Anyone else carry a tiny trolley jack and breaker bar in their trunk?

[8RZ]

Originally Posted by LudwigMiles

Have you actually changed a tire with your stock tools?
Often, the scissor jack is not stable on the side of a road (passenger side in particular, if the pavement ends, and gravel starts)
Also, some cars come with a short "T" handle that does not give enough torque to bust the lugs.
Some of us prefer a stable trolley jack and a long breaker bar, especially in a car the wife drives.

Yep, and while they're not ideal they work in case of an emergency.

[LudwigMiles]

Great, then it looks like you have zero reason to be in this thread.
Have a nice day.

[8RZ]

Originally Posted by LudwigMiles

Great, then it looks like you have zero reason to be in this thread.
Have a nice day.

LOL you snowflakes get so butt-hurt any time someone else has a differing opinion.

[fierostetz]

Originally Posted by LudwigMiles

Great, then it looks like you have zero reason to be in this thread.
Have a nice day.

I wonder if the tire changing tools are getting worse and worse as a direct result of everyone just calling AAA to change a tire. I can't tell you how many people I've stopped and helped that had no idea they could change it themselves :facepalm:

My favorite though, that led to me just walking away with it half done, was a *guy* who refused to learn how to do it (I said "I'll teach you how to do it, it only takes about 10 minutes" and he wouldn't even touch the tools), then kept asking "why is it taking so long". Because my arm is in a cast and you are useless as a man.

[Dake]

We all have to decide our own risk vs reward set up. For ages, with (only slightly) larger cars I used to carry a milk crate in the trunk with all manner of stuff, and I can count on one hand the number of times I needed any of it in a road emergency type situation over the course of the last fifteen-twenty years. More importantly, none of it was necessary, just made the job a little easier.

When I got this car, I finally made the decision to cut back. That being said, I carry a torque wrench/breaker bar with the socket on it because my rims don't have the clearance for the OEM lug wrench, but it fits alongside the donut under the trunk liner. I also have a tiny inflater, and a small battery pack with jumper leads also all stowed alongside the donut. My goal was to keep the usable space in the trunk clear, and in five years I haven't "missed" having anything.

[LudwigMiles]

Dake, with larger cars, you typically have higher profile tires. Since you're in TX, you might not see the gaping potholes of the NE. Around here, you can get a flat tire any time you change lanes. So, for me, a tiny trolley jack and breaker bar were a no-brainer, since they take up almost no room.

At the very least, I would advise everyone here to try breaking a lug with their factory tool. If you can't, then buy a $10 breaker bar, stick on a 19mm and stash it with the donut under the trunk mat, as Dake described.

[mrderp]

3 feet breaker bar, torque wrench and impact socket here.

I used to carry a small floor jack like you when I was a VW head. Their 1 sided jack were so unsafe.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by LudwigMiles

Also, some cars come with a short "T" handle that does not give enough torque to bust the lugs.

If you can't get the lugs off with the provided wrench you have likely overtightened them and are damaging your car.

[Tcoat]

I have had one flat tire that needed to be changed on the side of the road in the last 20 years. Maybe just lucky but that is the reality. The stock jack (Mitsubishi) and wrench worked just fine.
If you need extra long breaker bars then your nuts are either on too tight or have not been off for maintenance in enough time for them to rust.
The scissor jack provided with these cars are more than up to the task of a simple flat change. At least they are not these damned unpredictable things where you had to pick the front end up about 2 feet in order to change a tire:

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I have had one flat tire that needed to be changed on the side of the road in the last 20 years. Maybe just lucky but that is the reality. The stock jack (Mitsubishi) and wrench worked just fine.
If you need extra long breaker bars then your nuts are either on too tight or have not been off for maintenance in enough time for them to rust.
The scissor jack provided with these cars are more than up to the task of a simple flat change. At least they are not these damned unpredictable things where you had to pick the front end up about 2 feet in order to change a tire:

Yep, with those bumper jacks, one learned to switch the wheels real fast ...... before the car fell off the jack .......

I can't remember the last time I had to jack up a car along side the road. Now days, I worry more about one of my body parts blowing out ...... rather than a tire blowing out .....


humfrz

[Sideways]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Yep, with those bumper jacks, one learned to switch the wheels real fast ...... before the car fell off the jack .......

Its soo true. You keep everything ready and change the tire like a ninja.

between..I had car fall off on me once before I bought hydraulic jack, luckily I was in my garage and used other scissor jack to lift the car back up!!

[radroach]

I wouldn't want to carry the extra 25 lbs of steel around. If I get a flat away from home, I'm calling the roadside assist I have on insurance to help me change it (using their tools).

The scissor jack on the BRZ is so shitty, mine is already rusting just sitting in its spot in the trunk.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by radroach

I wouldn't want to carry the extra 25 lbs of steel around. If I get a flat away from home, I'm calling the roadside assist I have on insurance to help me change it (using their tools).

The scissor jack on the BRZ is so shitty, mine is already rusting just sitting in its spot in the trunk.

How to change tire on roadside:


1. call number on back of AAA card,
2. watch guy change my tire.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by radroach

I wouldn't want to carry the extra 25 lbs of steel around. If I get a flat away from home, I'm calling the roadside assist I have on insurance to help me change it (using their tools).

The scissor jack on the BRZ is so shitty, mine is already rusting just sitting in its spot in the trunk.

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

How to change tire on roadside:


1. call number on back of AAA card,
2. watch guy change my tire.

Real men don't call for service! Wait for it since somebody will say that for sure
REAL REAL men don't even use a jack.