removing spare wheel

You explain the reason why we always carried the spare in the back of the car.

I also have a Coachman 2008 Amara model, most of what you described IMO could be avoided if your service engineer did a proper job.

The mobile guy i use always drops the spare greases all the nuts and rails and then checks that everything moves reasonably ok, the telescopic rails are a problem even when coated in grease but it is what it is.

I have had 2 punctures  on this particular van, fortunately both in daylight hours, and have been fortunate that a lay by has been relatively close, if possible i run the caravan up on the leveling ramps, this will give you an additional 4-6 inches of clearance, i also have Tyron bands fitted which helps to stop the tyre coming off the rim, some people poo poo these but mine have been put to the test twice and did what it says on the tin.

agree with TW but our boot is the dog kennel when travelling so not really practical, many moons ago we had a caravan with a well just inside the door of the van so you could simply lift up the hatch cover and remove the spare wheel, why this idea did not catch on have no idea but it seemed like the perfect solution.

p.s. my daughter waited nearly 6 hrs for the breakdown guys to turn up

Whenever I take our van in for service, I always stress that I want the spare wheel carrier greasing - regardless of whether or not it is part of the service so that it ends up getting 'ticked off' as one of the items to do.  Similarly, I always ask that the motor-mover sliders be greased and I know this isn't normally part of the service, but they do it anyway.

Surely all tyre fitters have areas where the tyres can be changed on site and you can phone to book it in beforehand if you think that there will be a problem parking your vehicle.

If you have breakdown cover, they should change the tyre for you if you get a puncture.  When I had a blow out on the M5, around 18 months ago, the Greenflag man who changed my wheel told me that he had been out to 4 or 5 punctures in the same area of J6 over the previous 2 days and he thought that there must something in that particular area causing tyres to have punctures.

vbfg, if you knew our local tyre fitter you wouldnt leave your van there for 5 minutes, its uneven ground loads of old rally cars stored there and grumpy owner, last time i took a car for tyres i had to leave car all day, hence i just dropped the wheels in and pickup before closing time. no way would i leave the van,  they are now back on the van and it was a struggle to get the tyre back onto the carrier as i only just could reach to replace the wheel nuts holding spare, all greased but i did check pressure of the spare and it was down to 25 psi, so put 60psi in and have used a extension i used to have for a motorhome so i can check the  psi from side of the van,  

vbfg, "Surely all tyre fitters have areas where the tyres can be changed on site and you can phone to book it in beforehand if you think that there will be a problem parking your vehicle."

In an ideal world you are correct, and when I lived in Essex and then Merseyside, to get new caravan tyres was a doddle. All of the on-line fitting outfits would come to my home and I was spoilt for choice for outlets within a few miles where I could pull up with the caravan.

But in some parts of the country this is not possible. I'm in Devon where my closest tyre outlet is 9 miles away and there is no room for a caravan. None of the on line fitting outfits will come to my home and although there are on-line suppliers who will supply some local garages, these garages are in small villages and again have no space for a caravan.

Colin

Point taken about living in areas which are out of the way and/or don't have many   businsesses in the area which provide suitable tyre services.  Where I live in Southport, we have a very good choice for most services so I have become complacent and tend to forget that many areas of the country are not as lucky as we are, in that respect.

vbfg,

I've spent a lot of time in Southport, where my 94 year old mum still lives. We lived in Formby from 2017 to 2022 and I'm making the pilgrimage to the north tomorrow. 

Colin

Sorry the weather is not any better for you at the moment, Colin.  Formby is a bit posh for us. We are at the other end of Southport, directly opposite the RSPB near Crossens. It's like living in a wind tunnel but at least there is a nice view of Lytham and Blackpool, most days.