How to change a tire on an Airstream trailer | Airstream Life

[@DavidLaFerney]

As a new owner of a used Airstream the key info was 1)where the spare stows 2)It didn’t come with tools 3)I don’t need a jack, but I do need blocks in addition to Anderson blocks. Really helpful. Thanks!

[@airgear]

Glad it was helpful! We did get a few questions from owners of single-axle trailers, wondering how they could lift the trailer, since the leveling block trick won't work for them. The answer is simply "a bottle jack." If you need one, make sure it has enough vertical reach to lift the trailer wheel off the ground, or use some leveling blocks to raise the jack a few inches.

[@BlueBearQuilts]

This is an awesome video. I feel like I could do this. When Laura was putting the spare on, I was cheering her on, “you can do this!”

[@daviddrake8742]

This was extremely educational. Especially the foot work. Thanks

[@tx2sturgis]

If you watch this video 5 or 6 times, eventually you notice a trailer and some dude.

[@TheLongLife]

Lovely video. We've been rv'ing for 10+ years and just recently switched to Airstream and so far are in love 💕 !

[@geoffreywalker7308]

Goodness… that was an incredibly enjoyable video on changing tires

[@deborahlazio7835]

Rich Luhr! I would be lost without you. Excellent video, I feel much better after watching it. I had no idea about changing an airstream tire. THANK YOU!

[@Calatriste54]

Glad I started watching this before getting a damned flat. My 2020 Airstream 20FB (single axle) has lug nuts requiring a thin walled, deep 1/2 drive, 3/4" socket. I purchased 2. Then, a bottle jack rated for 8k lbs. A 24" 1/2" drive breaker bar and finally a 1/2" drive, clicker Torque Wrench in a red plastic case. I may get a 4"-6" socket extension. May also get a couple of axle stands in case the vehicle needs to be left elevated. A closed cell, foam mat for lying on the ground also advised. Thanks, you guys.

[@airgear]

Sounds like you're all set! The only thing I'd suggest is testing the bottle jack in your driveway to make sure it has enough height capability to lift the trailer wheel completely off the ground. If not, plan to use a few leveling blocks (or similar) to give it a bit more height. Everything you mentioned, except the bottle jack, is included in our Airstream Tire Changing Kit, by the way. See it at store.airstreamlife.com/products/tire-changing-kit Happy travels!

[@graysailor]

Nice video. I would like to know that if you use a jack, where do you place the jack?

[@richluhr2605]

If you have a single axle trailer and need a jack, you put it under a frame member near the axle, but NOT under the axle itself.

[@tycotoys]

I watched Laura change the tire 5X already and I don’t even own a Airstream

[@LeeH-Ranger83]

Rich, awesome video. I just ordered my Tire changing kit from the AIRSTREAM store. I just purchased a 2019 Globetrotter- 27FB and have a couple of questions. Is my lug nut size 13/16? I could NOT find the information in my Owner’s manual. Next question, you said to loser the nut at the bottom of the torque wrench before you dial in the correct FPS - for my aluminum wheel would be 110 FPS. Do you re-tighten the nut at the bottom of the wrench before you start to torque each nut? If not, what keeps the handle from adjusting the FPS calculation up or down? Thanks.

[@airgear]

The TEKTON wrench supplied in our kit will hold the torque setting while you use it, but you can tighten the nut to lock in the torque setting if you want. Just be sure to set it back to zero when you're done.

[@Calatriste54]

Well done. I'd like to watch changing out procedure for a single axle, 20FB .. recommended jack?

[@airgear]

Most single axle trailer owners will carry a bottle jack. Make sure it has plenty of lifting range and is capable of lifting the trailer's full weight (plus some margin). Otherwise the procedure is the same.

[@jeffreyrodriguez8707]

When you check it at ten miles are you gonna tighten until you hear the click again?

[@airgear]

Yes, you always need to set the torque wrench to the proper setting, and turn the torque wrench until it clicks.

[@pamelaporter1443]

Super helpful thanks! I have a single axle trailer (19'). Where should we put a tire jack if you're changing the tire? Thank you!

[@airgear]

The correct spot is usually indicated by a sticker that says "JACK" and points to a particular location under the belly pan. You should consult your Owners Manual for details.

[@jcc0099]

couple things - what about the single axel AS such as the basecamp. why are you checking the tire pressure after you pull the tire out to change it? you need to check this before every trip. some good tips with using your legs.

[@airgear]

It’s true, it would be best to check the pressure in the spare tire before every trip, but we recommend doing it before installing the spare because most people don’t remember to do it earlier. If you have a sensor on the spare tire and a TST tire pressure monitoring system, you’ll always know the pressure of your spare tire and it won’t be an issue. Also that’s why we sell the Spare Air system. It makes it very easy to check the pressure and add air to the spare tire without removing it each time. All of these things can be found at the Airstream Life Store at store.airstreamlife.com

[@ptenner56]

How about a video for us single axle folks?

[@airgear]

The procedure is the same, except for how you lift the trailer. Instead of using a stack of blocks, you would use a bottle jack.

[@BobBlarneystone]

What? no jack? Unfortunately I have two flats on one side. Also, I use a flat prybar to lift the wheel on to the studs.

[@sallyfield8307]

Would you please make a video for a single axel Bambi Airstream?

[@airgear]

Sally Field We are working on our new video studio and hope to be ready to produce a lot more of these videos later this year. In the meantime, the procedure is the same except that you would use a jack under the frame (not the axle) to raise the wheel off the ground.

[@garyflick9172]

What do you do when both tires are flat on same side

[@airgear]

Assuming you only have one spare tire, you have the option of removing both flats and replacing only one of them. A twin axle Airstream can be towed on 3 wheels at low speeds, until you can get to a tire shop. See the Owner's Manual for specifics. Of course, the technique of lifting the trailer on a set of blocks wouldn't work if you had two flats on the same side, so you'd also need a jack. If I were going up the Dawson Highway in Alaska I'd probably bring two spares AND a jack.

[@garyflick9172]

Thank You

[@anthonysmith1574]

For what a airstream cost,tools should be included

[@mckenziekeith7434]

Make sure the socket is firmly on the nut before you stand on it. If it is only half way on you may mangle the nut. The extension makes it worse.

[@ozarkliving7263]

Is there a reason you don’t have a TPMS on your spare?

[@airgear]

This wasn’t my trailer.

[@ozarkliving7263]

@@airgear makes sense, so you monitor your spare with TPMS on your own rig?

[@airgear]

Of course!

[@hoytoy100]

I would pull over and help her.

[@mckenziekeith7434]

I have never in my life seen anyone use a torque wrench on lugnuts.

[@airgear]

Yes, that's probably because the aluminum wheels on an Airstream are a lot more sensitive to correct torque than the wheels on most cars. If you don't get the lug nut torque correctly on them you're risking a very bad day! They need to be at 110 ft-lbs. Too tight and the lug bolts will stretch and fail, too loose and the nuts will work off.

[@nursetamee]

If she would have had sneakers on instead, it would have been easier for her to lift the tire with her feet, as well as to push down on the tire jack.

[@airgear]

Yes, but that wouldn't have been as stylish!

[@fredmurphy3977]

Her use of the torque wrench leads to very inaccurate application. A clicker type torque wrench evaluates the torque offset from the primary applied load axis (where the socket is). As such, the ratio of the distance from the socket to the clicker pivot, and then the distance from the socket to the applied hand load is very important to get an accurate torque application. If you read the instructions that came with the torque wrench, they will point this out. Your hand should apply force at only the handle and preferably, only perpendicular to the body of the wrench. Her use of a second hand on the body of the wrench is a big no-no. You might wish to reshoot this video showing the proper use as you really want even pull-up of all wheel studs.

[@airgear]

You're right, but I think this is one of those fine points that is correct in theory but not highly relevant in actual practice. Yes, if Laura was able to exert a large amount of force with her left hand (the one that was holding the wrench toward the middle), she could throw the reading of the wrench off. However, in this case we are talking about a petite woman changing a tire by herself. She doesn't have a ton of upper arm strength so she needs two hands, one to stabilize the wrench. Moreover, the hand that is holding the torque wrench at the middle isn't really capable of applying much force, therefore the accuracy of the wrench isn't being altered by much. In this case, she may have caused the wrench to mis-read by a few foot-pounds. This won't cause a problem for the Airstream's wheel. It's not going to fly off just because the torque is slightly inaccurate. The nuts loosen a bit anyway as the wheel settles into position, during travel. By re-checking and re-tightening the nuts after 25, 50 and 100 miles (as recommended), it is likely that they will all even out. So although you are technically correct, and I thank you for pointing this out for our viewers, I think this is a case where "good enough" beats "perfect". Especially when you're stranded by the side of the road!

[@JA-ux7dd]

Righty Tighty...Lefty Loosey