Thread: Well that was easy ......Not

Originally Posted by tonyci

Going away for a couple of weeks had the D4 for a while but never had to access the spare. So in the safety of my garage I winch the wheel down drag it out a bit and then the fun starts. Ok I will preface this by saying I am a retired Accountant. Do you think I could get that damn centre piece out to free the wheel,took ages. Glad I was not on the side of a busy road or worse in the dark trying to change a flat.
I can imagine the blast I will get about Land Rover engineering if SHMBO ever gets a flat in the car.
Any one else struggle with this or is it really because I was an Accountant (and naturally mechanically incompetent).
Cheers
Tony

It's a bit finicky as can be rewinding the spare without jamming the cable. However, you did the right thing practicing in your garage and once used to it, both processes are pretty easy.


RE: Your wife ... that's what roadside assist is for. I only get dirty when I'm camping or prepping for. Any other time, I would call assist.


Cheers,


Kev.

It's a stupid system and poorly engineered. Rear wheel carrier is much better solution.

Originally Posted by AnD3rew

It's a stupid system and poorly engineered. Rear wheel carrier is much better solution.

X2.

Don't agree with the wheel carrier (unless for serious travelling) but you need to buy a bottle jack, jacking pad and wheel brace. The factory jack and brace are toys to be used at home in the garage on flat, level concrete only.

Rear the winch; always keep some tension on it (winding up or down). I've replaced the winch on the D3 and D4 under warranty.

Lots of threads and post here on this subject.

I've used both wheel winch and the jack off-road. Never had a problem. Don't know why people don't like the jack. I find it works as it should off-road with a jack plate. The wheel can be a bugger to get of at times though

On the weekend I had three punctures I would have waved the flag for a rear wheel carrier, a double .... but I haven't had a puncture since then and that was almost 3 years ago (touch wood). So statistically the rear wheel carrier would be a PITA for me. I like to just open the hatch and ramp in whatever combo without having to swing something out the way first ... if you have the clearance to do so. Horses for courses and I get the fact that one set up is better than others in differing situations.


RE: the OEM Jack ... it works. I don't see it being any more dangerous than a bottle jack ... in fact, to me I can't quite factor how the bottle jack would be any safer at all. Same rules apply to a level surface, etc, etc.


I use a hydraulic jack at home but only because it's a bit easier to work and doesn't suffer from wear and tear. But it wiggles and moves whilst using and requires a bit of research to find the best place to apply it.


If the OEM jack was just built a bit heavier, I would be happy ... but then again .... it's designed for the odd occasion 'most' drivers get a flat and can't or won't get Road-Side Assist. That's the reality.

I find getting the spare wheel out from under the D3 with the tow bar tongue in place to be far more difficult than it should.

It is easier if you get the key and drop the whole bar assembly out of the way, but sometimes it seems to jam, making dropping it difficult.

I wonder if putting the spare wheel in the same place, but accessing it from the rear door (meaning you would have to unload the vehicle first) would be any worse than having to drop the towbar? At least we wouldn't have to put up with the useless spare wheel winch, $400 replacement buys a fair bit of my time for loading and unloading...

Originally Posted by theresanothersteve

I find getting the spare wheel out from under the D3 with the tow bar tongue in place to be far more difficult than it should.

It is easier if you get the key and drop the whole bar assembly out of the way, but sometimes it seems to jam, making dropping it difficult.

I wonder if putting the spare wheel in the same place, but accessing it from the rear door (meaning you would have to unload the vehicle first) would be any worse than having to drop the towbar? At least we wouldn't have to put up with the useless spare wheel winch, $400 replacement buys a fair bit of my time for loading and unloading...

You've got to unload it anyway in it's current form if you have seven seats, as you have to raise them (rear seats) to get to the winch mechanism. Not much fun in the rain as I found out on my three punctures in one weekend trip.

Tony - in addition to checking the spare have you tried jacking the car to full height - that will also be a bit of an eye opener - forewarned is forearmed as you have found out with the spare.

I first used mine in anger and the car nearly fell off the jack. I now take my 101 jack on trips - it has the height but will not go low enough for the RRS with a flat - so I use the RRS jack just to get it high enough for the hydraulic jack to fit under.

Also take particular note where the air compressor is as its cover with the little hole in it looks just like the hole in the chassis for the jack - in the rush to do things you can put the jack under the air compressor .

Garry