OT changing a tire on a stretch limo

[mm]

OT There was a tv court show the other day in which a limousine hired to take some girls to a wedding had a flat.

One of the defendants said it was dangerous to change the flat on the expressway shoulder, and another def. said that the driver didn't know how and didn't have the tools.

I'm wondering, how much harder would a stretch limo be? Say it was over 20 feet. I know it weighs more, but it's all stretched out! Leverage and all that. How much more strength would be needed to lift the car, and doesn't the limo builder put a suitable jack in the trunk of every one of them?

What sort of jack would that be? Could you buy one just as small and just as strong at an auto parts store?

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[Mikepier]

I saw that episode. There is no difference. The same jack would be used. That was just an excuse the limo company used to defend itself.

[Farmer's Daughter]

Who cares? Do you really plan on owning or driving a stretch limo? Don't waste you precious time worrying about things that you will probably never encounter. I would worry more about how to prevent the next Muzzie attack. i.e., take them out before they get a chance to take you out. MCG

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Any jack capable of lifting by the axle would probably do. Lifting the side of a stretch may be problematic.

There are some highways that I'd risk damage to the car before getting out for any reason, let alone to change a tire. It would be risking injury to stop in places of high traffic and narrow (or non-existent) shoulder.

[Elliott Plack]

I disagree. Some people enjoy learning just to learn. That's what half of college is, the first two years to be specific. By the way, "mm," you might want to try rec.autos.tech, they have people on there 24/7 answering questions.

[Don Young]

Length of the vehicle is not important but weight is. Since jacks are sometimes marginal it seems that the extra weight of a stretched vehicle could require a sturdier jack. Of course the manufacturer should take care of that and if the operator knows he has no suitable jack he is responsible for any consequences.

Years ago someone asked Tom McCahill why his very expensive car came with a

99 cent jack. He replied that was because the manufaturer could not find a 98 cent one. :-)

Don Young

[trader4]

I saw that case on TV too and thought it sounded like a bunch of BS. The only rational thing I could think of would be that you would might need a more substantial jack to lift the limo. But one would think they would figure a way to get one into the car, since they have a trunk. And if they don't have the capability to change a tire, that's an incompetent limo company.

The limo company owner was a complete jerk. His position was the bride and wedding party should have just waited with the car for them to send another one. He kept saying "It was her problem. She chose not to wait because she had to go to the wedding, that's not my fault" Well, Duh! What the hell did he think any reasonable person would do. They didn't even provide any assurance on how quickly another car would arrive. And even if they did, at that point, I would have gotten into cars of other folks following anyway, because who's going to take a chance that the other car would arrive on time?

[Stormin Mormon]

Oh, them fuzzy wuzzie muzzies are so fierce. Especially fuzzy wuzzie muzzies who had no hair.

[Harry K]

I would expect something more than the normal tire changing tools in the way of the lug wrench though. They -have- to have some very heavy duty axles, wheels, rims on them. The right tools should still be there.

Harry K

[mm]

Thanks for all the replies.

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[mm]

I think the odds are a lot better that I'll need to change the flat on a limousine than that I'll be able to prevent any terrorist attack.

(BTW, don't need to own or drive. Once I was walking down the street, and 4 or 5 people were gathered around the open hood of a police car. I walked up and fixed it by the time I'd finished my last step. I saw the blue light in the dark and figured out that the coil wire was mostly out of its hole. Everyone was impressed.)

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[Mikepier]

. Of course the manufacturer should take care

Interesting point. I wonder if they put on extra load tires on the limos to make up for the extra weight, or if they just keep the stock ones on. Perhaps maybe thats why the tire had a blowout in the first place, because it was the wrong type.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

The companies that build the limos are certified by the supplies. (Ford, etc.) and have to comply with government regulations also.