Some times it is the simple things. Last time I had a flat on the RV no amount of Herculean effort could loosen the lug nuts. When it is 115 degrees and the big rigs are rolling by at 70 + mph any amount of additional effort is most undesireable. Amazingly, simple physics came to the rescue…I used a flag pole pipe as an extension and viola ! Loosened with one armed effort. So , today, dropped by Home depot… they wanted too much for a dedicated “breaker bar” , and the steel pipe was too **** heavy . Solution… went to the “fence” section, selected galvanized fence post (6’) , had them cut it to 3’ lengths… Will now keep one in the truck and one in the RV. Moral to the story… don’t leave home without one. I’m so bright my Mom called me sunny ! :CSo, got any "must haves" in tool gadget department ? Charles

Thanks for the tip cdlaine! I will definitely put one in the TT before our next trip.

You are welcome PapanLes....Just for giggles I had the Princess use it... she is now a convert. Simple , old timey solution. But, can't use it ifyou don't have it. Charles

Thanks TB...but, left off the best part... under $10.00 ! :BCharles

The older I get the more frequently I seem to reach for a breaker bar also. :B

MVP honorable mention.... tool assist gadget | Good Sam Community

Bob_Vaughn
Explorer
Dec 25, 2015
Some years ago we had a brand new VW 411 and my wife was on her way to her aunts funeral and had a flat tire on the interstate. She and her girl friend could not get the lugs loose. A tow truck stopped and he could not get them off either. Finally an 18 wheeler stopped and he had a breaker bar and both men had to stand on the bar to get them loose. This episode took so long my 8 month pregnant wife missed her aunts funeral. I could not believe how tight the lugs were on a brand new vehicle....
mbrower
Explorer
Dec 25, 2015
That's a great solution, I carry a floor jack handle with me to break tight bolts loose. Its from one I threw away and have had it a long time.

I have always made it a rule of mine to never change a tire by the side of the road. Too many distracted drivers out there to risk mine or my family's safety.

I have had two flats on my RV and both times I drove to the nearest exit and found a parking lot to change the tire. Tires were totally destroyed but no rim or trailer damage.
cdlaine
Explorer
Dec 25, 2015
RockHill....

Perfect. Dad's ...wouldn't be here without em' ;).... heroes when
we're kids, dumb when we're teens, "brilliant" when we age ! Wish
mine was still here. I can hear him now... "you knucklehead, I taught
you about that fence post use when you were a teenager "! Ha ! :B

Charles
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Dec 25, 2015
cdlaine wrote:
Some times it is the simple things. Last time I had a
flat on the RV no amount of Herculean effort could loosen
the lug nuts. When it is 115 degrees and the big rigs are
rolling by at 70 + mph any amount of additional effort is most undesireable.

Amazingly, simple physics came to the rescue…I used a flag pole pipe as an extension and viola ! Loosened with one armed effort.
So , today, dropped by Home depot… they wanted too much for a dedicated “breaker bar” , and the steel pipe was too **** heavy . Solution… went to the “fence” section, selected galvanized fence post (6’) , had them cut it to 3’ lengths…
Will now keep one in the truck and one in the RV.

Moral to the story… don’t leave home without one. I’m so bright my Mom called me sunny ! :C So, got any "must haves" in tool gadget department ? Charles

Had to laugh and it brought a tear to my eye when I read this!
Brought back memories of my childhood!

When I got my first car at 16 the first thing my Dad did was present me with a heavy piece of pipe. Told me it was to be kept in the car at all times. :?

It was to be used to take off stubborn lug nuts. And as he said "so he didn't get a call in the middle of the night" when I got a flat and couldn't get the lug nuts off. Leverage he said, you have to have leverage!

I still carry that very SAME pipe in my car. Fits under the seat. Have used it several times over the years and have helped many others. And silently thank Dad each time.
AmericalVette
Explorer
Dec 25, 2015
I've had one of those fence posts in my tool shop for years and use it primarily to assist in loosening blades on mowing equipment. However, never thought of carrying one for the RV. Thanks.
Halmfamily
Explorer
Dec 24, 2015
cdlaine wrote:
That is funny Randy... the salesman at Home Depot related the
exact same story when i told him what I wanted to do.... he
just kept saying "deja vu". His Father used fence post. :)

lots of ways to accomplish the task... this one, effective
and inexpensive.

Charles

What's even funnier is I worked for Home Depot for ten years.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Dec 24, 2015
That comes under the heading of if a little one won't do, get a bigger hammer. Nothing likes to be hit. Yeah, it is heavy but I like my piece of galvanized pipe that slips over the lug nut tool. Won't be bending that anytime soon.
cdlaine
Explorer
Dec 24, 2015
That is funny Randy... the salesman at Home Depot related the
exact same story when i told him what I wanted to do.... he
just kept saying "deja vu". His Father used fence post. :)

lots of ways to accomplish the task... this one, effective
and inexpensive.

Charles
Halmfamily
Explorer
Dec 24, 2015
I've carried a 4' fence post in my truck for years. My father gave it to me when I had trouble breaking my lug nuts loose.
dave54
Nomad
Dec 24, 2015
I carry a breaker bar, also. For other uses, including the WD bars when parked on uneven ground.

I properly torque my lug nuts (and every load bearing nut) so they never get that tight. Overtorqued nuts can rattle loose easier than a properly torqued one. I do not trust the shop workers at the tire shop using impact wrenches. I redo the nuts as soon as I get home.