Flat tire on Blue Moon trail, High Desert Roundup, 2005

High Desert Roundup, 2005: We sat in line, chatting with some of the other folks around us, and admiring the efforts of the folks before us, negotiating the steep and loose trail. When it was my turn to go, I started the engine, put the truck in gear, and, clank-clank... What the... ? Paul looked out the window and told me my right, front tire was flat. Bummer! I pulled out of line to a flat spot next to the trail and got out to take a look and, sure enough, the tire was as flat as last year's pancake. I got on the CB and let the trail hands know that I had a flat and would not be continuing on the run.

Out came the high-lift jack, the jack stand and all of the tire stuff. The tire had picked a good spot to go flat, as the terrain was flat and level. As I worked on the truck, I received numerous offers of assistance from others, ranging from, "Do you need any help? Do you need us to get you anything?" to "Do you have enough water?" As I said before, when you on the trail at a CA4WDC event, you're family.

Left: We take a break before climbing another steep hill. Right: It wasn't meant to happen for me, as my right front tire quit with a mighty wheeze! So it was out with the high-lift jack, the ratchet and whatever else it takes to change a flat tire in the Mojave desert.

It didn't take us long to change the tire, and we could have easily caught up with the run, as they were planning to break for lunch after climbing the hill. However, I chose not to continue the run, as I didn't have a spare, and I'm a firm believer in Murphy's Law. If I had a Jeep, I would have continued the run, as if I did get another flat, I could have borrowed a spare from a fellow Jeeper. But I was the only F-250 on the run, and it just wasn't worth it to take a chance, despite the fact that I really wanted to finish the run. Oh well, there's always next year.

So Paul and I turned around and headed into Barstow to purchase another tire. I've been telling myself for years that I should carry a second spare tire, as tires are the most vulnerable asset in desert four wheeling. The tire shop in Barstow didn't have any BFG mud/snow tires in stock, so I had to settle for another brand. I plan to purchase a BFG mud/snow tire locally and remove the tire I bought and mount it on a stock rim, and throw it in the back of the truck for occasions like Hi Desert Round-Up or Panamint Valley Days. So now I have that second spare...

We drove back to base camp and headed over to where the Dirt Devils were camped, as we wanted to let Jesse know that we were ok and back in camp. If we hadn't, they would have organized a search party for us after the barbecue dinner, and naturally, we didn't want that to happen. I can't over-emphasize the cooperation at these events, and the fact that nobody is left behind.

Left: I'm taking off the tire, is it is hopelessly flat. Right: Back at base camp and this is what I saw when I loked at my right front tire; only 3 lug nuts were attatched and they were right in line. Truly a safety hazzard that I wouldn't have driven had I known it existed.

As a not-so-funny aside, when Paul and I got to our camp, I got out to admire my new tire and to my shock, I noticed that Barstow Tire and Brake had attached only 3 of the 8 lug nuts, and they were all in a row. What did they do with the rest of them? Why weren't they attached? Talk about a safety issue! Needless to say, I was furious. If it hadn't been 1630 on a Saturday afternoon, I would have driven the forty-minute drive to the place and given them a piece of my mind. So I can't recommend Barstow Tire and Brake to anybody except in an emergency

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