Changing Spare Tire

[hpdrver]

Since we have a Class C on order, I am wondering if a flat tire can be changed without calling roadside assistance. With our prior Class A, I would not consider changing a tire by myself. However since the new coach has 16” wheels, I might be inclined to change the tire by myself. Is this easy to do or is it better to call roadside assistance. I can change car tires myself so is a class C more difficult.

[Grit_dog]

enblethen wrote:
I will throw something else into the mix.
Don't think just about your self on carrying tools to change your tire, think about someone else that may have problems on the road.

Absolutely! And if you don’t know how to change a tire, they could give you your first lesson by changing theirs!

I know this seems like it goes without saying, but don’t wait until you get a flat to see how tight or rusted your lugs are. Take care of that from the comfort of your driveway.
And use a little anti seize on the lugs, then they’ll never be stuck when you don’t want them to be. And for vehicles that get regular tire rotations, anti seize will save on wear n tear on the lugs and nuts.

[enblethen]

I will throw something else into the mix.
Don't think just about your self on carrying tools to change your tire, think about someone else that may have problems on the road.

[GDS-3950BH]

If you have to ask this question its probably best to leave the lug wrench and jack to someone else.

[Stim]

It would always be to your advantage to be ready to do it yourself.
As stated wheel chocks are a must for safety.
Also an assortment of wood blocks to drive upon so there is less jacking. Even on a flat front this will help. Also for under the jack on soft ground.
I have changed many dozens of semi and/or car tires and you will find over tightened lug nuts often so a cheater pipe to fit over a breaker bar should be carried.
Every vehicle can be a little different so you need to be ready. I had a Class A with A frame front end and I needed 2 jacks for a front tire! One for the frame and one for the A frame.
And large tire iron to "Jimmy" the tire onto the studs.

[rjstractor]

ybconway wrote:
On my to buy list is a breaker bar, extension, socket and jack. I have a 1/2 electric rattle wrench but I doubt it would crack the wheel nuts.

A halfway decent cordless impact should be able to loosen the lugs-provided they are not too tight. 140 ft/lbs is not really that tight, just a 70 pound pull at the end of a 2 foot tire iron. Many guys would have you think that you need to stand on the end of a four foot breaker bar to get them loose. If that's the case, then they were WAY overtightened to begin with and possibly damaged.

[ron_dittmer]

I am 62 years old, not significantly overweight, but was never blessed with Conan-like physical characteristics. I have had the front wheels off my Ford E350 chassis motor home just this past summer to change the front springs to softer-rated ones. I am happy to report that I can handle a wheel by myself with no concerns.

A 6-ton bottle jack and tire iron are the two basic items required to lift any corner. A higher-rated bottle jack will be much heavier and much harder to handle so I don't recommend the over-kill.

Our spare tire is stored chest high and I am able to get it up and down myself, but I can see that my days are numbered in that regard. I can see resorting to a camping neighbor one day if I ever had a flat to deal with.

I maintain the full 80psi in the spare tire, then plan to let out the right amount of air pending the location it is mounted.

[DrewE]

Get a couple of the rubber wheel chocks if you don't have any, too. The $7.99 list price ones are perfectly sufficient.

[ybconway]

On my to buy list is a breaker bar, extension, socket and jack. I have a 1/2 electric rattle wrench but I doubt it would crack the wheel nuts.

[enblethen]

Make sure you take a lug nut to get the correct size!
If you have wheel covers or hub caps, look to see how they attach as you may need another tool.
Don't forget cheater bar from hardware store!

[hpdrver]

That is the tool kit I was looking at. Since that will not work, it looks like a trip to Harbor Freight is in order.

[DrewE]

enblethen wrote:
Good idea to have chocks for rig to prevent any rolling.

For some years of the Ford chassis, it's more than a good idea; it's pretty much mandatory. Specifically, some (older) chassis have a driveshaft mounted parking/emergency brake, rather than applying wheel brakes. With such a chassis, once one rear wheel is raised off the ground, there is no parking brake effectiveness at all; the non-raised wheel can turn one way while the raised one turns the opposite direction, due to the differential, without the driveshaft turning.

In any case, I personally consider chocks mandatory for jacking a motorhome wheel regardless of the chassis and levelness of the ground.

[enblethen]

If it is like this, forget it! It is for cars!

Tire change tool kit
You can get nearly everything you need for a lot less at Harbor Freight.
Jack
Breaker bar
Extensions

[hpdrver]

Just found on Amazon a tire change tool kit for $179. It includes electric jack, air compressor, and a electric impact wrench. Sorry, couldn’t figure out to put link on post.
Does anyone have this kit and would it work with a class C. Thanks

[enblethen]

A good breaker bar with correct size six point socket, a three to four foot cheater bar to slide over breaker bar, an extension to get to rear lug nuts, somewhere around 12 inch, a good bottle jack rated for about 150 percent of weight of rear corner of a rig's rear axle. Good idea to have chocks for rig to prevent any rolling.
I had to change tire on my Class A due to no road service available. That was when I was younger! Not sure if I want to do it on the road now!

[hpdrver]

Thanks for the advice. Seems the best advice is to have a spare and the tools required to change a spare and decide whether to do it by yourself based on the situation.