CAMPING THE KIWI WAY

Have you had a flat tyre on your caravan? I have now had three and would like to pass on some experience that may help you. My current caravan is twin axel with motormovers attached, and I am now in my mid 60s.

Before journeying I always check pressures in the tyres. Our last trip I did this the weekend before going and noticed one tyre down on what was expected, and pumped it up with a footpump. I checked again a couple of days before, and the pressure was half what it was supposed to be, so time to take it off and have it checked.

An hour and a half later it was off and the spare on, I was glad this was at home and not on the roadside. 

Cracking the tension on the nuts was the first problem, the tyre lever being only 250mm long. Haha, this I had done before and placing the bottle jack under the lever and raising it does the trick (above) — any jack will do — a block of wood on top can help.

Next, to jack up the van. The bottle jack in place, there was not enough room to use the lever with the motormover crossbar. Out came the supplied scissor jack. Again the cross bar and movers made placing it difficult and then turning the handle a mission and a half —an eighth of a turn at a time was all I could manage.

Well, after a few choice words, skinned hands and a lovely bruise (found the next day) the job was done. I had the tyre repaired and we left with the spare still on — changing it would wait till we got home.

So my main problem was the jack and I found an electric one on line, ordered it and it made change-back a breeze and one I would be OK with at the roadside, should it now be required. ◊

Images ©2024 Duncan Upjohn