RV adventures are thrilling, but they come with their fair share of challenges. One of the most daunting tasks an RV owner might face is changing a tire on the side of the road. It’s not just about having the right tools; it’s about having a reliable method to lift your rig safely. Many RV enthusiasts wonder if their leveling system can double as a tire-changing aid.
This question becomes especially crucial when you’re dealing with multi-axle trailers or motorhomes. We found a great video from an experienced RV YouTuber that tackles this exact issue. Below are the highlights from his experiments, but make sure to watch the entire video at the bottom of the article for a full understanding of the process.
1. The Importance of Preparation
Preparation is key when it comes to RV maintenance. As our video host wisely states, “Don’t wait until you’re on the side of the road with a blown out tire to make sure you’ve got all the tools and things necessary to change that tire.” This advice is golden, folks. It’s like expecting to win a cooking contest without ever turning on your stove!
2. Understanding RV Leveling Systems
RV leveling systems come in various forms, from manual leveling blocks to hydraulic levelers. The video introduces us to “banana levelers,” which are curved ramps designed to lift one side of your RV. As the host explains, “This has a lot of names online, but I’m going to call it a banana leveler for obvious reasons.” I guess we can say these levelers are the top bananas of the RV world!
3. The Challenges of Multi-Axle RVs
The video highlights an important distinction: “There’s a big, big difference in using this type of leveling on a tandem axle, a two axle system versus a triaxle system.”
For triple-axle RVs, you need to lift two wheels to change the bad one. It’s like trying to eat a triple-decker sandwich – you can’t just focus on one layer!
4. Trial and Error
Our intrepid host goes through several attempts to make the levelers work. He tries different brands, adds wooden boards, and even creates “banana cleats” (trademark pending, apparently).
As he puts it, “Things did not go as planned.” It’s a reminder that RV life is full of unexpected twists – kind of like a banana peel on a cartoon sidewalk!
5. The Winning Solution
After multiple failures, success finally comes with the taller O-lemee levelers combined with a wooden block. The host exclaims, “Whoo hoooo hoooo! Oh, yeah. That’s what I’m talking about.”
It’s a moment of triumph that every RVer can relate to – like finally finding the perfect campsite after hours of searching.
6. Safety First
The video emphasizes the importance of safety throughout the process. As our host notes, “You don’t want them slipping off of those when you’re changing a tire, that would be real bad.”
Remember, folks, changing an RV tire isn’t the time to test your tightrope walking skills!
7. The Takeaway
The key lesson from this experiment is to test your tire-changing method before you need it. As the host concludes, “Figure out what you need to change a tire, do a test run, make sure it all works, and then you’ll feel a lot more comfortable if you have a blowout on the side of the road.”
It’s like rehearsing for a play – you want to nail your performance when it really counts!
