Well, I have been of the opinion that I don't need to carry a spare since I have NEVER needed one on any of my trips.
That changed this past week on our vacation to WDW. We were in my pre-bus (GMC Suburban 3/4ton HD pulling 32' Airstream)
Saturday - Trip to WDW
5:00 AM - Leave home. ;D
5:30 AM - Hit something that ruins rear tire's ability to retain pressurized air. :'(
6:30 AM - Spare installed & back on the road. ;D
6:35 AM - Stop to add air to newly installed spare since I neglected to do so when I checked the tires on the ground the night before. :(
6:45 AM - After swapping parts from my tire inflator to the derelict one armed air bandit, I was able to get the spare properly inflated. ;D
7:00 AM - Finally back on the road after restoring the aforementioned one armed air bandit to it's "as found" condition. ;)
7:05 till 8:00 AM - Debate with self & wife when to replace ruined tire. Decided to take the chance & ride on to WDW since the spare looked better than the others. That & the fact we'd loose a day either way if we replaced it now or had to wait for a tow . . . 8)
~ "pit stops" for watering & gas & checking the tires along the way & all is good. ;D
6:00 PM - Arrive at WDW! ;D 8)
(AVG MPG ~ 7.5 :o , All at or 5mph below posted speed limits.)
Thurs - buy a new tire - only thing avail had a mud/ snow tread, so it stayed as a spare. Remember, the old spare actually "looked" better than the others. Except for the fact it was a Firestone tire, I wasn't concerned.
Saturday - Trip home.
9:00 AM - Depart Fort Wilderness. :'(
9:10 AM - Check tires & all is good. ;D
11:00 AM - "pit stop" for watering & checking the tires - all is good. ;D
1:30 PM - Stop for gasoline at $4.35 :'( & break for lunch ;D
3:30 PM - "pit stop" for watering & checking the tires - all is good. ;D
3:45 PM - While in heavy traffic at 60 mph, the Firestone spare does what Firestone's do best - Yep, instant catastrophic failure sending rubber & wire EVERYWHERE! I was so glad I spent the time properly setting up the REESE anti sway cam hitch! It was essentially a 'nonevent' & I pulled over to the shoulder to change another tire! :o 8)
4:00 PM - Back on the road ;D This time, I used my DeWalt 18v drill to spin the jack & run the lug nuts off & back on. ;D (I torqued the nuts back on with my pull bar.)
8:00 PM - HOME SWEET HOME
(for return trip was 8.75mpg at constant 60 mph cruise)
My suggestion is that if you are on a schedule & can change a tire, carring one isn't enough, make sure it is easy to access for checking the air pressure.
Also, it ain't no fun unloading stuff to access it either! ::) Would have been much worse in the rain! :o
Kyle,
Glad to hear your trip went safe and enjoyable, even with the 2 flats. Also am glad to see that the choice to spend the time getting a new spare paid off in the long run!
As a charter company we ALWAYS carry a good spare on our coaches, although we do not always have the tools to change it. But a service call to change a tire is still much cheaper than buying a tire from a service truck in the middle of nowhere!
On the side note again sorry we weren't able to meet up, and share a beverage or 2, but on the other hand Holly and Haley both have to be cuter than you! LOL! So it worked out great, that I was at the hotel that night!
;D BK ;D
Yeah, I got the feeling you didn't want me around ;D
Good to know you have your priorities in order 8)
It was good to talk to you anyways ;D