Emergency: Stuck in the Colorado Rockies

[joshespdx]

I'm spending the New Year (and my 40th) with my two young kids at a cabin about 5 miles out of Fairplay, CO. Last night we were run off the road by a speeding truck and hit the ditch hard. After digging myself out in subzero temps and getting back to the cabin, I could hear a fast air leak from my driver-rear tire. When I slid through the ditch, hard-pack snow jammed between the tire bead and the lip of the rim. The tire is now flat. Unfortunately, my 21mm thin wall socket is no where to be found. I've called both towing companies in the area and neither of them have one. If I can get the tire off and in front of the fireplace, I think I can get the snow/ice packed between the tire bead and the lip of the rim to melt. I should be able to limp down on my smaller spare and re-inflate the tire. If anyone has any suggestions or the ability to help, give me a call on my mobile: 253-514-1196. I have one call out to a friend in Denver, but it's tentative. I'll update the post as soon as I know more. Thanks in advance to everyone!

Josh (and Jack and Ashley)

 

[repo]

You dont have the toyota wrench under the back seat? Or its too thick for the wheel?

 

[joshespdx]

You dont have the toyota wrench under the back seat? Or its too thick for the wheel?

I have it, but it won't fit inside the lug hole on these wheels.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

There's an emergency contact list that was created for this type of stuff. I'm not sure who in CO is closest to your location. Hopefully this helps!

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...s-emergency-contact-list-find-local-help.html

 

[amalik]

Just to make sure this is not a life and death situation, you have access to your cabin, right? Just no access to change your tire without the 21mm thin

 

[eightsixxmkii]

So the bead is unseated? Good luck.

 

[Asaspades93]

its posted up on a few colorado groups on fb now

 

[joshespdx]

To answer all the questions:

I looked at the list first. Thank you for the suggestion! There's a guy in Superior that I'm going to call.

We are not in a life and death situation, just stuck in one spot. Being New Years Day in a small mountain town, there is little-to-no-commercial help available. We are warm and safe, but have no way to travel.

The bead is not unseated, it is unsealed from the rim. Hard snow/ice is wedged in between, breaking the seal and allowing the air to leak out. I need the tools to remove the tire and get it inside so I can melt the snow. I can then limp down on my spare and re-inflate the tire.

The tools that's I need:
1/2 inch breaker bar
1/2 inch extension, 6 inch length
1/2 inch, 21mm thin wall socket

I thought I had these in my kit, but I do not.

I just received a call from Mike, who is part of Colorado 4x4 Mountain Rescue. He's working on this at the moment, but no solid plan yet.

Asa: thanks a million for the reposts!

 

[Bad_Vision]

Build a small fire next the the wheel to melt the snow then put lighter fluid in the inside of the tire and light it to set the bead just be ready to let the pressure out and put air back in. Won't have to take the tire off then unless it's damaged. Good luck man hope someone helps you out.

 

[02SE]

Do you have a portable air compressor?

Can you park with the tire in direct sun (assuming it isn't cloudy) and maybe that will be sufficient to melt the snow/ice.

Boil some water, and pour it over the bead area, and then air it back up.

Of course this all assumes you CAN air the tire back up.

 

[joshespdx]

All excellent ideas! Thank you, gents.

I don't have a portable compressor. I burned it up this summer and haven't replaced it [emoji17]

 

[wcjeep]

Can the vehicle get close to the cabin? Hair dryer to melt the snow? It sounds like the snow is preventing a good seal? Park the tire facing the sun and wait. Do you have any metal pipe to redirect exhaust heat to the tire? Residential dryer vent.

Pee on the tire? Hot water? Do you have a hilift? I break the bead of my Jeep all the to clear the rim.


Can you park next to a stump. Then prop the axle onto a block. Use vehicle jack between stump and tire to break the bead. Clean. Then use air pump to reseat the bead. Use Extreme caution. When the bead reseat keep fingers clear of the rim. You will need to manipulate the tire to achieve a slight seal before the air pump can take over. Sense you have cell service, check YouTube for bead reseat

 

[KidVermicious]

Does said small mountain town have any sort of general store or hardware store at all (Bing.com says there's a True Value down at the corner of 285 and 9)? Even if they're not open today they should be open tomorrow, and if they don't have a small 12v compressor I bet they have a can or two of Fix a Flat. The tire guys hate that stuff, but it'll inflate your tire enough to get you to a gas station, as long as your bead isn't popped and it doesn't sound like it is.

But all the suggestions in the world to melt the ice in the bead won't help if you can't air up the tire. But if you can get some canned air or a small compressor tomorrow, then hot water will melt that ice. Rubbing alcohol will work too, or a hair dryer. If you light a fire near the tire, be careful it's not too near.

One other idea, do you have Amazon Prime? If so you could order up a socket to be delivered to your cabin, pay a couple bucks for next day delivery and it should be there tomorrow. Or maybe the next day, depending on how remote you are.

 

[joshespdx]

Hey all: Mike from Colorado 4x4 Rescue and Recovery is on his way from the Denver area.
[MENTION=134953]wcjeep[/MENTION]: I found two hair dryers here. The tire is tented with a blanket and the blow dryer is running. It's 7 degrees out, but anything should help! My dad was in the forest service for years. He had your same suggestions. Thank you!
[MENTION=49649]KidVermicious[/MENTION] Other than the two towing companies, which couldn't help, no has been picking up.

 

[D Farms]

you could grind down the toyota tool to fit in and work. not sure what you have available to do that with but its worth mentioning for the future at least.

 

[joshespdx]

@dfarms That's a good idea! I'm at a cabin that I rented from the owner through AirBnB. Unfortunately, I don't have access to his shed to poke around.

 

[BamaDrewski]

@dfarms That's a good idea! I'm at a cabin that I rented from the owner through AirBnB. Unfortunately, I don't have access to his shed to poke around.

You could siphon out some hot/warm coolant and pour over the iced spot or if you have alcohol on hand (rubbing, liquor or moonshine) you can try that approach. Alcohol generally melts ice and snow. Just an idea I came up with by thinking if I was in your shoes. Good luck man!

 

[rideexileex]

Pm sent

 

[joshespdx]

You could siphon out some hot/warm coolant and pour over the iced spot or if you have alcohol on hand (rubbing, liquor or moonshine) you can try that approach. Alcohol generally melts ice and snow. Just an idea I came up with by thinking if I was in your shoes. Good luck man!

I run a bottle of IPA in my washer fluid to keep it from freezing. It also helps it evaporate quickly at highway speed. Again, tools are the real issue at this point. I'll definitely be adding a bottle of IPA to my kit, though. Good thought. Thanks [emoji106]

 

[Brique]

Ok, so now I can't wait to hear how it turns out. Keep us posted, please!