Friday, January 10, 2014

Keep on truckin'

Over the years, I've learned to accept my bad tire karma. I don't know what the average number of flat tires per person 
per year is, but…  Wait – let me google it. Hah! "On average, a driver will have 5 flat tires in their driving lifetime." 
The average would probably drop significantly if my data were excluded. I figure I have 3 flat tires per year, 
between the truck, the horse trailer, and the Ranger. Mercifully, most of these are discovered in the garage, 
where it's relatively easy to change them. 


Practice makes perfect, and boy have I gotten good at changing tires. The hardest part for me is lifting the spare 
onto the whatever-those-things-are-called. Truck tires are very heavy and unwieldy, so I push the trailer-aid thing 
under the tire and and sort of scoot it back and forth until everything is aligned.


I hate changing tires, but I get absolutely giddy when I'm done. You don't get that kind of satisfaction
from calling AAA, not that they would come out here anyway.

22 comments:

  1. I love that your spare is dirtier than your flat! I'd look like Pigpen from Peanuts if I tried to change that tire!

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  2. Wow~that is one DIRTY tire, Carson! I used to know how to do that, but now I just call AAA.
    Cheryl Ann

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  3. I totally agree. I hate changing tires but, feel so cool when it's done. My 2 horse friends and i can change a trailer tire so quick the horses don't realize we aren't there yet! We are the horses pit crew.

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  4. Unfortunately, practice makes perfect. :(

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  5. I think I hear the phone ringing for you now from that AAA call:
    ..."You can expect your service provider in...4 days and 13 minutes from now...thank you for using AAA".
    I think most us take for granted our access to civilization...but then, civilization is highly over-rated.

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  6. I have your "luck" with the beach bike I have! The sands spurs do a number on tires! Your wouldn't think it could penetrate far enough to reach the inner tube, but it sure does! Pretty rough on my dogs' feet as well!

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  7. Well done! Do you repair the tire yourself or take it to a shop?

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  8. Good Lord, Girl. Is there anything you can't do?! I have to tell you - whenever I'm faced with what feels like an insurmountable challenge, I think of you out there, alone, doing what needs to be done. You're an inspiration, in the very real sense of the word. Brava!

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  9. I've watched a professional install truck tires bigger than yours. He used a sharp tool like the lug wrench laying in front of the tire in the first picture. He would jam the sharp end under the tire and pull up to scoot the tire in at the bottom. All-in-all, I label you "very smart and able" to get that accomplished so well. Great going Carson!

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  10. I can vouch for Carson...she knows what she is doing!
    I would be standing at the side of the road... "Oh! I do declare...what shall I do? Looking all helpless like Scarlet O'Hara.

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  11. What is it about the Southwest that is so hard on tires? Back in Ohio it was probably in that average rage, but out here it's crazy.(It isn't the sun, always nails and screws)

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  12. Your self-sufficiency never ceases to amaze!

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  13. You are so inventive - love the trailer aid idea.

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  14. Well done!

    But makes me think of the scene from "A Christmas Story" where Ralphie goes to help his dad change the tire in the snow and he holds the hubcap for the nuts and then....POOOF!, his dad makes a sudden move to the hubcap and all the nuts fly into the snow, buried like treasure. Ralphie mutters, "Fudge", only that's what we hear on the film, it's NOT what comes out of his mouth!! I'm sure you've had occasion to mutter "Fudge"!! Although Lucy, being the lady she is, would find it shocking; Alan and George would of course use it over and over and over to see if you'd get mad :-)

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  15. Carol in N. Colorado1/10/14, 9:21 AM

    Nice job Carson. Don't try fixing the tire yourself, leave it to the professionals. My dd installs and repairs tires on trucks including the big service trucks. I can't pick up the tires at all so calling a tow service is my only answer.

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  16. You never cease to impress me! (And didn't you promise to teach me how to do this a few visits back?) :-)
    I have never changed a tire in my life. But please don't tell anyone this. :-o

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  17. I guess at least if you put them on yourself you can get them off again.I gave up long ago. Somebody else gets the call. Never far from help.

    We have all seen tidbits of the road to everywhere from the ranch. Tire eater? At least the vehicle makes it home before giving in to deflation.

    One way to find out if ALL the muscles have healed from surgery, huh. Glad all is well.

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  18. now we see why you want to come back as Smooch!

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  19. I will give you a good tip...I work in a truck shop so I have picked up a few things.

    Use your 4-way as lever. Place two of the "arms" from it on the ground so that they are sort of underneath the tire, one in front and one in back. Then pry upwards and it will lift and scoot your tire onto the wheel studs. It is also handy for holding it in place while you attach your nuts.

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  20. Those "thingies are called "lugs," Carson. It why the nuts are called lug nuts. No need to Google now or thank me.

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