jaycocreek wrote:
I am not going to pull an already flat tire up on a block or blocks because the tire itself is already stressed by the time you pull over and pulling it up onto a wooden block runs the risk of further damage to the tire and sidewall...
You do it your way and I will do it the way I have for over 50 years without issue..You certainly won't change my opinion on how to change a tire in the backcountry and I am sure the same applies to you and my opinion..
So I agree to disagree rather than an internet rant!
No, your not likely to change. I would love to find a better way. Retired now, so not likely to run into the issue, but I have had to dig out to get a track back on a loader on soft ground. And retired, I call myself a graduate of the school of hard knocks. But the facts that somebody started this thread, others have asked questions and more have read than posted indicates to me that some might learn from the mistakes I have made.
Will it hurt a tire that has rolled down to a stop to roll another half revolution? Maybe, but I doubt it. Now, if I come out after the vehicle has been sitting, and find the flat I would hesitate to move it. OTOH, I will air it up. Any distance from a tire shop I will use that extra height to reduce jacking. But driving, a tire goes flat, I stop as soon as I can to protect wheel and rest of vehicle. I assume the tire will be junk before I stop. I crank the spare down to ground, then unwind rest of cable. Put a wrap back on winch. Then pull forward until spare slides. This puts center of spare under bumper, so don't have to be under to get it out. Next, check pressure in spare. (No matter how fast you change the tire you will feel stupid if you have to stand there waiting to air up tire when you should be done If the spare needs air, hook to compressor before you do lug nuts.) Then I back the flat onto block and chock the diagonal wheel. Break lugs loose (more room from ground sometimes helps that too) Then I put jack under and lift to clear block. Spin nuts off, swap wheels nuts back on. (the block can chock the wheel to get nuts a little tighter before lower the jack an torque them. Winch spare up, put tools away clean hands.
Jack in hole, or on flat ground, the more distance you run the jack after you start to lift the more likely the jack is to slip. And any slip increases the chance of vehicle to fall.