lowering tires from under cars

[Atlascycle]

I work part time driving a tow truck and ran into a 2007 Yukon that didn't have the winch rod to lower the tire down, is there a universal kit out there that would work that would keep me from having to dig out the costomers tools and then having to put them away?

Ok After starting to type this out I thought I had make a better effort on a search, the only thing i found was this Steelman Kit, Has anyone used this?

does anyone have a better solution?

Thanks,

Jason

 

[Guns R Tools]

I used it before.
Don't use power tools with it though. One of T-shaped ear broke off.

Maybe stop by junk yard and start collecting different cars/trucks.

 

[shampoop]

I've used that steelman kit many times. Has always worked great for me. Way faster and easier than looking for customers one.

I've always heard you're not supposed to use air tools with them, but that **** takes waaaaaaaaay too long. As long as you're careful with it (especially when at the end of lifting it back in), I've never had a problem. Might be more of an issue in rusty places where the mechanisms have more resistance? Cars don't rust on the west coast so no issues here.

 

[Jbullfrog]

Hit the junk yards and start a collection. Ford has used the same jack handle hook since the 60ies. I have a folding version from my 87 Ranger hanging on my toolbox. truck. The bad thing is, most new vehicles have a lock in the tire winch until someone removes it. It's getting really frustrating trying to find the tool kit in new vehicles to change a tire. You would think they could engineer a simple system, but then everyone woulb be stealing spare tires.

 

[srmofo]

Ive got a steelman set hanging in the shop and its handy some times. MAC or Snapon (cant remember) also makes a kit that is slightly different than the steelman but about twice the price

 

[Farmer Joe]

I use air tools too in the shop on these kind of spares, just be careful and don't be a ******* and you'll be fine. I just say this because I've seen some knuckleheads put their impact on it and go at it full power without any caution and really ruin things.

 

[Ray-CA]

...but then everyone would be stealing spare tires.

Might as well, they already there taking the catalytic convertor.

Ray

 

[greasemonkey44]

i use a thexton kit i sourced thexton through matco
works very well
as for the locks; there are ways around those

 

[Atlascycle]

Thanks for the responses guys, the thextron kit looks like what i want, nice and compact, I carry my own tools for changing tires when i am on call, 24" breaker bar with the most common socket sizes, I also have an older Milwaukee impact that i use to run the lugs off after I loosen them, (90% of the time the batteries have lost enough of the charge that if they are really tight it wont bust them loose).

I have thought about getting a kit from a junk yard and then making the ends for the different cars. might be simplier in the long run to just purchase a kit.

Thanks Guys

Jason

 

[countryroad82]

I loosen them, (90% of the time the batteries have lost enough of the charge that if they are really tight it wont bust them loose).


I don't know if Milwakee has them but I have in all my fleet of trucks Dewalt car chargers that plug into your cigarette lighter and they work well and you can keep at least one hot battery at all times. Or a cheapie inverter will power your charger so you can keep your batteries charged. Just a thought/ suggestion.