Low tire in the middle of nowhere?

[unjonharley]

You can pump up a car/van tire with a bicycle pump..


Jack the vehicle up, turn the wheel until the (air) stem is at the bottom.. Now you can inflate with a bicycle pump..

When traveling across wide up spaces.. Have a a can of tire repair... Again, Jack the wheel up so the pressure can, can do it's job.. Your dealer will hate you.. But it can get you to a repair shop.. The green slime put in the tire must be driven 5 miles to make it work. Read the label on the can.. Finish the inflate with your bicycle pump

[BeeWeeDee]

In lieu of a bicycle pump, I carry a small portable air compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter (power socket). It was not something I would have bought for myself but was gift that has turned out to be useful on more than one occasion.

[Doctor VonBacon]

Also, if space allows it, a FULL size jack and lug wrench can make changing a tire much easier than the compact one that comes with most new cars.

[unjonharley]

In lieu of a bicycle pump, I carry a small portable air compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter (power socket). It was not something I would have bought for myself but was gift that has turned out to be useful on more than one occasion.

Damn things burn up/out. I go with, Off the grid and hand driven..

[Doctor VonBacon]

I have a foot pump for emergency use. Never used it, but it would seem to be less tiring to use.

Also, being that I weigh 220+, I was planning on having gravity do some of the work for me.

[unjonharley]

Elliot saved me last year.. I am not strong enough to get the lug nut off the wheel..
(not many people are that strong)

Elliot had bolt cutters.. Take the hand gripe off and you have a (helper) pipe.. The year I bought a 36 inch long pipe nipple at Home Depot.. It fits over the lug nut handle.. Suggest everyone have this in there jack kit.. Your dealer put your tires/lug nuts on with a air wrench..

[unjonharley]

I have a foot pump for emergency use. Never used it, but it would seem to be less tiring to use.

Also, being that I weigh 220+, I was planning on having gravity do some of the work for me.

I also use a double foot pump... It will be at the front of my camp for other to use this year..

[FIGJAM]

For $30 this one works really well.

I use it all the time.

The problem with the cheaper ones overheating is not jacking up the vehicle first and running them for more than 30 minutes at a time.

That will burn them out, like jon said.

[ygmir]

I've seen a couple of intrepid souls put an extra A/C pump, with external oiler, on a vehicle and have a really nice air source. with the electric clutch, no drag unless used.

[Captain Goddammit]

I've seen a couple of intrepid souls put an extra A/C pump, with external oiler, on a vehicle and have a really nice air source. with the electric clutch, no drag unless used.

Exactly!! I did that on my last truck. Put an air filter on the A/C pump's intake and plumb the A/C pump's output to an air tank. Buy a pressure switch meant for an air compressor at the hardware store. Hook it up to the A/C compressor clutch wires. It will kick it on at 90 PSI and off at 120 PSI. Don't omit this, A/C compressors are usually capable of WAY too much pressure for standard air tanks hoses and fittings.

It'll make a lot of compressed air, works extremely well.
If I can find room to mount the compressor I'm gonna do it again on my M/V.
Train horns... Yes!!

[Foxfur]

Also, if space allows it, a FULL size jack and lug wrench can make changing a tire much easier than the compact one that comes with most new cars.

Messr. Charcouterie has a great point. My OEM jack failed in the up position while on the trail. I was lucky to be blessed with Dontgiveashititus so didn't give a shit about driving the truck off the jack (also a great way to gradually move a truck off a high-centering obstacle).
I carry a 10-ton bottle jack (already had it) and a 2-ton jackstand. Along with a 4-point full size lugwrench, I'm ready to help myself and others. It's happened 3 times in 3 years on the way home. All were cars full of damsels in distress.
I love helping damsels in distress.

[unjonharley]

I use a big (old) scissor jack.. It will lift a motor home.. Blow two 2 ton hydraulic on one lift.. I replaced the jack handle with a nut and ratchet.. Use it for changing tire and the trailer hitch..

I OP'ed this thread for the burners that drive a desk all year.. Then pile shit into the car and head out to burning man like a star gazed raver.. Take care folks, there are bad things out on the desert.. They can nail you anytime.. Had my tires checked this morning.. Needed a new one.. The old tire had a damaged side wall on the inside.. Where I didn't see it..

[vlajim]

Several good points, Be sure and bring several pieces of 2x6 boards. If you have to use a jack on soft shoulder you will need to spread out the footprint to keep the jack from burying into the soft dirt. When I buy tires I ask the tire installation person for their home phone. They ask why and I tell them I will need to phone them at home when I can't get the lug nuts off at 3:00AM. Then I demand they use a hand torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts.
When you use one of those electric air compressors, don't forget and wander off to get a drink or pee, talk about one hell of a noise when the tire blows.
Plan to see you guys and gals Tuesday morning, Drive safe, VLAJim

[ygmir]

all the tire shops here hand torque...........

and I just checked Frankencamper, and all but one tire were perfect at 110 psi. the low one was 100 psi. Takes time when your compressor only goes to 115 psi.

[unjonharley]

When I got the new tire this morning.. I told then to check the spare.. I took a walk and shopped a little... When I returned, the guy was hanging up the spare. (it is under the front bumper) He was using a air wrench.. I taped him on the shoe and said: thats a no no.. A AAA wrecker come to put the spare on a few years ago.. He broke two sockets.. I got a Craftsman socket and break over bar.. Didn't work.. Add a four foot pipe to break that damn thing loose.. Good thing it happened in my front yard..

[unjonharley]

On spare tires..............

DO NOT drive over 45 mph on those crap spare donuts in newer cars..

The desert is hot and the pavement is much hotter.. Don't risk you life at a higher speed..

[Ratty]

My toyota van is only 2 years old. I got a couple of flats because I tend to go 'places'. The tow truck driver needed the special socket that came with my van. It made me want to get a spare. Well, it makes it harder to steal rims.

[Captain Goddammit]

It's still easy to steal the wheels. You just take a socket that doesn't quite fit over the so-called locking or security nut, then pound it on with a big hammer. That's how you get them off if you lose the special socket.
It's true, DON'T drive normal freeway speed on one of those space-saver mini spares. The rubber is very thin and they will overheat and blow.
I know this stuff because in my earlier years I was a tow truck driver, saw it all the time.

Unjon knows because he IS a low tire in the middle of nowhere!!

[unjonharley]

You could not pay me enough to be a tow truck driver..

People kill there self in the most awful ways on the high ways..

[unjonharley]

oops...

[Molotov]

Bicycle valve core question...

Having acquired a new cruiser type bike, I checked the air before loading it into the truck for the trip. It was down a bit so I put 60 psi in each tire last night.

Today in the heat of the day, after putting the bike in the back of the truck and securing it, there was an unusual event. As I walked near the truck in the shade inside the shop, there was a large hissing sound coming from the back tire. I put my fingers on the valve and air was rushing out from under the plastic cap. The tire was flat in no time. OK, that was interesting.

About 20 minutes later, the front tire valve let go in the same way (it was exposed to a little more sun) and all the pressurized air left.

My question: What could cause catastrophic failure of both valve cores that close together? Do they serve as an overpressure relief device-designed to fail before the tube blows out? I'm going to the parts store to pick up some replacements, as well as the little metal valve caps that have the core removal too. Are some valve cores better than others?

[unjonharley]

Never have heard anything like that.. Are you pulling my leg?

Heat will expand air.. Some thing was not a good part..

You should not travel over mountains with your bikes tires fully inflated.. The tubes can blow out.. You might consider replacing both tubes just in case..

Did you get your bike at WalMart?? They dump craps bike on the market..

[Molotov]

Yes, it's a Wal-Mart edition Huffy Cranbrook 26" cruiser. I have heard of cost cutting by vendors seeking a contract with WM-but carrying it as far as substandard tires, I never knew. I already had two spare tubes (bought at Wal-Mart, of course) but I'm picking up a pack of replacement valve cores at a real parts store tomorrow. I know there wasn't THAT much air in those tires, a temperature change of 25 degrees should not have made that much expansion. It would have sucked to have been on a cross-Playa ride and lose air out of both tires. I carry a pump and patch kit and tools on the bike, but valve cores? Strange.

[unjonharley]

I'll bring a pack of cores also.. For Elliot's bike repair just in case..

[MikeGyver]

I've seen a couple of intrepid souls put an extra A/C pump, with external oiler, on a vehicle and have a really nice air source. with the electric clutch, no drag unless used.

Exactly!! I did that on my last truck. Put an air filter on the A/C pump's intake and plumb the A/C pump's output to an air tank. Buy a pressure switch meant for an air compressor at the hardware store. Hook it up to the A/C compressor clutch wires. It will kick it on at 90 PSI and off at 120 PSI. Don't omit this, A/C compressors are usually capable of WAY too much pressure for standard air tanks hoses and fittings.

It'll make a lot of compressed air, works extremely well.
If I can find room to mount the compressor I'm gonna do it again on my M/V.
Train horns... Yes!!

That's my plan for my Jeep, except it wont be an extra AC pump, but the only and no real AC. Gotta keep priorities straight.

[Popeye]

Refrigeration schrader valves are the same as and can replace tire valves but are rated to 450 pounds.

[rmc50]

You should not travel over mountains with your bikes tires fully inflated.. The tubes can blow out.. You might consider replacing both tubes just in case..

Going from sea level to 6000 feet will make a difference of about 3 PSI in the air pressure. I wouldn't expect that to blow out any tires.

I carry a 12 volt inflator in my truck. It works great for low pressure tires such as the dirt bikes (15 PSI). It does okay for standard automobile tires (32 PSI). It manages on the higher pressure bike tires (60 PSI but very low volume). It just doesn't hack it for the 80 PSI truck and trailer tires.

Rod

[GreyCoyote]

Bicycle valve core question...

Having acquired a new cruiser type bike, I checked the air before loading it into the truck for the trip. It was down a bit so I put 60 psi in each tire last night.

Today in the heat of the day, after putting the bike in the back of the truck and securing it, there was an unusual event. As I walked near the truck in the shade inside the shop, there was a large hissing sound coming from the back tire. I put my fingers on the valve and air was rushing out from under the plastic cap. The tire was flat in no time. OK, that was interesting.

About 20 minutes later, the front tire valve let go in the same way (it was exposed to a little more sun) and all the pressurized air left.

My question: What could cause catastrophic failure of both valve cores that close together? Do they serve as an overpressure relief device-designed to fail before the tube blows out? I'm going to the parts store to pick up some replacements, as well as the little metal valve caps that have the core removal too. Are some valve cores better than others?

You have had good answers in this thread, but you might want to PM Elliot about this. That does seem really, REALLY odd.

[unjonharley]

Bicycle valve core question...

Having acquired a new cruiser type bike, I checked the air before loading it into the truck for the trip. It was down a bit so I put 60 psi in each tire last night.

Today in the heat of the day, after putting the bike in the back of the truck and securing it, there was an unusual event. As I walked near the truck in the shade inside the shop, there was a large hissing sound coming from the back tire. I put my fingers on the valve and air was rushing out from under the plastic cap. The tire was flat in no time. OK, that was interesting.

About 20 minutes later, the front tire valve let go in the same way (it was exposed to a little more sun) and all the pressurized air left.

My question: What could cause catastrophic failure of both valve cores that close together? Do they serve as an overpressure relief device-designed to fail before the tube blows out? I'm going to the parts store to pick up some replacements, as well as the little metal valve caps that have the core removal too. Are some valve cores better than others?

You have had good answers in this thread, but you might want to PM Elliot about this. That does seem really, REALLY odd.

Good idea

[Captain Goddammit]

So unjon, if I hooked a tire pump up to you, would you be less of a drag?