Truck Mods for Dempster Highway

[Wango]

WoW,
am heading up there this August and have been wondering if anyone on here was going. Guess I know now.
w

 

[Stevet]

Hi there. Just saw this message topic and wanted to ask Old Crow about his experience inflating his tire with a bicycle pump. I realize this was an emergency; how long did it take to pump up and what psi did you achieve? I've heard of doing this but imagine it must be somewhat physically demanding as the internal psi of the tire increases.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[klahanie]

^ I'll just throw in that if interested in a bike pump for backup, there are High Volume (HV) models made for fat tire MTBs. Search for HV Trail air pumps. I have a hand pump goes to 35psi but have seen floor models go to 60psi. either way they move quiet a bit of air, maybe enough to keep going.

as always, YMMV

 

[buckland]

We drove the Dalton and Dempster. I carry a tire puncture kit and a real spare. I also carry a compressor. As far as windshields (yes ours got a few big cracks) I think it is best to forget about it and drive to enjoy. When I got back my insurance paid for a new one and I was happy again.

 

[Old Crow]

Hi there. Just saw this message topic and wanted to ask Old Crow about his experience inflating his tire with a bicycle pump. I realize this was an emergency; how long did it take to pump up and what psi did you achieve? I've heard of doing this but imagine it must be somewhat physically demanding as the internal psi of the tire increases.

Thanks,
Steve

LOL-- I was looking for a photo of the type of pump I called a 'bicycle pump' and found the exact model pump I was using is still being sold. It's this Fenix Vintage Air Pump. I should spend the $12.99 and see if works as well as my 1970's one.

Anyway, the only way I can think to answer the question is "long enough to be very happy it's over". Actually, it really isn't bad.. it just takes a while. That little squish of air into the tire doesn't seem like it's doing much at the time but the squishes add up...

Also- on that McCarthy Road flat I didn't have to pump a whole lot. I had felt the steering get squirrelly so I stopped and had the Mrs. dig out the repair kit while I tried to locate the hole. It was an easy find and I realized I could plug it right on the van-- I didn't even have to jack it up. I just moved it to position the hole at about 9 o'clock and then started with the reamer. I think it still had 12-15 psi or so by the time I had the plug in. And I was only pumping to 30 psi (and probably shouldn't have been going that far).

.