peedee Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 What is your experience with breakdown services when you have had a puncture or have you managed to change the wheel. In some cases a spare wheel is not provided, if you have had a puncture how was the problem solved and what did it cost? peedee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B. Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 We are insured with Safeguard and part of the cover is Breakdown both UK & Europe. This covers everything free on breakdowns including punctures, accidents, even running out of fuel (although you have to pay for the fuel!) I would never attempt to change a wheel myself as I would struggle physically but would doubt I would be able to get the wheel off and the right torque when it is back on (Given I don't have a torque wrench!) I would recommend breakdown cover and leave it to the professionals. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallii Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 I would never travel without a proper spare wheel. That's just the way I am, I have always changed my own wheels when needed. My breakdown service (ADAC) will change the wheel for me if I want but it's quicker to do it myself. A small spade is useful for lifting and positioning the wheel onto the studs. A repair in Spain cost 25 Euros, a repair on my car tyre last week cost £25. A good wheel brace (not the one provided with the vehicle, they are to weak) and extension bar (breaker bar) are needed and the nuts/bolts should be tightened to the correct torque. I do mine up as I feel is about right and then have them checked at a tyre fitting place. I suppose the "gunge" stuff works, and I actually carry some of it but have never used it. It must be messy for the tyre fitter when he does a proper repair? H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Not had a spare in M/H for nearly four years and in the car for two years. Would rather have one but cannot get to worried about it. My van insurance will cover a puncture and getting me to a tyre depot, the expense of new tyre is all mine. I keep a close eye on my tyres and have them filled with puncture seal, I am aware of the possibility of getting side wall damage but cannot do anthing about this so do not worry. I carry the puncture seal kit, this is part of the breakdown insurance requirements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peedee Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 Mike B. - 2012-01-17 12:29 PM We are insured with Safeguard and part of the cover is Breakdown both UK & Europe. This covers everything free on breakdowns including punctures, accidents, even running out of fuel (although you have to pay for the fuel!) I would never attempt to change a wheel myself as I would struggle physically but would doubt I would be able to get the wheel off and the right torque when it is back on (Given I don't have a torque wrench!) I would recommend breakdown cover and leave it to the professionals. Mike I assume you had a spare wheel ? I haven't found a breakdown services which will not charge you if you haven't! peedee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peedee Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 rupert123 - 2012-01-17 1:20 PM My van insurance will cover a puncture and getting me to a tyre depot, the expense of new tyre is all mine.. Is that breakdown or vehicle insurance? Who is your insurer please? peedee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 peedee - 2012-01-17 2:24 PM rupert123 - 2012-01-17 1:20 PM My van insurance will cover a puncture and getting me to a tyre depot, the expense of new tyre is all mine.. Is that breakdown or vehicle insurance? Who is your insurer please? peedee Sorry for not making that clear, it is my breakdown cover. I change my breakdown almost every year and all the companies I have used will recover without a spare providing the van does not come with one in the first place. Some do not say this in the small print and I have always got it in writing from them if not clear. Never had reason to test it as have never had a puncture on van or car. At the moment am with the RAC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peedee Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 Thank you rupert. My breakdown insurance definitely says the costs of supplying a spare wheel and tyre if a servicable one cannot be provided by you is not covered. My insurance is Green Flag. peedee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B. Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 peedee - 2012-01-17 1:53 PM Mike B. - 2012-01-17 12:29 PM We are insured with Safeguard and part of the cover is Breakdown both UK & Europe. This covers everything free on breakdowns including punctures, accidents, even running out of fuel (although you have to pay for the fuel!) I would never attempt to change a wheel myself as I would struggle physically but would doubt I would be able to get the wheel off and the right torque when it is back on (Given I don't have a torque wrench!) I would recommend breakdown cover and leave it to the professionals. Mike I assume you had a spare wheel ? I haven't found a breakdown services which will not charge you if you haven't! peedee Yes I do have a spare wheel-and a set of tools to change it but never used either yet (Thankfully) I do check the spare for pressure periodically as well. Don't think the breakdown service would be too impressed with a flat spare either! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B. Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 peedee - 2012-01-17 4:37 PM Thank you rupert. My breakdown insurance definitely says the costs of supplying a spare wheel and tyre if a servicable one cannot be provided by you is not covered. My insurance is Green Flag. peedee I think all policies say you must have a serviceable spare to qualify for assistance As a matter of interest: I had breakdown cover & personal cover with Green Flag as a special offer for £99 pa with CC-bought at a show. This covered both me & the mrs in any car or the bike for any problem including punctures- UK only. However when I checked regarding the bike, all it did was to get me (and the bike) to a tyre depot for attention. It didn't cover repair and obviously I don't have a spare. When I insured the toad in December last year, I got free AA cover as part of the premium. (worth £54 allegedly). On weighing up the benefits of Green Flag versus the Safeguard & AA I reckon it's worth just payng £29 extra on the bike insurance for breakdown cover rather than renewing Green Flag which has gone up to £128 now the offer is finished Sorry for going slightly off topic but just wanted to make the point overall, if insuring multiple vehicles and/or breakdown cover Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 peedee - 2012-01-17 4:37 PM Thank you rupert. My breakdown insurance definitely says the costs of supplying a spare wheel and tyre if a servicable one cannot be provided by you is not covered. My insurance is Green Flag. peedee I was with Green Flag last year and they told me, and provided a letter to confirm, that if the van was not provided with a spare from new then they would recover to a tyre shop. The cost of a new tyre is down to you but would be anyway. If the wheel was damaged again down to you but again would be in any case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melvin Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 My other half insisted I brought a spare wheel and tyre straight away, there is no way I would ruin my holiday for £150 or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Melvin - 2012-01-17 5:40 PM My other half insisted I brought a spare wheel and tyre straight away, there is no way I would ruin my holiday for £150 or so. Neither would I Melvin but unfortunatly it is not that simple. I bought my van in 2008 knowing it did not have a spare, now I would rather have one but did not see it as a big deal. Last year I bought a secondhand wheel and when I had my tyres changed kept the best one and had it fitted. However you still have to carry it and unless you have a big van with a garage or somewhere to store it then you need a carrier of some sort. I had a look and reckoned it would just fit where the standard Ducato spare goes so contacted local fiat dealer about a carrier. This is not simple as the carrier has a lot of part numbers, it is not listed as one unit. The whole thing including fitting was, from memory, about £700. Even this was not fixed as they had never fitted one and the word motorhome scared them a bit. In the end I could not be bothered if I get a puncture then the breakdown people can sort it, may have a delay in our holiday but would hardly ruin it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peedee Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 rupert123 - 2012-01-17 5:29 PM I was with Green Flag last year and they told me, and provided a letter to confirm, that if the van was not provided with a spare from new then they would recover to a tyre shop. The cost of a new tyre is down to you but would be anyway. If the wheel was damaged again down to you but again would be in any case. Thanks I will give them a ring to see what they say. I quoted from a policy which I have just renewed, fully comprehensive for £89 p.a. I have found it cheaper and more flexible to keep vehicle and breakdown insurance separate. peedee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peedee Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 I asked for a spare wheel to be provided but it wasn't. I have not positively got to the bottom of why not but I suspect it is because the rear axle has a twin wheel configuration and looking at the axles, the rear wheel and front wheels look to be different fittings. To cover punctures in any wheel you would need to carry two spares which is clearly not practical! It does not unduly worry me because I doubt very much I would be capable of changing any of the wheels myself anyway. Perhaps in my younger days I could have done so but not now. So I am looking at calling out the breakdown services but started to become concerned at the possible cost if they charge for the service because I did not have a spare. peedee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peedee Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share Posted January 18, 2012 peedee - 2012-01-17 6:15 PM rupert123 - 2012-01-17 5:29 PM I was with Green Flag last year and they told me, and provided a letter to confirm, that if the van was not provided with a spare from new then they would recover to a tyre shop. The cost of a new tyre is down to you but would be anyway. If the wheel was damaged again down to you but again would be in any case. Thanks I will give them a ring to see what they say. peedee Thanks, Green Flag have confirmed the same to me today. peedee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob b Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 If a spare wheel isn't carried and you're concerned about a tyre being damaged beyond repair during a trip, it was suggested on another thread that just a spare tyre could be carried. It appears that problems may be encountered getting hold of the correct size tyre and you could spend a considerable time waiting for the correct tyre to be located. Although I carry a spare wheel slung underneath the motorhome, if I didn't have one I could easily carry a spare tyre on the roof. The weight would be a lot less obviously, as you're not carting the steel rim around.It may be worth contacting Green Flag and asking if their insurance would include contacting a mobile tyre fitting outfit to change the tyre at the roadside. It would certainly be reassuring to know that in the event of serious damage to the tyre, you've got a spare on the roof/garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peedee Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share Posted January 18, 2012 Thanks, that is not a bad idea. I have only ever had a puncture once in 10 years and that was discovered on my driveway so I was able to remove the wheel and take it down to my local tyre dealer for repair. It turned out to be a faulty valve. I think under normal use in this country and most of the Continent the risks of picking up a puncture are quite low but I would certainly do that if I was going to more troublesome areas. peedee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takeaflight Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 "It turned out to be a faulty valve" Interesting ! just before a recent French trip I checked all the tyre treads, walls and pressures, due to the van being an 05 twin wheel Merc and it had stood for sometime. All OK, then some 20 mins or so later I heard a loud bang, a valve on one of the front wheels had given up the ghost. I changed the wheel for the spare and took the flat to a garage who replaced the valve for a fiver and off we went to France. Some 24hrs after we had returned with the van on my drive two more valve failures. I have now taken the Hymer to the garage who have replaced all the valves. Thankfully I didn't have multiple failures in France. If your valves are a few years old it may be worth having them replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 PEdee for you information. The outer of a twin rear wheel assembly look different from the front because the inner rear wheel is fitted with the dish the same way as the front but the outer wheel is reversed with the dish outwards. The wheels are the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteCheyenneMan Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 In the UK you should not attempt any repairs, including punctures, on a motorway Hard Shoulder (Highway Code Rule 275). Put your hazard flashers on, turn the wheels to the nearside and exit the vehicle on the nearside leaving animals in the vehicle (unless on fire etc!). Stand 'upstream' of the vehicle and behind a barrier where possible.My Cheyenne came with a compressor and repair gunge all-in-one kit, but we also have a spare wheel, extending wheel wrench and torque wrench. Being paranoid, I have also fitted the Tyrepal system in the hope that we will get some advance warning of any pressure/ overheating problems.Once a Boy Scout, always a Boy Scout (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HymerVan Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 In 2009 we had a major rear tyre failure on a busy part of the M6. It turned out to be a valve problem which has been covered in other threads (2006 Mark 6 Transit) . Green Flag came within 30minutes and fitted our spare without drama. Two particular observations about our rescue :- 1. Getting the offside rear wheel jacked up and off was not easy even for a professional with "serious equipment". 2. The dangerous nature of the operative's job (even with his truck protectively placed) cannot be understated. In fact when we googled the rescue company to thank them again for their good work we discovered that one of their operatives had been killed on the motorway the previous year. We carry a spare wheel, bottle jack, wheel brace and torque wrench to cover situations where a "rescue" is not available but would always call our rescue company (currently green flag) first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melvin Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 The continental tyre sealant supplied by Fiat does have a use by date Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Momma Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 On my first van some years ago I was insured through Safeguard, inclusive in the policy is AA Breakdown Cover. I had a rear tyre blowout on very first trip out, called the AA they arrived within 20 minutes and changed the tyre. I had a spare (underslung at the rear end). The AA man checked all my other tyres and found all the internal tyre walls were cracked and advised that I have them changed immediately. I did not know the area so he rang the Tyre Shop in the nearest town, ensured they had the tyres in stock and explained that I was on holiday on my way up to Scotland and could they sort me out as a priority. He escorted me to the tyre shop and they, true to their word, immediately fitted 4 new tyres and replaced the spare, costly but at least I now felt safe. Excellent service alright. Never had cause to use the service since :-D My new van (Autotrail Comanche) has a spare wheel fitted in a wheel carrier on the rear, no more having to crawl underneath vans :-S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteCheyenneMan Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Melvin - 2012-01-20 1:02 PMThe continental tyre sealant supplied by Fiat does have a use by dateThanks for that Melvin, I had overlooked it. It says best before 02/12 so I'm still okay for a week or two :-(I may have to weigh it to see how many extra bottles of wine I can carry when I leave it at home as I'll still have the superior Michelin Compressor (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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