It’s a dreaded event that no RVer ever wants to encounter, but if you travel enough it’s bound to happen eventually. When it does, it pays to know what to do and how to do it correctly.
Changing an RV tire is similar to a vehicle tire, except that you want to use a ramp rather than a jack.
What you’ll need.
- A spare tire in good condition
- A lug wrench that fits the lug nuts on your RV’s wheel
- A Tire pressure gauge
- A Portable air compressor
- Chocks
- A Ramp
- A Standard wrench
- A lubricant (such as WD-40)
How to change the flat tire.
- Make sure you’re not in a dangerous area; pull as far away from traffic as you possibly can while remaining on a stable driving surface.
- Break loose the lug nuts on the flat tire with your lug wrench.
- Drive your good tire on the same side as the flat tire onto the ramp in order to get the flat tire up off the ground. If the flat tire can’t spin freely, get higher up on the ramp, add blocks under the ramp, or even dig under the flat tire to gain enough space.
- Chock the tires on the opposite side and set the parking brake to make sure that your RV or trailer remains in place while you work.
- Use the lug wrench again to fully remove the lug nuts on your flat.
- Remove the flat from the hub and then install the spare onto the hub.
- Lubricate the studs before replacing the lug nuts and then tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
- Stow the flat, disengage the brake, remove the chocks, and drive off the ramp.
- Finish tightening the lug nuts.
- Check the tire pressure in all tires, including the spare. Equalize and top off as needed with your air compressor.
Subscribe to roadside service.
If you prefer to avoid a situation where you have to change your own tire, look into roadside service for your RV. Just remember that roadside service, while reliable in most cases, may not come through if you’re unable to call due to poor reception or are on a road that they don’t respond to.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
If you need any RV service that’s beyond your capabilities, don’t hesitate to stop by PleasureLand RV Center to schedule an appointment with our service department. Looking for a new RV? Shop our inventory of new and pre-owned motorhomes and travel trailers.
