Rock Wedged Between Dual Tires
Posted: November 3rd, 2018, 11:14 am
Someone mentioned this hazard earlier in the forum but I dismissed it as an unlikely occurrence. Well, sure enough we suffered such an ignominious mishap on our latest excursion into the boonies.
A convergence of enabling circumstances wedged the most fiendish rock inside our rear dually: 1) we were fording a stream maybe 15” deep; 2) hence the rock was submerged and invisible; 3) it was wet and lubricated with slime; 4) the rock was an ideal wedge shape; and 5) I unwittingly forced the rock level level with the outer tread by driving several wheel rotations before a telltale thump-thump-thump alerted me to stop and check for something amiss.
Inspection revealed the problem at once, as shown in the pictures. My first hopeful attempt at removal with a pry bar proved useless. I should have done the math to figure out there was at least 300 pounds pressure clamping the rock on either side.
Of course my wife suggested I remove the outer tire but I was procrastinating as we were on a narrow dirt road with little room to pull over and comfortably work. At least I tried one more time with the pry bar after driving the inner tire up on a ramp to suspend the outer tire but no, it was time to bust out the factory jack.
The leaf spring shackle was the most accessible jacking point but then the jack maxed out as the spring relaxed before both tires lifted! Finally I loosened the 8 lug nuts regardless only to realize the rim was jammed on the studs after the rock forced it sideways!! The photo shows the angle I had to pound the rim out from before the offending article could be dislodged by hand.
The sidewalls still look OK so I hope there is no hidden tire damage. In retrospect, I should have anticipated my companion Mr. Murphy would be on hand to ensure the repair would not proceed smoothly.
A convergence of enabling circumstances wedged the most fiendish rock inside our rear dually: 1) we were fording a stream maybe 15” deep; 2) hence the rock was submerged and invisible; 3) it was wet and lubricated with slime; 4) the rock was an ideal wedge shape; and 5) I unwittingly forced the rock level level with the outer tread by driving several wheel rotations before a telltale thump-thump-thump alerted me to stop and check for something amiss.
Inspection revealed the problem at once, as shown in the pictures. My first hopeful attempt at removal with a pry bar proved useless. I should have done the math to figure out there was at least 300 pounds pressure clamping the rock on either side.
Of course my wife suggested I remove the outer tire but I was procrastinating as we were on a narrow dirt road with little room to pull over and comfortably work. At least I tried one more time with the pry bar after driving the inner tire up on a ramp to suspend the outer tire but no, it was time to bust out the factory jack.
The leaf spring shackle was the most accessible jacking point but then the jack maxed out as the spring relaxed before both tires lifted! Finally I loosened the 8 lug nuts regardless only to realize the rim was jammed on the studs after the rock forced it sideways!! The photo shows the angle I had to pound the rim out from before the offending article could be dislodged by hand.
The sidewalls still look OK so I hope there is no hidden tire damage. In retrospect, I should have anticipated my companion Mr. Murphy would be on hand to ensure the repair would not proceed smoothly.
(Don't we all give in to that temptation from time to time.)