Puncture?, What do I do?

[Johnnynhl]

Ok Newbie here, so after some searching and referencing the manuals I can safely say there is no spare tyre on my camper van. Yes, you may say what was I thinking when I bought it. Doh!. So the question is as basic as what should I do to make preparations in case of a puncture?

 

[Gromett]

For the record I started driving in 1999. In that time I have had 3 punctures. 2 were slow punctures that allowed me to get to the tyre place.
The last was a puncture that I didn't notice as I was parked up for a few weeks without using the van. I assumed the wheel had been sitting on the rim and had knackered the tire. This was the 1st time I used a mobile tyre service.
Since then I have changed 2 tyres on one vehicle and all 4 tyres on another and for both I used a mobile tyre service who came to me. I like this because I don't have to hang around in a queue at a tire place, I don't have to travel to them.
Quite a big time saver and very convenient.

 

[Coolcats]

Here is another reason why it doesn’t matter if you do not have a spare wheel. If the workshop is having trouble what hope do you have ?

 

[Don Campbell]

This had been on previous threads, think the general opinion was, if you want to carry a tyre and tyre carrier you need to think of the extra weight that would apply.
Also If breakdown cannot come with a tyre, it’s not a bad place to wait until they get a replacement to you is it? Just sit and wait in your full facility van

But not on the hard shoulder of a new style "safe" motorway

 

[Marmite]

I had the gel put into my tyres before I bought it, and it's already paid off. Had a long screw in a front tyre .... drove for a bit to get home with the screw in place (it had a big head so wasn't going to embed anymore). When home I pulled the screw out and hey presto, it sealed straight away.

Still going strong .. same tyres on and not had a puncture repait done.

See prebious thread: https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/puncture-sealed.226809/#post-4078809

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[A S R]

Get a full sized spare wheel and tyre. There’s no way I’d ever go anywhere without one. Also, if you’re capable of changing it yourself get a nice strong breaker bar and dedicated socket for the nuts / studs. They’re tighter than you’d think. It makes the job a LOT easier.

 

[Jonno1103]

Ok Newbie here, so after some searching and referencing the manuals I can safely say there is no spare tyre on my camper van. Yes, you may say what was I thinking when I bought it. Doh!. So the question is as basic as what should I do to make preparations in case of a puncture?

Is there a solid metal bar about 15cm long & around 1.5cm square in your black Roller team bag?
If the answer is yes then you do have a spare... it's the extension bar to attach to the wheel brace so you can lower it from under the van.
Our 590 Pegaso had one but it wasn't even mentioned in the brochure or the tech specs.

 

[the1andonly]

My Rapido had no spare wheel just a grey tank where it is normally fitted. In the toolkit is the extension required to lower the spare wheel winder, (which i retrofitted in a different position to std van.)

 

[fiferjim]

Earlier in the thread, someone commented 'Just call the breakdown service'. I'm sure that many, like mine (Comfort) insist that you have a serviceable spare wheel for them to attend.

That's the main reason I moved from Comfort. Caravan Guard state you must have a spare if the van was originally fitted with one.

 

[Coolcats]

So now Manufactures are not providing spare wheels it is unreasonable for a 3rd party to demand you have a spare, as an owner you may be capable of fitting a spare but as been pointed out some manufacturers have fitted other tanks in its space.

Its like asking a taxi driver to carry a bale of straw for the horse (I assume that old regulation has been changed, or they may have kept it for a bit of fun)

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[fiferjim]

So now Manufactures are not providing spare wheels it is unreasonable for a 3rd party to demand you have a spare, as an owner you may be capable of fitting a spare but as been pointed out some manufacturers have fitted other tanks in its space.

Its like asking a taxi driver to carry a bale of straw for the horse (I assume that old regulation has been changed, or they may have kept it for a bit of fun)

Yes, my waste tank is where carrier would normally be fitted. Some vans have the necessary rivet nuts etc and space for a carrier but no carrier. Unfortunately insurers not only tend to be behind the times, they tend not to be upfront concerning their spare wheel/puncture position.

 

[denisejoe]

That can get jolly expensive in France or Spain as the breakdown service are unlikely to be able to get a matching tyre so you will have to buy two. And if you don't like the tyres they supply that's another two when you get home. If the rim is damaged even more delays.
Absolute madness not to carry a spare.

had a puncture and never had the problem as spare didn’t match opposite side never even looked went to tyre place put new tyre on didn’t check anything

 

[Lenny HB]

had a puncture and never had the problem as spare didn’t match opposite side never even looked went to tyre place put new tyre on didn’t check anything

You were lucky.

 

[footscray188c]

Totally useless on a Motorhome.

Worked on mine it's only s bloody tyre.!!

 

[LesW]

Worked on mine it's only s bloody tyre.!!

I've used these kits for years, worked a treat on a hard used 4x4, as well as a motorcycle.

Though I have a spare wheel on our Moho, I carry the stop n go as a backup.

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[webby1]

That's the main reason I moved from Comfort. Caravan Guard state you must have a spare if the van was originally fitted with one.

I'm have checked and Comfort offer the same condition.
If the van did not have a spare originally then you are not required to have one for breakdown assistance.

 

[Lenny HB]

Worked on mine it's only s bloody tyre.!!

Did you get the tyre check afterwards?
With the weight of a Motorhome you only need to travel a few hundred yards on a flat tyre to wreck it. The only way to check the tyre is to remove from the rim and inspect the inside, very foolhardy if you don't.

 

[Pablo19]

I won't be discading my spare tyre/wheel anytime soon. I hit a pothole (in my car) that was hidden in a puddle on the way home from work the other Friday at about 6pm and didn't get home until just after 11pm after a 4 hour wait for breakdown assistance. Side wall ripped out of the tyre and only a mobility kit in the car. No room for a spare anywhere either so hopefully not to be repeated! The same could easily happen in my MH and could potentially ruin a holiday. the room taken in a garage is worth sacrificing IMHO

 

[footscray188c]

Stop and go are used as a temporary fix to get you going dog.

 

[LesW]

Stop and go are used as a temporary fix to get you going dog.

Yes, and they work very well, they can also be easily removed from the inside if and when the tyre can be permanently repaired.

This is personal experience, not internet guesswork.

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[footscray188c]

Exactly top bloke.

 

[Nasher]

I seem to remember using 'Finlec Repair & air' back in the early seventies on my blue peter remould tyres - it worked

I'm guessing the modern equivalent is way better?

 

[BuilderBob]

The brand of gel used is OKO, and I believe was developed originally for the military.
The ride back home from the show to Nottinghamshire did seem much smoother also.

That may be due to the gel acting as a wheel balance, it acts the same way as a spin drier does by distributing the load to run smoothly, centripetal force, it is a known thing in lorries and vintage cars to add ceramic zircon beads in through the valve(about 5oz per wheel) , the wheel balances itself perfectly everytime it's driven.

 

[fiferjim]

I'm have checked and Comfort offer the same condition.
If the van did not have a spare originally then you are not required to have one for breakdown assistance.

Interesting. A couple of years ago Comfort categorically stated no spare = no breakdown attendance, with no exceptions.

 

[Borsuk]

I have three motorbikes all with tubed tyres. A puncture in one of these is usually pretty catastrophic especially at high speeds. I have had two blowouts at low speed resulting in the bikes fishtailing like crazy as I brought them to a standstill beside the road. both blowouts were from punctures with less than 1000 miles on the clock. The inner tube in each case was ripped to shreds and the tyres close to coming off the rims. I then found a product called Bikeseal (they also make a similar product Autoseal for cars, motorhomes, etc) which is a liquid sealant you add before a puncture. I put it in all my bikes, it is non corrosive and to an extent acts as a wheel balancer as mentioned previously. About 2 months later I had a puncture in my front wheel while doing motorway speeds and I never noticed it until I stopped for a break and saw the nail head in the tyre. Without the sealant I expect my tyre would have done the same as in the previous 2 punctures and I would have been spread across the tarmac as recovering from front wheel blowout is a skill set that has to acquired very quickly and most people fail the final exam.
The sealant is classed as a permanent repair, not a temporary repair like Tyreweld and its ilk and is good for the life of the tyre. The innertube I still have in my shed and after a year it was still holding pressure.
I have put this in all four wheels on my motorhome and I carry a spare wheel as well. It has never affected the handling of my motorhome or my bikes and they are much more sensitive to imbalance and pressure loss than any 4 wheeled vehicle. Current cost is around 100 pounds for sufficient sealant to do 4 motorhome tyres yourself. Not sure of the effects with TPM systems as I don't have one. Takes around 5 mins per tyre including jacking the wheel slightly off the ground and deflation and inflation of the tyre.

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[Pablo19]

I have three motorbikes all with tubed tyres. A puncture in one of these is usually pretty catastrophic especially at high speeds. I have had two blowouts at low speed resulting in the bikes fishtailing like crazy as I brought them to a standstill beside the road. both blowouts were from punctures with less than 1000 miles on the clock. The inner tube in each case was ripped to shreds and the tyres close to coming off the rims. I then found a product called Bikeseal (they also make a similar product Autoseal for cars, motorhomes, etc) which is a liquid sealant you add before a puncture. I put it in all my bikes, it is non corrosive and to an extent acts as a wheel balancer as mentioned previously. About 2 months later I had a puncture in my front wheel while doing motorway speeds and I never noticed it until I stopped for a break and saw the nail head in the tyre. Without the sealant I expect my tyre would have done the same as in the previous 2 punctures and I would have been spread across the tarmac as recovering from front wheel blowout is a skill set that has to acquired very quickly and most people fail the final exam.
The sealant is classed as a permanent repair, not a temporary repair like Tyreweld and its ilk and is good for the life of the tyre. The innertube I still have in my shed and after a year it was still holding pressure.
I have put this in all four wheels on my motorhome and I carry a spare wheel as well. It has never affected the handling of my motorhome or my bikes and they are much more sensitive to imbalance and pressure loss than any 4 wheeled vehicle. Current cost is around 100 pounds for sufficient sealant to do 4 motorhome tyres yourself. Not sure of the effects with TPM systems as I don't have one. Takes around 5 mins per tyre including jacking the wheel slightly off the ground and deflation and inflation of the tyre.

Interesting. I have tubeless tyres on one of my pedal bikes and it works great with sealant but on a blow out or a side wall being ripped on something sharp it wouldn't cope with that. My car incident quoted earlier in the thread would not have been avoided. Also, what kind of mess does it create on the rims? I know my pushbike rim gets proper mucky with the sealant!

 

[rob0114]

It seems that in a lot of things MH related, it depends if you have time...time to do no tolls, time to look for fantastic aires & time to wait for recovery and/or tyres to be delivered (physical restrictions acknowledged).

Travelling with my brother in law a few years ago up in the Gorge Du Verdon, he found a damaged tyre that could not be driven on safely - the local garage took three days to sort out a replacement so again time really.

Until I stop work (4-5 years), time is limited so whilst physically able like to carry a spare.

I would consider the points made about motorways & think carefully about the hard shoulder!

 

[Borsuk]

There is almost nothing that will save a tyre if the sidewall gets ripped.
The sealant is free flowing and rinses off, its not like Tyreweld and goes in under pressure and sticks to everything. When the bikes tube was replaced the mechanic only had to rinse the tyre and wheel down with water and that cleaned off the little bit that got out. The tube still has most of the original charge left in it. It was the same when I applied it to my tyres, a quick squirt with water cleared up any bits that I dribbled applying it. I have used slime before in a bicycle and that was a pain to clean up afterwards.
The previous punctures left the tubes looking like popped balloons with a tear around 5 inches long in the rubber.