Changing tires in the wild - lessons learned

[ADKCamper]

My deep socket gets stuck as well… with both the closest sae and metric sizes. I suspect poor quality control on the chrome-covered lug nuts’ outer dimensions.

I carry a fairly long (and inexpensive) Harbor Freight 1/2” breaker bar for removing stuck or over-torqued lug nuts, and a shorter folding tire cross for putting lug nuts back on. I’m still trying to find a good spot to carry a 1/2” torque wrench.

I also carry a 3.5 ton Humvee scissor jack with a combo rectangular & curved adapter on top of its pin. It is fairly short when collapsed and comes with a ratcheting box wrench with a long-ish handle which lifts one side of the Elite easily. It can sit on leveling blocks or 4x4s if required.

Edited Monday at 04:23 AM by ADKCamper

[jd1923]

6 hours ago, Boudicca908 said:

The socket gets stuck — no problem getting it ON, no problem turning the wrench (it’s long handled).  And I had help obtaining the correct socket size. 

Use a 12-point socket vs. the 6-point which is generally recommended for automotive work. The 12-point will remove easier.

It is about the stainless-wrapped lugs. I’ll replace ours with solid chromed steel lugs someday.

[ADKCamper]

I looked once for solid SS lug nuts, but could not find any in an appropriate configuration. Maybe I’ll give up on that and find some solid chromed steel ones…

[Boudicca908]

3 hours ago, ADKCamper said:

a good spot to carry a 1/2” torque wrench.

I have my crew cab rear seats folded up, and I carry my torque wrench in the folded seat on rolled up towels. 

[Gliddenwoods]

Oh I know this story too well. My yesterday morning in Salida, Co in the attached photos.

I used both a jack and the stabilizing jacks. When using the stabilizer does one use both?

Also, why not just remove the hub cap for socket access and then put back on?

[Gliddenwoods]

Just now, Gliddenwoods said:

Oh I know this story too well. My yesterday morning in Salida, Co in the attached photos.

I used both a jack and the stabilizing jacks. When using the stabilizer does one use both?

Also, why not just remove the hub cap for socket access and then put back on?

Oh yes, having a bike rack on with two bikes is a real pain in the project...

[topgun2]

4 hours ago, Gliddenwoods said:

When using the stabilizer does one use both?

Also, why not just remove the hub cap for socket access and then put back on?

While not the safest - I've just used the stabilizer alone for changing a tire.  Again - this is not the safest procedure by any means.

The "hub caps" remove from the back.  Therefore, if one is simply checking the torque of the lug nuts , the removal of the hub cap is a bunch of extra work.

Bill

Edited Monday at 04:59 PM by topgun2

[topgun2]

1 hour ago, Gliddenwoods said:

My yesterday morning in Salida, Co in the attached photos.

I don't see an air compressor in the photos above.

But, if you did have an air compressor (or some means to re-inflate the tire), you could have simply "pluggged" that tire without removing it.

Note:  Plugging a tire is not necessarily the easiest thing to do either.  I takes some practice to do it properly.  But, in certain situations it is the easiest, cheapest way to get back on the road quickly.  Many local tire shops will give you an old tire to practice on.  Tire plug kits like THESE can be found at WalMart and almost any automotive parts store.

Bill

[Tony and Rhonda]

15 hours ago, Boudicca908 said:

None of us were heavy enough to get the lugs off  (I was able to loosen just 2 of them by standing and lightly bouncing my weight on the lug wrench.) I went out and bought 3 sections of galvanized pipe, one for each of us. 

I've had good luck with a 4-way lug wrench. This allows me to use both arms and body weight to break the lug nuts free. Also makes it quick and easy to spin them off and back on. I finish them off with the torque wrench with 4" extension. No need for deep well sockets on our older model wheels. I keep the 4-way on the floor under the TV's driver's seat.

When you have a tire shop work on your wheels/tires, it's a good idea to check the lug nut torque after you get the trailer back. Some shops over torque the lug nuts with their impact wrenches making it very difficult to remove the lug nut manually.

I store the torque wrench in the storage area under the rear seat of my TV, it even has cutouts to keep the wrench (or whatever) from rolling around.

Tony

[Tony and Rhonda]

sorry for the double post. How did that happen? Can someone delete it?

[Mike and Carol]

2 hours ago, Tony and Rhonda said:

sorry for the double post. How did that happen? Can someone delete it?

Yes, deleted.  It happens from time to time…

[jd1923]

10 hours ago, ADKCamper said:

I looked once for solid SS lug nuts, but could not find any in an appropriate configuration. Maybe I’ll give up on that and find some solid chromed steel ones…

Stainless Steel (SS) lug nuts are limited. I've never seen them used for custom wheels.

I'm not sure whether our wheels require 'acorn' or 'acorn bulge' shaped lugs. Thinking they are 1/2" x 20 and I would also measure the length of the stud extending beyond the wheel before ordering. Does anybody have these specs?

Given verification of measurements, something like this may work. They're expensive by the time you buy 6 sets (24 pcs). McGard is a good brand I've used before. These are labeled "Made in USA" so don't buy a cheap bulk set that are made in China instead!

https://www.amazon.com/McGard-64010-Chrome-Bulge-Style/dp/B000COMX9K/?th=1

 

[Ronbrink]

On 9/25/2025 at 5:18 PM, topgun2 said:

Don't forget to get two "extra" sensors - one for the Ollie spare tire and on for you tow vehicles spare tire (all the TPMS systems that I know of that are included on vehicles do not monitor the spare tire on the tow vehicle).

Bill

Great advice! I will add, if a spare tire is needed one should swap the sensors so the tire on the ground continues to be monitored as positioned on the TPMS display. To your point, the TST brand monitors spares, as well. 

[topgun2]

11 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

I'm not sure whether our wheels require 'acorn' or 'acorn bulge' shaped lugs.

Those of us with "older" Ollies - the ones with the wheels that have circles/holes in them versus the more recent that have more like "spokes" - require acorn bulge lug nuts.

Bill

[topgun2]

3 minutes ago, Ronbrink said:

To your point, the TST brand monitors spares, as well. 

As do most all of the TPMS brands that I know of to include my EZE Tire.

My comment was referring to those TPMS systems that are included with most (if not all) newer vehicles.  My F-150 does monitor the four tires on the truck but it doesn't monitor the truck's spare tire nor does it have the ability to monitor anything on the Ollie.  Someone recently made a post that said their new truck did allow the monitoring of TPMS sensors on a trailer in addition to those on the truck.

Bill

[Ronbrink]

On 9/25/2025 at 5:18 PM, topgun2 said:

Don't forget to get two "extra" sensors - one for the Ollie spare tire and on for you tow vehicles spare tire (all the TPMS systems that I know of that are included on vehicles do not monitor the spare tire on the tow vehicle).

Bill

Great advice! I will add, if a spare tire is needed one should swap the sensors so the tire on the ground continues to be monitored as positioned on the TPMS display. To your point, the TST brand monitors spares, as well.   
 

On 9/24/2025 at 7:10 PM, John and Jodi said:

I'm interested to hear from you what's in your tire changing tool kit.

This plus a battery charger and torque wrench. I find the torque limiting extension bars more convenient and accurate enough for wheel lugs, but the standard ‘click’ torque wrench offers better piece of mind in some instances, like axle suspension components.

[Gliddenwoods]

5 hours ago, topgun2 said:

While not the safest - I've just used the stabilizer alone for changing a tire.  Again - this is not the safest procedure by any means.

The "hub caps" remove from the back.  Therefore, if one is simply checking the torque of the lug nuts , the removal of the hub cap is a bunch of extra work.

Bill

I was at Oliver two weeks ago and service manager Mike took off one of my hubs (to confirm axle type) and he took the hub off (and replaced) without taking the wheel off so quick I missed his method...but he did it.

[Ronbrink]

2 hours ago, Ronbrink said:

Great advice! I will add, if a spare tire is needed one should swap the sensors so the tire on the ground continues to be monitored as positioned on the TPMS display. To your point, the TST brand monitors spares, as well. 

This somehow got posted twice. Perhaps admin can delete one. Thanks

[topgun2]

32 minutes ago, Ronbrink said:

This somehow got posted twice. Perhaps admin can delete one. Thanks

Done - you're welcome.

[Roger]

When I bought my F350 I got the trailer TPMS monitoring system.  So far, I have been very happy with it.  Unfortunately, the Ford TPMS cannot monitor the spares.   The nice thing about the Ford TPMS is there is no sensor to have to fool with when I manually check tire pressures and I don't have another device cluttering my cab.  

My practice with spare tires is to keep them inflated to the maximum allowed for the tire and then lower the pressure to the correct pressure when I use the spare.  I also carry an inflator so in the worst case I can add air to the spare.  

I think I will add checking the spare tire pressure to my travel checklist, although it is a hassle to check the pressure on the Oliver spare.  When I got my new truck, I lowered the spare and flipped it around (Ford has the spare with the valve up from the factory) so that I could check the pressure with it mounted under the bed.  

[Patriot]

7 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Stainless Steel (SS) lug nuts are limited. I've never seen them used for custom wheels.

@ScubaRx referenced an eBay link to purchase S/S lug nuts a few years ago. I ordered the same set he suggested and have been running them for a few years now, zero issues and no rust. Maybe he still has the link handy?

[Wandering Sagebrush]

One more recommendation for a SafeJack kit, compressor (I have a Viair 400p), plug kit, and torque wrench.

Your experience was a wake-up call for me to get solid lug nuts.

[Boudicca908]

On 9/29/2025 at 3:19 PM, Roger said:

I think I will add checking the spare tire pressure to my travel checklist

I usually ask service to check my TV spare condition and pressure when I go in for tire rotation — and most recently, I requested it when I replaced my TV tires. HOWEVER, when the tires were replaced, and they checked my TV spare, something happened, and it triggered issues: Warning Messages on the dashboard alternating between “check trailer wiring” and “trailer brakes connected”.  

I will start a new thread for this, when I get it resolved — but just wanted to make a note that there’s a control module (computer) located somewhere near the TV spare — so be aware of that.
**I don’t want this comment to distract from the main thread.**