Changing a Float Tyre

by Fiona De Jersey

If there’s a busy road, it’s the middle of the night, it’s pouring with rain and there’s a fully loaded float being towed behind your vehicle, the odds are that this is when one of the tyres will choose to ‘give up the ghost’ - the loud bang and pungent smell of burning rubber signalling the start of what can be a horse owner’s nightmare. Yet it doesn’t need to be, as changing a float tyre - although inconvenient and a little time consuming - is something that can be undertaken safely and with a minimum of fuss, provided that a few important principles are followed.

Be Prepared
Before considering what to do after a tyre has signalled its demise, it’s necessary to take a couple of steps back to look at what should happen in preparation for hitting the bitumen with an equine passenger. While it may sound mundane, the most important factor in being able to cope in any emergency is having the right equipment in working order. This means, at the very least, a jack, wheel blocks of some kind, a fully-inflated spare tyre for both the car and the float, and a wheel brace.

Not only should all these items be stored either in the towing vehicle or in the float itself, but the driver also needs to know their whereabouts and be able to gain access to them quickly. Unfortunately, Murphy’s Law dictates that the tyre-changing equipment belonging to most horse owners will invariably be buried under a mountain of gear in the back of the car when that pesky puncture becomes apparent. Just to really rub salt into the wound, tyre problems always seem to happen either on the way home from a competition (think tired, stressed and cranky) or when running seriously late for an early dressage draw (think nervous, jittery from too many cups of coffee while plaiting up at 3am and cursing about the fact you didn’t learn the test last night instead of smugly telling yourself you’d have time to do so at the venue.....).

For those who regard the operation of a standard wheel jack as something akin to torture or simply can’t come to grips with the finer points of its use, this list of essential and accessible items may also need to include an alternative - namely one of the cradle-like devices now on the market that are made specifically for changing tyres on a float or trailer. These certainly have the potential for making the job much easier - provided that time is taken to actually read the instructions and understand how to use them. Otherwise, the odds are that you’ll merrily go ahead with driving onto the cradle, all the while thinking how clever you are to be so prepared and in control, then realise that loosening the wheel nuts beforehand would have been a really good idea (as it says in the instructions), given that the flat tyre is now spinning furiously in the air as you attempt to do so.

As well as tyre-changing equipment, practical safety gear such as a heavy-duty torch with a working battery and a fully charged mobile phone are invaluable in lessening the stress of coping with a roadside breakdown. Wet weather clothing, should the conditions be such that this might be necessary, will prove to be worth the space it takes up many times over in the event of having to change a tyre in the pouring rain. Hazard markers, such as witches hats or flashing lights on collapsible tripods, are also worth investing in, as these serve to attract the attention of other motorists - hopefully prompting them to give the area a wide berth or, even better, stop to offer their assistance.

Practice Makes Perfect
As with so many situations, practising before the event is invaluable if the worst happens and you do experience tyre problems when floating. Although it’s probably not necessary to put a horse or horses on the float to add to the realism, running through the steps of changing a tyre at home - perhaps with the aid of someone experienced in the art - will mean having more confidence in the event of a flat tyre occuring out on the road.
With the float hooked up to the tow vehicle, chock the wheels of the float on the opposite side to the puncture and, ideally, on both sides of the car to prevent either from rolling forward unexpectedly. Remove the hubcap on the wheel in question (if it has one) by using the end of the wheel brace. If this is not available for some reason, a hoofpick will do the job just as well.

Place the jack under a solid part of the float, such as the V-shaped framework at the front that forms an attachment point for the tow ball, and wind it up until it is touching this area but not yet lifting it. At this stage, loosen each wheel nut a little with the brace. Once this has been done, continue winding the jack until the wheel is lifted off the ground. Now remove the nuts, placing them where you will easily be able to find them again, then lift the wheel off. Place the spare wheel onto the float, doing the nuts up by hand so they are firm. Lower the float to the ground again, remove the jack then tighten each nut fully with the wheel brace. Remember to remove the chocks from the wheels of the vehicle and the float before driving off.

Emergency Measures
Back to the original scenario - a busy road, dark and stormy night, fully loaded float with two horses in it then the puncture occurs. Given that the right equipment is on board, it’s easily accessible and in working order and practice has been done at home, there shouldn’t be any reason to panic when the problem makes itself known. Instead, focus on finding somewhere safe to pull over - remembering that it is possible to drive some distance with a punctured tyre, especially when this is on a tandem axle trailer - so don’t be too hasty and choose a spot where the verge is very narrow or sloping. There will be further damage to the tyre the longer it is driven on, which is by no means a desirable situation, but it is better to continue on a little than to immediately stop in an unsafe place.

Pull over as far as practical without risking either the float or the tow vehicle becoming bogged or cast in a ditch. As soon as the vehicle is stationary, put the hazard lights on. Place witches hats or flashing lights, if you are carrying them, around the float. If necessary, reassure the horses but don’t unload them, as the very real possibility of one or both breaking free and fleeing up the road amidst the traffic is likely to have tragic consequences.

Decide at this point whether it is a realistic option for you to attempt changing the tyre or if it would be better to call for assistance. This will depend on where you have managed to pull off, the heaviness of the traffic, the weather conditions and if all the equipment needed is at hand. If waiting for roadside assistance appears to be the best strategy, go ahead with contacting the organisation you belong to or family and friends to advise them of your predicament - hopefully on the fully charged mobile phone that is in the vehicle for just such occasions!

Going It Alone
If you are confident in being able to change the tyre yourself, simply follow the steps described. Provided the puncture is of a float tyre or a front tyre on the tow vehicle, unloading the horses or unhooking the float shouldn’t be necessary. If a rear tyre on the tow vehicle is punctured, however, the float needs to be disconnected before jacking the car, as the coupling between the two will interfere with this and may be damaged in the process. Ensure the safety chains remain in place, the brakes on the float stay engaged and have the float wheels well chocked on both sides - leaving the horses loaded unless it is absolutely necessary to take them off.
Once the tyre has been successfully changed, replace all equipment and safety gear into the car or float and double check the area for any items that may have been dropped or put aside. Ensure that the wheel nuts are done up firmly and, if you had to unhook the float to change a rear wheel on the tow vehicle, don’t forget to hook it up again! Wait for a break in the traffic, indicate then merge smoothly back out onto the road - thanking your lucky stars you were prepared, had practised beforehand, and had all the required equipment in working order.
And don’t forget to have the punctured tyre fixed or replaced as soon as possible!