Pedros
Member Since: 25 Jun 2011
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 454
  
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So, the other day I looked at my spare wheel, which is a steel one and I noticed it's in poor condition and the tyre was flat! Although I've checked regularly that there was air in it, I fear the wheel's time is now up. So I'll get another spare. However, it really must be years since I last got it out. In fact, possibly never in the decade I've owned the vehicle. So I shouldn't be surprised if I need a replacement winch.
But I've been thinking. (Dangerous, I know.) If I've gone a decade without using it, and in any case I've got a large dog cage in the back that takes two to remove (without dogs) before I could even think about lowering the wheel, so is it reasonable to not have a spare wheel with the car? Just keep it in the garage, so if I'm local it's probably easier to ask a family member to bring it to me should it be needed. And on a long trip, just keep it in the back (in one of the dog cage compartments).
What do other folk do, where accessing the wheel is such a problem?
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 15th Apr 2023 1:26 pm |
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M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8235
 
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It can be made easier with a little ingenuity, drill a hole in the bottom of the cage directly above the winch operating bolt, put and leave a 1/4” drive socket on it and keep a long 1/4” socket extension and ratchet with the jack. The operating bolt/stud is directly above the joint of the rear seats, if or when you get a flat the 1/4” extension can be pushed through the hole you’ve drilled down into the 1/4” drive socket and used to lower the wheel without moving anything, may take a little ingenuity to fit a socket on the later ring type drive on some winches, another penny saving improvement that is a step backwards IMHO.
I guarantee the first time you go out without a spare you will get a flat, it’s known as sods law  It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
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| 15th Apr 2023 3:34 pm |
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kajtzu
Member Since: 10 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6760
  
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Someone was selling 1-2 ready made extension pieces on this forum the other day. Maybe they’re already gone, though.
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| 15th Apr 2023 4:32 pm |
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