by DandS on Thursday 26th of January 2012 09:58:18 PM

DandS · Senior Member

We do carry other bits & pieces. The usual things like first aid, recovery gear, fire extinguisher etc. We go fairly well prepared on our trips, as we do go to remote places sometimes. We have had to change the alternator on the side of the road, having a spare, meant we only lost about an hour out of our day. try and solve the problem before it becomes a problem. Sure, you cant carry everything or expect to fix anything.

A former travelling aquaintance of ours would never do much to the vehicle prior to a trip, would take bugger all parts etc. We had lost count on the amount of breakdowns and downtime he had due to bad preparation. On one trip alone: dirty fuel filter, having to stop often to clear it, alternator, battery problems, (caused by the battery clamp coming loose, the battery jumped about and the positive terminal grabbed hold of the bonnet and melted the terminal right off the battery)tyre problems due to having old tyres, and then to top it off a fuel pump that took 2 days to get to us.

These days we travel alone, we were over our plans always being disrupted due these breakdowns, and no parts to fix them.

Link for Govt Sat phone subsidy:

http://www.dbcde.gov.au/mobile_services/the_satellite_phone_subsidy_scheme

Regards

Daryl