Made from scraps of stuff kicking around the garage, I put this tool together for my aging in-law. I was told he had someone change his winter tires last spring because he was having back trouble but after he got the bill, he decided to change his tires himself this past autumn. He clearly has the need for assistance but won't admit it so I thought I might be able to help him stay independent with this homemade tool.
I looked at what the market offers and given the state of his driveway, this design seems best. His drive was paved about a century ago by the look of it so there are lots of dips and rises and patches of paveing missing here and there. The design is simple and stores away in 2 pieces.
All that is needed are: rebar, conduit, angle iron, dollies, electrical tape, an old bicycle handle grip, square channel and 2 small paint rollers. The conduit and tape just make a snug fit for the bicycle grip on the rebar. I think the tool on the market sells for about $150 but if you have the time, the scraps and the inclination, it is something that someone in need might find useful. It might seem the small paint rollers aren't strong enough but the metal bars inside are actually quite thick and short enough to hold the weight of a tire if not too heavy. The rollers only need support the weight of the tire long enough to line up the holes in the rim with the lug bolts.
In my case, I made it just to fill a need but it could be a Christmas gift for someone you know who might need help lifting a tire, especially if you don't know what to get them. Merry Christmas everyone !
My thoughts exactly with the rebar bending, He has a jack to lift the car?
If so, I can see this working as it will only be supporting the weight of the tire to move out and the seasonal moved in.
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I'll Be Frank ;) 350SBC .030 Over - 0 to 60 when ever it gets there.
Keep at it... Work out the bugs and sell your plans....
Keep in mind you'll need to:
-rotate the tire so the holes line up without handling too much
-make the arms strong enough for multiple uses year after year
-maybe a hydraulic or screw lift mechanism so both hands are free to put at least one nut on
And clean the cats feet before it goes in the house and walks across your wife's kitchen counter.
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The best way to get on your feet is to get off your ass.
Thank you Poncho52, 30-S6 & 58 Chev. Always good advice found here.
I wasn't sure about the rebar being strong enough and especially unsure about the paint rollers being strong enough.
But I wanted to see if I could slap something together that Might work with materials I had kicking around to suit this simple design.
My in-law has a Small Ford wagon from the late 90s (if I remember right) and the tires aren't that big.
I am hoping it will allow him to roll the tire on the paint rollers so he can line up the holes for the lug nuts when replacing the tire.
He has a small jack and this was made just to assist him with lifting the next season's tire just long enough to align with the bolts.
So it need not take the weight for long. If it can't take the weight, I'll modify it accordingly or start over with a new design or heavier materials.
The paw prints were from a rubber casting I made from when my dog walked in the snow. Once the prints iced up, I took a casting and from that I made a rubber mold. I dip the mold in paint and paint the drive every year from the road to the house in memory of the dog I miss so much.
I started in this hobby to distract me from my loss and eight years later, my 29 still helps every day --- because I will always paint those paw prints.
Thank you again for the advice and tips and Merry Christmas !
