Twin Rear Axle

[Mongoli-huh!?]

Hello everyone.

As you may have seen in my previous thread, I am attempting a 10,000 mile charity rally to Mongolia in a 1995 transit ambulance.

The vehicle has a twin rear axle. We will inevitably get a puncture along the journey somewhere, the last 1800 miles is through the Gobi Desert!

How easy is it to change the wheels on a twin axle if the wheel on the inside punctured?

We would be looking to take spares with us including the wheel steel, how easy are these to come by and are they expensive?

Many thanks,

Rory
www.mongoli-huh.co.uk

[MinorMatt]

The nuts are done up FT Haynes says 124 ftlb - but ut whenever i have done em up to that they have come undone...

Best bet is a good 6 sided 24mm socket with a breaker bar and extension both wheels will then just come off the studs

[samson]

easy to change as outside
take some innertubes with you
learn how to repair and refit tubes
a lot you have to learn .
i have done the middle east run years ago no AA then
take a roll of shink wrap with you
plenty of grease and oil .
and some old tyres waste of time good ones on the desert

[Mongoli-huh!?]

Ok cool, so they just come off when you take the outside wheel off.

I have a hell of a lot to learn! Looking to go on a basic mechanical course some time in the near future.

[Timbo]

I think the off (right) side wheel nuts are left hand thread. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong!

You can buy plastic pointer things to slip onto the wheel nuts to see if they have loosened

[captain hook]

I think the off (right) side wheel nuts are left hand thread. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong!

You can buy plastic pointer things to slip onto the wheel nuts to see if they have loosened

Yeah....You are wrong...

Both sides are normal thread....

[GBBiker]

Yep, it's LDV Convoys that have L/H threads on one side


Anyhoo. It may be easier for the OP if he takes just a couple of spare rims with part-worns and a few cans of that horrible puncture repair goo (not something I would normally recommend) and a footpump. At least with the goo, you don't need to remove the wheels in the middle of the desert

[Mongoli-huh!?]

Yep, it's LDV Convoys that have L/H threads on one side


Anyhoo. It may be easier for the OP if he takes just a couple of spare rims with part-worns and a few cans of that horrible puncture repair goo (not something I would normally recommend) and a footpump. At least with the goo, you don't need to remove the wheels in the middle of the desert

I think you are right, we are looking for part worn tires with the steel attached on ebay and scrapyards so we can just to a straight swap if need be and crack on.

*EDIT* Of course if anyone has any they would like to donate they would be gratefully accepted!

[dibs]

Older twin wheeler Transits did have reverse threads on one side. Up to MK3?

Just practise changing them a couple of times before you go, rotate the wheels to get longer milage out of them. Worth checking before you go, as they may have been over tightened and difficult to get off. Use a torque wrench to tighten the nuts right if you're not sure how tight to do them, you can buy a big one for less than £20.

I'm sure someone will have some spare twin wheel wheels knocking about. Where are you based?

[Mongoli-huh!?]

Two of us are based in Cheltenham, two in Reading and the Ambulance in is East Sussex but we all drive so can pick things up from various places.

If the tyres are fairly worn it wont really matter as they will be the spares, cant see us getting pulled over in the middle of the Gobi desert too often!

[MickDundee]

I'm one of the team members, been struggling to find the twin axle wheels on ebay at competitive prices, so any help would be greatly appreciated, we must arrange getting the URL of here on our rig somehow.

[captain hook]

I've a couple here in Essex if you need them!

[dibs]

Just had a look at you van. Looks great mate! I'm sure you'll have a wicked time and for a great cause. I'll be chucking a couple of quid in the coffers, hope more members on here will too. Looks like you've already got a couple of wheels! Has anyone looked over your van yet? Service etc? I'm sure someone who is near by you could have a look for you. Might be an idea to do the cam belt, especially if you are planning to donate the vehicle, it would easily be good for another 30,000 then. Much nicer to set off on a long journey knowing you've ot a nice clean new belt on I'm in Manchester unfortunately, and also not really the best person for it anyway but if you are up here I'll do what I can. Come on people help this man

[dibs]

BTW here's the link to your van: http://www.mongoli-huh.co.uk/Mongli-huh_Rally_Team_2010/The_Ambulance%21.html

[Mongoli-huh!?]

Just had a look at you van. Looks great mate! I'm sure you'll have a wicked time and for a great cause. I'll be chucking a couple of quid in the coffers, hope more members on here will too. Looks like you've already got a couple of wheels! Has anyone looked over your van yet? Service etc? I'm sure someone who is near by you could have a look for you. Might be an idea to do the cam belt, especially if you are planning to donate the vehicle, it would easily be good for another 30,000 then. Much nicer to set off on a long journey knowing you've ot a nice clean new belt on I'm in Manchester unfortunately, and also not really the best person for it anyway but if you are up here I'll do what I can. Come on people help this man

Hello mate,

Thanks for your support, much appreciated!

We are in the process of looking for someone to service it so if anyone near us is able to that would be great! As you said we want to hand it over in the best condition possible as it is going to be put into service by a Mongolian Hospital. We are also trying to find an auto electrician as half of the electrics arnt working and there are wires popping out all over the place!

We are going to stick the forum URL on the side of our ambulance as people have been very supportive so far! We would also put anyones logo on it if they can help us out!

If anyone is on facebook there are more photos and info on our facebook group, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=264997554233

Thanks again for your support!

Rory