Airgear trailer tire changing kit: must-have RV safety gear
How do you change the tire in a travel trailer or fifth wheel? Do you have the right tools to do so? Of course I assumed that I did but I spoke with Rich Luhr from the Airgear store and decided that, yes, I did have to have their tire changing kit. You might get one too.
What’s the Airgear tire changing kit?
The Airgear tire changing kit is a simple collection of the things you’ll likely need to change the tires in your travel trailer. While it might seem that you can just use the tools in whatever you’re towing your trailer with that may not be the case.
In the kit are two adaptors to accommodate the most common sizes of lug nuts used on towable RVs. There is also an extension to reach those lug nuts and a breaker bar in the event that you have to get a stuck lug nut loose. There’s also an tire pressure gauge and I strongly urge all towable owners to check your tire pressure before each trip.
Another important thing in the kit is a safety vest so people can spot you if you end-up on the side of the highway, for example. Of course there are instructions on how to change a tire and tips for doing so.
Lastly, one of the most important things in the kit is a really good torque wrench.
You really need a torque wrench
The most important component in this kit might be the torque wrench which all towable RV owners should have as it is. And I will fully admit that I didn’t have one.
Checking the torque of the lug nuts on my own travel trailer
But if you look at your trailer there is very likely a sticker that gives you the torque specs for the lug nuts on your wheels.
I learned a very important lesson at the 2023 FROG rally from the folks who made the axles for our travel trailer.
They stated that the lug nuts on aluminum wheels on trailers can come loose. They aren’t joking when they recommend that you check the torque on the lug nuts at 10 miles, 25 miles and 100 miles after a tire has been changed or if the wheel has been removed for any reason.
In fact the gent giving the seminar had this happen to his own trailer when he had the tires changed.
A torque wrench lets you dial-in the specific torque setting so you have things put together properly. The wrench itself has adjustments and a good wrench will last and be accurate. This is a high quality wrench which is what I expect
Lastly, all these bits come in a fancy bag which makes it even more convenient.
What about a jack?
Depending on your trailer you might be able to use the jack from your tow vehicle, although it would be very wise to check this before you’re stuck on the side of the road.
If you have a two-axle trailer many of them can lift one tire when the other is on a surface such as the leveling blocks you may already own. In this case you simply lift the bad tire by driving the good one onto the jacks and you’re set.
Another trick might be to find a driveway curb and drive one wheel up the curb to let the other lift, but this would have to be in the right place and, of course, everything you do should prioritize safety.
Check the air pressure in your tires
One of the ways to avoid needing to replace a tire is to keep on top of the air pressure in the tires. Of course this kit comes with a tire pressure gauge which is a good thing.
We also carry a Ryobi air compressor with us which also could inflate kayaks and pool floats and such. But I like the Ryobi product because it’s not expensive, it works with the batteries we already have and it’s easy to use.
You would also be well served with a tire pressure monitoring system. We’ve reviewed a tire pressure monitoring system and it’s good to know an increasing number of towable RVs are coming with tire pressure monitors.
The Ryobi inflator is one of the many items in our RV essentials shopping list
I have roadside assistance
We have roadside assistance as well but I still think this kit is absolutely worth having. Why?
All roadside assistance programs use contracted service providers. They respond based on availability and priority and location. You might get speedy service, you might get no service.
But you can’t guarantee that whoever shows up has a good torque wrench, for example. So that, alone, makes this kit worth having.
Check out our podcast episode on roadside assistance
The bottom line. This is a kit that I think is worth having for anyone with a towable RV. You can also buy these pieces separately but I am now an advocate of this set-up.
In fact I checked the lug nuts on my own trailer and, yep, a few weren’t tight. Yikes.
