I'm a 240 pound man who has changed literally hundreds of tires. I've been stuck on the side of the road waiting for AAA to come with a pneumatic wrench to break lug nuts free. Some shops just tighten them way too far, and if you don't have the means to get proper leverage the only way to remove them is another pneumatic wrench. So unless you expect everybody to drive around with a pneumatic wrench and an air compressor, why laugh at anybody with that problem?
And some shops don't set the wheel on the hub before tightening the lugs down, causing all kinds of havoc when you're going out of state to see your grandfather the next day.
I appreciate the fact that Beau took the time to highlight the multifunctional benefits to the pipe fulcrum. It's not just for stubborn nuts! It's also for stubborn nuts!
Can also use the pipe to help make a very basic survival tent if you are stranded and need to create some shade/protection from the elements without being in the car. Just plant the pipe (hopefully it is about 3-4 feet) in some dirt, drape a tarp over it, and at least you have something.
At the first mention of pipe, I said "now you have leverage AND a weapon". I cackled the last time it was mentioned. I bet we'd all appreciate more safety tips for when you aren't lucky enough to run into the bear.
@@elizabethhiebert1859 A couple of months ago there was a Tiktok video about which you would rather encounter while hiking alone in the woods, a man or a bear? I can't speak to the original video because I never saw it, what I started seeing on YT were response videos by women, stating that they would choose the bear. It was commentary on men in general being dangerous to women. Then the next wave of videos were by men being angry that women would rather take a chance with a bear than with a random man, stupid misandrist women! Not all men! RAWR "Y'all are why they choose the bear."
Yeah, as a man, I'd also prefer to run into a bear than another man. The bear has more predictable behavior and is generally easy to scare away if you came prepared.
@@heidim7732 OOHHhhh!! Thank you so much @Heidi7732!! I really appreciate the explanation! Well I have had more nice men stop to help me. I did have one ( genuinely ) well intentioned man manage to drop a wing nut down my carburetor.... (causing the throttle to reach 80+ mph before I figured out how to stop the car safely). And I have had a much smaller number ... like 3 be jerks to me. One was a tow truck driver who told me my car would explode if my muffler was broken, so to avoid THAT problem I really needed him to tow my car (for big $$). The other tow truck driver charged me $84.00 to tow my car 10 feet (after hours, like at 9 pm at night). So most men have been on to me. But there are likely reasons for that. Best to all!!
There is no shame in not knowing how to do something, especially if you haven’t been taught. There is a lot of shame in mocking someone, rather than helping them.
*On that note:* PSA: Also, "Lefty loose-y": If you're looking at the center, the top spins left. AKA "counter-clockwise," the opposite of how clock hands spin. Sucks when you're stressed and get it backwards and "righty tight-y" the thing on there even harder. If you have trouble with left and right because you're dyslexic or whatever, if you're sitting in the car and facing forward, the steering wheel is on the left side of the car. Just pretend the nuts are tiny steering wheels and you're turning the top towards the driver's side. (Please reverse this in countries with right hand drive vehicles.)
@@I.m-Me Oh yeah. That helped me in so many situations. When turning something takes a lot of effort, it definitely helps to know if your efforts are loosening or tightening it, since both will feel about the same at first.
Re: lefty loose-y etc-- my best friend from high school (that's 52 YEARS AGO -gad, I'm old!) taught me the right hand rule, which I find more graphic. Take right hand , curl fingers & stick out your thumb. Thumb indicates which way you want fastener to travel and fingers show which way to turn tool. This works admirably while, for example, loosening a bolt while you're under a car late at night. Disclaimer: it fails miserably if you're tired, think "right hand rule" and use your left hand. Fact!
There’s a difference between ignorance and stupidity. Ignorance doesn’t mean incapable, it means you haven’t been taught/exposed to yet. Never be afraid of showing your ignorance on a topic as long as you’re willing to learn.
Surprisingly derogatory, I love it! Working as a small local mechanic in the northeast (my late teens), it was a "breaker bar", and one of the most revered tools in the shop.
An aircraft mechanic once showed me the illustrated procedure for changing propellers on some airplanes during WWII. The pipe for their cheater bar was longer than people are tall, and they would sit several people on the bar to tighten those bolts and nuts.
Taught my daughter how to change a tire with a cheater bar, to drive a stick shift and swing a bat or pipe effectively. She called a few weeks ago to tell me that she finally used the pipe to change a tire. Impressing both my step granddaughter and the loud mouth that was manplaining what she needed to do(call someone). Have a good week
My dad showed me how to change a tire, but not the bit about the cheater bar. I don't suppose it occurred to him I might not be able to generate as much torq as he could.
I was fortunate to have a dad that taught me a bunch of basic maintenance for the car, including how to change a tire. About 26-27 years ago I got a flat late at night coming home from visiting my husband in the hospital. It was in a part of town where there were a lot of businesses so I limped into a well lit grocery store parking lot to change the tire. I had a full sized spare and a good jack. I could not get the 3rd lugnut to break free no matter what I did. Spraying it with WD40 and standing on the tire iron wasn't working. An older gentleman pulled up and asked if I needed assistance. I can change the tire but I can't get the lugnut off. He looks at the car, confirms the make, model and year with me then says, "That's probably an anti-theift nut. There should be an adapter with the kit." He got out of the car with a mag light, helps me locate said adapter. It just slips into the tire iron and fits over the one weird shaped nut and then I had no trouble getting the nut off. He hung around, holding the flashlight so I could easily see what I was doing as I changed the tire. He said he knew I knew what I was doing when he drove by early but saw I was having trouble when he came back by and figured that the weird nut was the problem. That was something my dad hadn't told me about. He went on to say he was a mechanic and this anti-theif lugnut was a fairly new thing on some cars, mine being one of those. He suggested that I just go buy 4 compatible nuts and replace the weird ones this wouldn't be a problem. He also said my dad had done a good job raising a smart woman. He was a complete gentleman, helpful but never condescending.
Beau, you continue to surprise and delight me. I'm a boomer lady who was a mechanic in the USAF in the '80s. I remember my dad asking me when was I going to get a 'girl job'? I learned leverage and other tricks to get the job done along the way. I still have a pipe in my shed, about 3 foot long, that I use as a lever exactly as you described. I love how you jump right in there to advise these young ladies. You truly are the best! And you can do this, ladies! Oh, and one more thing... break the lug nuts before you lift the vehicle.
That last one! I've forgotten that a couple of times. Also, make sure the lugs are tightened down. I rotated my own tires once, and I guess my ADHD self must not have done that on all four wheels. I made a Hollywood stunt level stop in front of a friend's house with the wheels coming off and rolling down the street ahead of me. If only someone had their phone out!
I graduated high school in 1984. My American History teacher that year was born in 1904. When the issue of women being weaker came up in class, he stood before us and said: I had my mother for almost 60 years. I've had my wife for over 50 years. I have three daughters and several granddaughters. Women are stronger than men... from the neck up. -- Women are more resourceful than men. Men look at the world in terms of brute strength. Women look for alternatives.
Wise teacher! I was a struggling single mother for a long time. I owned my own house (well, me and the bank!) and when shit broke, I wasn't always able to just call someone to repair it. I fixed my dishwasher one night. It was just a slide-on connector. I figured, I can try and I might get it fixed and save $300. Or I might not be able to fix it. But if I didn't try, I wouldn't know if I was wasting grocery/gas/utility money. It worked until the day I moved out. About 6-7 years. I agree. Wholeheartedly agree. We are resourceful. We very often, have to be.
Being more resourceful and looking for alternatives is not being stronger. It's being more flexible. There's a big difference. So your teacher was wrong.
@@romani8494If you're referring to physical strength, fine - but you're using a very narrow definition, when the context clearly implies something else
As someone who ran a roadside assistance company, I love this video. It always amazed me how many times men didn't have a clue what to do when they got a flat and would either just stay in the car or stand away from me on their phone. Many said that they "didn't need to know, that's why they bought AAA coverage." They didn't care to learn, but the women they were with usually wanted to learn and would watch everything I did, so I'd explain it to them the best I could, step by step.
I'm remembering seven years ago, I was pregnant AND had twin toddlers in tow. I changed a tire in broad daylight at a gas station. So many people drove by, slowed down, parked, got gas, etc. People seemed more interested in me as a spectacle - trying to entertain two toddlers while holding my pregnant belly and kicking the wrench to loosen the lug - instead of even considering that I might need help. I was able to handle it myself, but the fact that so many people saw me and never spoke a word to me, still disheartens me to this day. Thank you for the pipe advice. Go Team Bear! LOL.
@Thufir42 Someone posed a hypothetical question online asking women if they'd rather be stuck in a forest with a man or a bear. Many of us said we'd prefer the bear.
I think a great deal to this day about the four guys at my college who stopped what they were doing when they saw my car was stuck in a snow drift. They didn’t stop to discuss it; they instantly ran over and helped push my car free. No joking, no picture-taking. Just sympathy and help.
Those kinds of people are still around. Last winter we had a couple people stop and help us push my brother-in-law's Mustang out of a snowy curb. Middle of the night, downtown Denver. Nice snowstorm.
My car died on a slight incline on a busy 6 lane road. Luckily someone running came over and pushed me up the hill so I could coast to a better place to stop.
Beau, this video, this subject matter, I don't think i can render more respect for this. You are one of the most circumspect civil advisors in modern history and i think you deserve a Congressional Medal of Freedom.
I'm a guy that grew up without a dad, so I've learned a lot from my friends and UA-cam how to videos. We all need help, regardless of gender. Thanks for showing this for all the people that might need this information.
I've seen four guys in their twenties struggle to change a tire. I keep a four-way in my car and a hydraulic jack. New cars don't come with four ways, which are Lifesavers. Then I've stuck a wrench into The four-way, and then jump on that when The nut is too tight. That happened once or twice.
I grew up with a father who wasn’t handy. He was a white collar worker whose attitude towards manual labor was “it’s not an effective use of my time.” Same difference, really.
I was laughing at Beau explaining how levers work, than I remembered I made an entire career out of telling people to "Turn it off and tern it back on again"
My adult daughter just didn't have enough upper body strength to break the lug nuts free when I taught her to change a tire & originally thought about giving her a metal pipe to use for leverage but upon reflection I just paid for a AAA membership for her .. problem solved
@@jeffanon1772 - However, the problem is NOT solved when there is not an AAA associated company available or when there is no service that does roadside repairs. Giving your daughter the metal pipe would solve the problem regardless of the time or day or location.
I am 5'6" and 118 pounds. I used to move all my own furniture (including refrigerator and armoire) using leverage. Thank you to my grandpa for teaching me how physics works...Also, you can use the same principle inherent in a travois to move things that are too heavy for female muscles.
Also, if you have one nut on each tire that looks a little different then it is probably a locking one and there should be a “key” that fits over it in your vehicle somewhere. (know where it is before you need it!)
Caveat: if the person in question isn't strong enough to turn the lug wrench, while adding a galvanized steel pipe increases leverage, the added weight might be an impediment. Everyone is different, and only you can determine if you can work with a heavier pipe. Also, you don't need a 6 foot length of pipe. Two feet almost always provides more than enough torque to break any stuck lug nut. Compare samples before buying
I guess I got lucky, I had this happen after work one day. I was 8 months pregnant and couldn't get it to budge. I was in tears! Standing on the side of a highway, late at night. I don't know the older gentleman who stopped to help me, never seen him before or after that day, but damn he has no idea how many times I thought of him over the years. I'm forever grateful to him for just helping a stranger. My daughter is in her 20's now.
And this is one of the many reasons why I appreciate you and your videos Beau. Practical, sensible advice through and through. Thanks for the being the internet's Dad 😊
Thank you Beau. I’m an old woman, have changed a few tires in my day. Taught a group of teenagers in my driveway one year how to change a flat tire. No shame in using leverage!
A dear friend of mine, who grew up poor in Soviet era Ukraine and who knows about , and has taught me a great many very handy things, refers to this bit of pipe as " The Persuader"
I am a physics teacher, Beau, and I am going to use this example when illustrating the concept of torque. Usually I point out why the handle of a door is as far from the hinges as possible.
I have learned quite a lot in the comments section. These days many people have battery powered impact wrenches. My friend has a HART from Walmart. He uses it on his farm trailers all the time. Farmers and Ranchers constantly get flats.
As a 40+ year auto tech, couldn't have explained the benefits of the extension of leverage better than this... Thank you Beau... Your existence gives me/us hope for the future...
I was once that gal on the side of the road. I knew how to change a tire, but the nuts would not budge. A kind UPS driver helped me, and he explained that my power is in my legs. Squat down, grab the bar with locked straight arms, and use your leg strength to pull the bar up. This will apply far more force than your entire body weight can, even with bouncing. Add in a 2ft length of 2x4 in your trunk. It has lots of uses, like as a wheel chuck to keep the car from rolling while it's up on the jack. But it's also good for whacking things with minimal damage. Sometimes it's road grime or rust in the threads that are keeping the nuts from moving, and a few whacks on the nut with the 2x4 can break that bond. Also, crack the nuts before you raise the car up on the jack so you are not fighting the wheel spinning. And give them a last tighten when the car is down for the same reason. And finally, if you take your car in for tire work, always crack the nuts yourself before leaving the mechanic. The power tools they use to tighten the nuts can make them too tight for humans to loosen. If you can't crack them at the mechanic, you won't be able to crack them on the side of the road. Make them crack them for you and then re-tighten the nuts yourself.
I live in NZ. Our recent former Prime Minister took on the role at 37. Jacinda Ardern was the youngest woman ever to take on the top role national leadership. World wide. I'm convinced she was the best leader our country had in my life time. Clear, courageous, compassionate. I'm 69 and male.
About bears vs. men...it's pretty easy to avoid bears in daily life if you don't live in deep woods. It's impossible to avoid men unless you *do* live deep in the woods and stay there. I'm 65, have never seen a bear outside of a zoo, but I've had many bad/scary encounters with men, at work, at home, in daily life, and while driving. Never had a problem with a bear, ever.
@@retriever19golden55 The viral question posed on the internet was: which would you rather face alone in the woods: a (random unknown) man or a bear? So the assumption is that you are encountering one or the other., not factoring in the unlikelihood of seeing a bear. Otherwise, I agree with you. Men can be trustworthy or very much not. The ambiguity is what makes them more dangerous, as you might let your guard down with a man and get badly hurt, raped, or ingeniously and sadistically murdered. Bears are less potentially malicious and easier to evade on sight.
@@serendipityshopnyc It would be safe to assume so, judging by the belittling remarks from men. The whole point of the meme is to draw awareness to women safety issues at home and work.
@@retriever19golden55 I've been within 20 feet of adolescent black bears a handful of times. Back bears aren't aggressive, so unless it's mother is hiding close by (always keep your eyes peeled) or it visibly has rabies, just stand pretty still until it's done snarfling for food scents and it'll usually wander off on its own. They don't want anything to do with you, and I've had multiple dogs just chase them off the property entirely (but I mean things like Pyrs and Neapolitan mastiffs, loud and conditionally very aggressive dogs with super beefy barks; I don't really consider anything under 100lbs an actual dog, personally)
Something I did in the first month we were married was teach my wife how to change a tire. She tells me that when she got a flat tire, she was so confident she could handle it, she got the tire change while wearing her heels and turning down offers of help. To ensure I knew how confident she was, she had the replacement tire put in the trunk, drove it home and made me watch her put it back on the car. This was the late eighties when your spare was full sized. Man she loves telling that story.
Also in the 80s, a friend of mine made his girlfriend watch while he changed his fanbelt, saying it could be useful to know how (she wasn't convinced). Soon after, she was on a roadtrip with a couple of guys and their car overheated. The guys were all utterly clueless, so they thought she was a goddess when she rummaged around and found a spare fanbelt and enough tools to change it. She never told them that it was the ONLY moving part she knew how to fix.
I've learned to check the torque on my lug nuts when picking my car from the tire store. They are always too tight and I've had to go back in and tell them to break the nuts loose, find a torque stick, and do it right. I have had the situation described here happen to me way out in the middle of nowhere late at night and had to wait nearly three hours for roadside assistance to change a tire.
@@Sunflowrrunner Note: The torque stick is just a limiter to prevent overtightening. After the car is on the ground, the lug nuts are still supposed to be properly torqued with an actual torque wrench. - At the roadside (in my experience always at night and in the rain, dangit) putting one on yourself, you just go for "pretty darned tight" and get it done properly later.
The leverage is a good tip. Also, before jacking up the car, loosen the lug nuts (just a quarter turn). They’re easier to turn before you raise the car.
We were driving in Wyoming, I got a flat tire and luckily was next to a rest stop. I had my mother and 2 grandchildren (15 & 9) and a loaded car on a cross country trip. The area was so isolated that USAA couldn’t find anyone to help, so they called the state police and they came out and showed my grandson how to change it. (I couldn’t do it because I am physically disabled) that cop showing up and using it as a teaching moment was truly inspiring. I made sure that he (the cop) was acknowledged for the good that he did.
I always remember Jerry Kraynick. He was the bicycle guru of Pittsburgh. He had a shop full of tools and stands and taught and encouraged people to do their own repairs. Any time I was in his shop and had to use this trick for anything he would shout out "My man Archimedes!"
60 year old man here...a cheater bar is a wonderful thing to have and not just fie females. I know I don't have the strength that I used to and a cheater bar can give one that extra bit of oomph.
Former mechanic here - Solid advice, also throw a can of penetrating oil in the trunk for this and a bunch of other reasons Also: Crazy weird, but sometimes useful advice, if they still won't budge, try tightening them just a little bit first
I love the bit of advice that said, "If something should move, but doesn't, use WD-40. If something moves, but it shouldn't, use duct tape to keep it in place.''
There used to be a penetrating oil specifically for removing nuts in a situation like this. It was called, “Nuts Off!” As twelve year olds we thought that was the funniest thing ever.
The first time I changed my tire I learned this lesson from a man who stopped to help me: LOOSEN THE LUG NUTS WHILE THE TIRE IS ON THE GROUND. I had jacked it up first. Oops!!! I knew better for the 2nd time when I stopped to help an older woman with a flat tire.
I'm thankful my stepdad taught me the tactic you're describing before I left for college in 1969. This is the sort of thing that should be taught as a life skill in high school now that actually useful things like nutrition and cooking, financial management, basic home repairs, etc., are being taught to young women instead of how to bake muffins and sew a frilly apron from scratch. Thanks, Beau.
Got a 4-way cross lug nut wrench from my grandfather when I was young and he was teaching me to change a tire. He didn't want his granddaughter caught unprepared. 🥰
@tommcallister7647 so there was some discourse a while back about women. Would they rather see a bear or a man in the woods if they were alone. Alot of women said bear. And alot of "very secure" men went to the internet to inadvertently prove why women were choosing the bear. Via harassment of women. Sorry if this is rambling. But I hope it helps.
I taught my daughter and son both how to change a tire. My daughter had to do it in the rain, in the dark, wearing good clothes and with her grandmother in the car. She skinned her knuckles, and I'm sure used some of the language her truck driving dad (me) probably taught her as well. 😂 A power company employee stopped and helped after she was about half done. He was greatly appreciated!
I know how to change a tire. My mom taught me. But thank you for this advice. I have had to do the jumping before to loosen a very tight lug nut. Defiling the idea of keeping a pipe nearby. And you had me chuckling at: “You’re the reason they choose the bear” comment. So true.
@livenhfree A couple months ago, there was an online poll directed at women asking whether they'd prefer to encounter a man in the woods, or a bear. Men performed poorly.
Thank you,Beau, for being the wise uncle, that a lot of people never had, but desperately need(ed) in their lives. You and the crew shining light on this confusing and scary world and making it not so scary.
Agreed--and thanks for mentioning and giving credit to Beau's crew. We only see one face so far, but there's clearly a great team making this channel happen.
Thanks for the extra tip, Beau! I was so proud of my 16-year-old kid who helped 2 different sets of stranded motorists change a flat tire on their vehicles last week. The first was a couple of girls in their early 20s who had gotten in a small fender-bender and popped a tire, and neither one knew how to change it, so my daughter (along with a small assist from mom) changed it for them. The next one was a couple of guys at a hiking trailhead and she came upon them right after they attempted to jack up their car but had forgotten to put the parking brake on, so the car had fallen off the jack and broken the jack, so she offered up our jack and her know-how to get the tire successfully changed. It’s a great skill to have. 😊
My mom still tells the story of when we were driving through Tahoe in winter on super slick snowy roads and I (a high school girl) had to help a car full of college guys put chains on their tires.
Yeah the parking break so here's a fun one to remember when you're changing the breaks on your own. Don't do it on an incline. Turns out when your breaks are poor and you're jacking up one of the back wheel, might be a good idea to put in a block or something in front, so it doesn't roll of the jack, coz remember, at least on older stick shift models the parking break only applies to the back wheel (which is why we used to do those fun and stupid hand-brake turns).
Thanks. Beau &. Beau Team! I am a 67 year old female with a 4-cross lug wrench, and can of WD- 40. I never heard about a cheater bar being used to change a tire. I have had like 6 flats in my day! I changed 4 of them I did have to call friends a couple of times when the mechanics had used impact wrenches instead of hand tightening the lug nuts. The one friend was a burly wrestler guy. He had to jump on the wrench like 4 times before he eventually got it loose. Thanks for this new addition to my tire change equipment & repertoire!! Best to all!!
As a dad, seeing you being dad to your subscribers, the way I try to be a dad to my kid's friends who don't have a dad around, warms my heart. Thanks Beau!
... and wait for the dude in the hardware store to pick his jaw off the floor. "Like, you know what a cheater is, ma'am?" Guys still look at you weird if you know anything vernacular about tools.
@@eternalfizzer Truth! I've run into that doing some mechanical work on my own cars. I actually enjoy it, unless it involves sorting out nasty electronic bugbears. 😸
The last time I stopped to assist a woman with a flat, as I was approaching, she came to me with the lug wrench in her hand and asked "what the fuck do you want?" I just said, "I was gonna offer to help, but it looks like you got it covered" and turned around and walked back to my car. I have always admired that gal.
I don't look like a friendly person (unintentional, but true), so if I get out of my car to help a woman at night, I always go wide from my car so she can see me coming the whole time, and I ask of she'd like a hand before I'm anywhere near her. If she says no, I'm back in my own car before I was ever even within ~20' of her.
It was kind of you to help, but we can't tell by looking at someone whether they're a gentleman or a monster. It's sadly safer to assume the latter, so I totally understand her reaction. You responded with grace. ❤
I am a small-medium sized woman, and growing up in a rural area has meant that when I see a vehicle pulled over at night on a back road, I stop to ask if everything is okay. I'm not foolhardy, the doors are locked the window is cracked and the transmission stays engaged in D or 1. Invariably they already have help on the way, but they thank me for stopping.
@@RevShifty One of my favorite authors has a fantasy series in which the main characters are paladins whose God has died and they are currently investigating a several book mystery. Each book also has a romantic subplot and I loved the one where the really big guy is just kind of automatically running through all the steps he takes to make sure the heroine doesn't feel in danger at the beginning. She is a captive transferred to his party as a peace offering after he kills the heir who attacked him - a complicated situation explained beautifully to kick everything off. And then later, he's including all these little things to make sure she is not pressured into a relationship with him. So she continues to feel that her ability to track the other kidnapped members of her order is not dependent on doing "favors" for him that she wouldn't otherwise do. The author's a dab hand at snarky dialogue and thoughts.
it is something I always forget so im glad Beau always brings it up, if there is a video of someone struggling that means that theres someone filming and not helping, people love making talking points about videos about how (insert marginalized group) can't do a thing when really all those people are saying is that if someone needed help they would be off to the side filming
It is also appropriate when discussing the titles of high-quality TV shows, even if the title was likely chosen based on the metaphorical meaning of the word.
This is Not a silly video. The information in it can and will be very useful in this kind of situation. I keep that kind of tube in my car for that exact same reason. Not only am I female, but I am also old. 😊
It's nice to take a breath between foiling fascism and not declaring war, I definitely agree. But being stuck on the side of some road alone - there are horrifying movies about that too.
@@shawnr771 Truth! Had a good laugh with that. I've used YT vids to help me with a number of car issues and phone repairs. Not to mention finding sound information on foreign policy and politics from an insightful guy in shed who helps other guys not get passed over for the bear. 🖖😸🍀 Edit: I can't write today, lol.
Excellent advice. One important addition. Loosen the lug nuts first, before you raise the car. This is more stable. They can all be cracked loose safely before raising the car. Other things you can do if you are worried about this: Use your pipe to loosen the lugnuts one at a time in your driveway, and tighten them up as tight as you can using just the lug wrench. Then you know they aren't tighter than the pipe can loosen (check them again in ~50 miles to make sure they are still tight). Because you only ever have one loose at a time, you can do all this on the ground. Re-do this if you have any work done that require the mechanic remove the wheels as a lot of them just ram the lug nuts on as tight as they can with an impact gun. If you live in places that uses road salt. Buy some anti-sieze at an auto parts store, remove each lug nut, smear a little on the threads of the exposed lug threads and tighten the lug nuts back on. This will prevent them from rusting in place. For extra security, remove each wheel and smear it (very thinly!) on the face of the brakes between the lug nuts (don't need to go out to the edge, just that area immediately between them) and on the outer surface of the raised center hub where it meets the surface the wheel sits on. This will keep the wheel from sticking to the brake/hub. If the wheel is already stuck, turn away from it and donkey kick it where the wheel meets the tire, you can get more force and you are hitting with the sole of your foot and not your toes. If that doesn't work, put the lug nuts back on loosely, jack the car down and drive it slowly forward or back swerving a little. At some point you will here a loud clunk of the wheel popping free. Then jack it back up and remove the lug nuts and wheel. I am a 6ft 200+ lb cis guy who has worked on cars his whole life. Getting lug nuts loose and wheels off is sometimes challenging for me. Any guy who claims this is a "weak women" thing is a moron and probably has never changed a tire in his life or he'd know to shut his mouth.
The delivery of your message "now you have a pipe" combined with a sweet but entertained chuckle is priceless. This is exactly how my husband instructs and calms myself and my daughter's fears.💞
I showed my son on the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere, in the dark. It was a lot like that scene in "A Christmas Story" but with more cursing than Ralphie. Yeah, take your child/children outside and give them a primer.
When I got my first car my dad made me take a rear tire off and put it back on, after showing me how to attach jumper cables to the battery, before giving me the keys.
Decades ago, my wife (then, she was my girlfriend) was on a day trip with several of our friends (three young men and her). They got a flat tire on the highway, between Austin and San Antonio. Dave pulled over and said, "I guess we'll have to walk to the next exit and find a phone." That generated this conversation: My wife: "Don't you have a spare?" Dave: "You mean, like a tire? I don't know." My wife: "Open your trunk." It turns out, not a single one of these young men knew how change a tire, so my wife did it. I have to say, I was rather disappointed that my buddies couldn't do it, but was even more proud that my wife got them back up and running.
"now you have a pipe"... made me chuckle. I love it. Thank you for taking this young ladies fear seriously and providing a real solution. Stuff happens and we need to be prepared. My Dad made sure I knew how to change a tire many, many years ago :)
I didn't think I'd ever be happy to see a video about tricks to remove a lug nut (always known about how to remove them). But compared to all the other videos about a certain 150+ kg nut, this video was a breath of fresh air.
For those who seem to have bad luck with tires (like me), a 2 ton hydraulic trolley jack and an 8 inch wide board long enough to sit the jack on will ease your mind a great deal. When on soft ground or gravel, jacks have a tendency to sink into the ground and become uneven, resulting in accidents. That's when the board comes in handy. "2 ton hydraulic jack" may sound big and intimidating to someone who doesn't know much about cars, but they're so much easier and safer than the scissor jacks that normally come with cars. And you can find them for less than 40 or 50 dollars in most cases. They're worth every penny.
I was very blessed to have parents who were knowledgeable and willing to teach me about cars. I've been in the situation multiple times where I was the only person in a very large group of people who knew how to change a tire, jump a car, check why a car was overheating, etc. If you weren't as lucky as I there are loads of resources online! It's always best to research these things before you need them. Never be ashamed that you don't know, you were never taught and that is not a failure on your part.
On my list of things children should be taught, this is number three. First, how to swim. Second, how to fall without breaking your wrist. Third, how to change a tire and jump-start a car.
As a former auto mechanic, all I can say is my AAA membership is the best use of $100 that I spend every year. Flat tire, out of gas, no start, lock out - they do it all.
True, but if conditions are bad (heavy rain, sleet, snow storm, heavy fog (other motorists can't see you kneeling next to the car)), you may be stuck waiting for them for a couple of hours (I was once stuck in 5F with heavy wind and snow for two hours waiting for them to come). If it's possible to get the car going yourself, that's always preferable
I add it to my car insurance for much less than that. I have to pay at roadside with credit card but insurance reimburses. I think it is about ten dollar for six months.
I currently live in Florida and was laughed at for having that same stuff in the trunk of my car! Until a co-worker needed his car jumped due to a dead battery. Add a tarp and blanket.
During her university years, my daughter once 'saved' a bunch of her piers by helping them to change a flat tire, because THE GUYS DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
I love your emergency preparedness videos. I'm glad you added this one to that playlist. Thank you for answering people's questions and being kind about it. Not everyone had someone in their life who could teach them these things (or were willing to).
When I got my first car my dad made sure I knew how to change a tire, do basic maintenance like oil changes, and loaded the trunk with a socket set, a shovel, a bag of kitty litter, and long pipe, among other things. He never mentioned that I might have trouble doing something - instead he gave me the skills and tools to overcome them if needed.
62 years old, my father insisted I learn to change a tire before I was allowed to get my license; I've had two occasions where I was grateful that he had. After the second time I got AAA and have gladly paid that $$ for over 30 years. Get the pipe too, it never hurts to have something that can do double duty.
I'm a 240 pound man who has changed literally hundreds of tires. I've been stuck on the side of the road waiting for AAA to come with a pneumatic wrench to break lug nuts free.
Some shops just tighten them way too far, and if you don't have the means to get proper leverage the only way to remove them is another pneumatic wrench. So unless you expect everybody to drive around with a pneumatic wrench and an air compressor, why laugh at anybody with that problem?
Because they were members of the He Man Woman Haters Club? (Google Little Rascals.)
(Young guy + air wrench) x Nascar on TV = #!@$??>*&!
And some shops don't set the wheel on the hub before tightening the lugs down, causing all kinds of havoc when you're going out of state to see your grandfather the next day.
Also sometimes the wheel gets rusted, and it's gonna be a lot harder.
Because ignorance + it plays to their sexist biases and makes them feel superior.
I do think there needs to be a larger discussion about the reason most women are terrified to be stranded on the side of the road, though.
I appreciate the fact that Beau took the time to highlight the multifunctional benefits to the pipe fulcrum. It's not just for stubborn nuts! It's also for stubborn nuts!
🤣 LMAO
😅😅😂😂😂😊❤
Well played.
Can also use the pipe to help make a very basic survival tent if you are stranded and need to create some shade/protection from the elements without being in the car.
Just plant the pipe (hopefully it is about 3-4 feet) in some dirt, drape a tarp over it, and at least you have something.
I think every man reading this just winced and crossed his legs at the same time!
At the first mention of pipe, I said "now you have leverage AND a weapon". I cackled the last time it was mentioned.
I bet we'd all appreciate more safety tips for when you aren't lucky enough to run into the bear.
That was my first thought! I have a trucker's friend in the well next to the drivers seat. I take a lot of road trips.
“You all are the reason they choose the bear” gave me my first laugh out loud moment in a long time. Thank you!
Hi. Could someone please explain " the bear" comment? I don't get it
Thanks in advance!! Best to all!!
@@elizabethhiebert1859 A couple of months ago there was a Tiktok video about which you would rather encounter while hiking alone in the woods, a man or a bear?
I can't speak to the original video because I never saw it, what I started seeing on YT were response videos by women, stating that they would choose the bear. It was commentary on men in general being dangerous to women.
Then the next wave of videos were by men being angry that women would rather take a chance with a bear than with a random man, stupid misandrist women! Not all men! RAWR
"Y'all are why they choose the bear."
@@heidim7732 Ah! Thanks! And yes, the bear is a safer bet.
Yeah, as a man, I'd also prefer to run into a bear than another man. The bear has more predictable behavior and is generally easy to scare away if you came prepared.
@@heidim7732 OOHHhhh!! Thank you so much @Heidi7732!! I really appreciate the explanation!
Well I have had more nice men stop to help me.
I did have one ( genuinely ) well intentioned man manage to drop a wing nut down my carburetor.... (causing the throttle to reach 80+ mph before I figured out how to stop the car safely).
And I have had a much smaller number ... like 3 be jerks to me. One was a tow truck driver who told me my car would explode if my muffler was broken, so to avoid THAT problem I really needed him to tow my car (for big $$). The other tow truck driver charged me $84.00 to tow my car 10 feet (after hours, like at 9 pm at night).
So most men have been on to me. But there are likely reasons for that.
Best to all!!
There is no shame in not knowing how to do something, especially if you haven’t been taught.
There is a lot of shame in mocking someone, rather than helping them.
*On that note:*
PSA: Also, "Lefty loose-y": If you're looking at the center, the top spins left. AKA "counter-clockwise," the opposite of how clock hands spin. Sucks when you're stressed and get it backwards and "righty tight-y" the thing on there even harder.
If you have trouble with left and right because you're dyslexic or whatever, if you're sitting in the car and facing forward, the steering wheel is on the left side of the car. Just pretend the nuts are tiny steering wheels and you're turning the top towards the driver's side. (Please reverse this in countries with right hand drive vehicles.)
The 'shame' aspect goes to the "opening a can" video the writer mentioned. It's a classic and can be found by searching this channel for that phrase.
@@I.m-Me Oh yeah. That helped me in so many situations. When turning something takes a lot of effort, it definitely helps to know if your efforts are loosening or tightening it, since both will feel about the same at first.
Re: lefty loose-y etc-- my best friend from high school (that's 52 YEARS AGO -gad, I'm old!) taught me the right hand rule, which I find more graphic. Take right hand , curl fingers & stick out your thumb. Thumb indicates which way you want fastener to travel and fingers show which way to turn tool. This works admirably while, for example, loosening a bolt while you're under a car late at night.
Disclaimer: it fails miserably if you're tired, think "right hand rule" and use your left hand. Fact!
There’s a difference between ignorance and stupidity. Ignorance doesn’t mean incapable, it means you haven’t been taught/exposed to yet. Never be afraid of showing your ignorance on a topic as long as you’re willing to learn.
A "cheater bar/pipe" is what Beau described. Most farmers, mechanics, and mechanical contractors use them. Even as big burly guys.
Surprisingly derogatory, I love it! Working as a small local mechanic in the northeast (my late teens), it was a "breaker bar", and one of the most revered tools in the shop.
I used these all the time when I was in the military.
@@socalodeas breaker bar and a cheater bar are two very different things.
And even tire guys. My 1st boyfriend got stuck running his dad's tire shop when the ole man fell off the wagon, which was often. I digress, ugh. 💙✊
An aircraft mechanic once showed me the illustrated procedure for changing propellers on some airplanes during WWII. The pipe for their cheater bar was longer than people are tall, and they would sit several people on the bar to tighten those bolts and nuts.
Taught my daughter how to change a tire with a cheater bar, to drive a stick shift and swing a bat or pipe effectively.
She called a few weeks ago to tell me that she finally used the pipe to change a tire. Impressing both my step granddaughter and the loud mouth that was manplaining what she needed to do(call someone).
Have a good week
That's a great story! I hope she never has to swing a bat or pipe but if it comes to that it sounds likr she'll be fine.
@@LogoticYou're a good dad (or mom). Your daughter will NOT need to choose the bear. And that's better for all of us.
I did the same. She was shifting gears at 4 could reach pedals at 8.
My dad showed me how to change a tire, but not the bit about the cheater bar. I don't suppose it occurred to him I might not be able to generate as much torq as he could.
@@slreneau2 Dad, but she makes a great casserole too
'now you have a pipe...' you are a hero Mr. Beau.
I was fortunate to have a dad that taught me a bunch of basic maintenance for the car, including how to change a tire. About 26-27 years ago I got a flat late at night coming home from visiting my husband in the hospital. It was in a part of town where there were a lot of businesses so I limped into a well lit grocery store parking lot to change the tire. I had a full sized spare and a good jack. I could not get the 3rd lugnut to break free no matter what I did. Spraying it with WD40 and standing on the tire iron wasn't working. An older gentleman pulled up and asked if I needed assistance. I can change the tire but I can't get the lugnut off. He looks at the car, confirms the make, model and year with me then says, "That's probably an anti-theift nut. There should be an adapter with the kit." He got out of the car with a mag light, helps me locate said adapter. It just slips into the tire iron and fits over the one weird shaped nut and then I had no trouble getting the nut off. He hung around, holding the flashlight so I could easily see what I was doing as I changed the tire. He said he knew I knew what I was doing when he drove by early but saw I was having trouble when he came back by and figured that the weird nut was the problem. That was something my dad hadn't told me about. He went on to say he was a mechanic and this anti-theif lugnut was a fairly new thing on some cars, mine being one of those. He suggested that I just go buy 4 compatible nuts and replace the weird ones this wouldn't be a problem. He also said my dad had done a good job raising a smart woman. He was a complete gentleman, helpful but never condescending.
Nice story: thank you for sharing it
Beau, you continue to surprise and delight me. I'm a boomer lady who was a mechanic in the USAF in the '80s. I remember my dad asking me when was I going to get a 'girl job'? I learned leverage and other tricks to get the job done along the way. I still have a pipe in my shed, about 3 foot long, that I use as a lever exactly as you described. I love how you jump right in there to advise these young ladies. You truly are the best! And you can do this, ladies! Oh, and one more thing... break the lug nuts before you lift the vehicle.
That last one! I've forgotten that a couple of times.
Also, make sure the lugs are tightened down. I rotated my own tires once, and I guess my ADHD self must not have done that on all four wheels. I made a Hollywood stunt level stop in front of a friend's house with the wheels coming off and rolling down the street ahead of me.
If only someone had their phone out!
Also, before you jack the car up, loosen each lug nut ¼ turn, to get it started.
Ooh, great tip!
Best advice yet, it can make life much easier!
YES!!! One by one, loosen each nut, every nut, doesn't cost much more time and will make you swear a lot less in the end.
100%
My dad always said "make sure you crack your nuts first". Being told this as a teenage boy....made it stick.
I graduated high school in 1984. My American History teacher that year was born in 1904. When the issue of women being weaker came up in class, he stood before us and said: I had my mother for almost 60 years. I've had my wife for over 50 years. I have three daughters and several granddaughters. Women are stronger than men... from the neck up. -- Women are more resourceful than men. Men look at the world in terms of brute strength. Women look for alternatives.
Wise teacher!
I was a struggling single mother for a long time. I owned my own house (well, me and the bank!) and when shit broke, I wasn't always able to just call someone to repair it. I fixed my dishwasher one night. It was just a slide-on connector. I figured, I can try and I might get it fixed and save $300. Or I might not be able to fix it. But if I didn't try, I wouldn't know if I was wasting grocery/gas/utility money. It worked until the day I moved out. About 6-7 years.
I agree. Wholeheartedly agree. We are resourceful. We very often, have to be.
Being more resourceful and looking for alternatives is not being stronger. It's being more flexible. There's a big difference. So your teacher was wrong.
@@romani8494 that depends on your definition of strong.
@@romani8494If you're referring to physical strength, fine - but you're using a very narrow definition, when the context clearly implies something else
very sexist (you know, it goes both ways)
As someone who ran a roadside assistance company, I love this video.
It always amazed me how many times men didn't have a clue what to do when they got a flat and would either just stay in the car or stand away from me on their phone. Many said that they "didn't need to know, that's why they bought AAA coverage." They didn't care to learn, but the women they were with usually wanted to learn and would watch everything I did, so I'd explain it to them the best I could, step by step.
I'm remembering seven years ago, I was pregnant AND had twin toddlers in tow. I changed a tire in broad daylight at a gas station. So many people drove by, slowed down, parked, got gas, etc. People seemed more interested in me as a spectacle - trying to entertain two toddlers while holding my pregnant belly and kicking the wrench to loosen the lug - instead of even considering that I might need help. I was able to handle it myself, but the fact that so many people saw me and never spoke a word to me, still disheartens me to this day.
Thank you for the pipe advice.
Go Team Bear! LOL.
"y'all are the reason they choose the bear." Is perhaps my new favorite put down/critique.
As an electrician, I've said that to a lot of guys who fit the critique onsite lol
Just what I was going to reply! 😂
Good morning.
Can you please explain this reference to a non-english-native-speaker.
I thought i knew english pretty well, but i dont know this.
@Thufir42 Someone posed a hypothetical question online asking women if they'd rather be stuck in a forest with a man or a bear.
Many of us said we'd prefer the bear.
@@annaanderson4197 Specifically a random man we didn't know.
And, yeah, I'd choose the bear. I only have to get away from it once.
"y'all are the reason...." that ending.... couldn't have said it better myself.
😂😂😂😂Yep!
I think a great deal to this day about the four guys at my college who stopped what they were doing when they saw my car was stuck in a snow drift. They didn’t stop to discuss it; they instantly ran over and helped push my car free. No joking, no picture-taking. Just sympathy and help.
Those kinds of people are still around. Last winter we had a couple people stop and help us push my brother-in-law's Mustang out of a snowy curb. Middle of the night, downtown Denver. Nice snowstorm.
And they aren't the reason women choose the bear.
I respect those picture taking... No videos way to go and post video when how great wonderful they are lol Just do it and be nice😊
When guys wonder what it means to be a man...
My car died on a slight incline on a busy 6 lane road. Luckily someone running came over and pushed me up the hill so I could coast to a better place to stop.
Beau, this video, this subject matter, I don't think i can render more respect for this. You are one of the most circumspect civil advisors in modern history and i think you deserve a Congressional Medal of Freedom.
I'm a guy that grew up without a dad, so I've learned a lot from my friends and UA-cam how to videos. We all need help, regardless of gender. Thanks for showing this for all the people that might need this information.
I've seen four guys in their twenties struggle to change a tire. I keep a four-way in my car and a hydraulic jack.
New cars don't come with four ways, which are Lifesavers. Then I've stuck a wrench into The four-way, and then jump on that when The nut is too tight. That happened once or twice.
A drop or two of lubricant oil before trying to remove them nuts will help too.
And works great for plumbing fixtures too.
I'm just like you. If I don't learn something new everyday... I feel like I wasted the day. ☮️
I grew up with a father who wasn’t handy. He was a white collar worker whose attitude towards manual labor was “it’s not an effective use of my time.”
Same difference, really.
I was laughing at Beau explaining how levers work, than I remembered I made an entire career out of telling people to "Turn it off and tern it back on again"
Leverage. As a single woman, leverage is your best friend.
This is why i have that jar opener thingy with the teeth and a longer handle. 🤓
My adult daughter just didn't have enough upper body strength to break the lug nuts free when I taught her to change a tire & originally thought about giving her a metal pipe to use for leverage but upon reflection I just paid for a AAA membership for her .. problem solved
Leverage is your friend in so many ways
@@jeffanon1772 - However, the problem is NOT solved when there is not an AAA associated company available or when there is no service that does roadside repairs. Giving your daughter the metal pipe would solve the problem regardless of the time or day or location.
I am 5'6" and 118 pounds. I used to move all my own furniture (including refrigerator and armoire) using leverage. Thank you to my grandpa for teaching me how physics works...Also, you can use the same principle inherent in a travois to move things that are too heavy for female muscles.
Additional context. Please do not buy an aluminum pipe. You want galvanized steel piping for this to be effective you now have a fulcrum and a weapon.
Also, if you have one nut on each tire that looks a little different then it is probably a locking one and there should be a “key” that fits over it in your vehicle somewhere. (know where it is before you need it!)
I would go further and say pvc-coated rigid metal conduit.
Caveat: if the person in question isn't strong enough to turn the lug wrench, while adding a galvanized steel pipe increases leverage, the added weight might be an impediment. Everyone is different, and only you can determine if you can work with a heavier pipe. Also, you don't need a 6 foot length of pipe. Two feet almost always provides more than enough torque to break any stuck lug nut. Compare samples before buying
This way, unlike the baseball bat, you don't have to toss a ball and mitt in the car for your defense attorney to reference.
Also a long handled flathead screwdriver (with an edge), useful tools that second as weapons
I guess I got lucky, I had this happen after work one day. I was 8 months pregnant and couldn't get it to budge. I was in tears! Standing on the side of a highway, late at night. I don't know the older gentleman who stopped to help me, never seen him before or after that day, but damn he has no idea how many times I thought of him over the years. I'm forever grateful to him for just helping a stranger. My daughter is in her 20's now.
And this is one of the many reasons why I appreciate you and your videos Beau. Practical, sensible advice through and through. Thanks for the being the internet's Dad 😊
Thank you Beau. I’m an old woman, have changed a few tires in my day. Taught a group of teenagers in my driveway one year how to change a flat tire. No shame in using leverage!
A dear friend of mine, who grew up poor in Soviet era Ukraine and who knows about , and has taught me a great many very handy things, refers to this bit of pipe as " The Persuader"
I am a physics teacher, Beau, and I am going to use this example when illustrating the concept of torque. Usually I point out why the handle of a door is as far from the hinges as possible.
This one will make a lifetime impression!
Always good to have 2 lessons in one example :)
A practical demonstration from 'the real world' that doubles as it's own useful tip? You're a great teacher.
Why have I never connected Door handles and torque before?
@@lindensalter6713 Because the handle is placed where it is in order to operate the _latch_ , it has nothing to do with the hinges.
Beau, you're like the dad a lot of people needed
This man is a national treasure and must be protected at all costs.
May I add, make sure the ends of the pipe are de-burred and clean, nothing like getting a flat AND a metal sliver stuck in your hand.
As a man who didnt know this information, super useful for me too! Sharing information and being helpful in gemeral is something we should aspire to.
Check out the comment sections. There are lots of helpful tips too. The Beau Peeps are AWESOME!
I have learned quite a lot in the comments section.
These days many people have battery powered impact wrenches.
My friend has a HART from Walmart. He uses it on his farm trailers all the time. Farmers and Ranchers constantly get flats.
Now you have a pipe!
Might come in handy.....
Great throwaway line.
A tire iron/ lug wrench isn't bad to have handy, either
It's my mom who taught me how to change a tire. Thanks for the useful info, Beau! Definitely a good use of science, for any gender.
As a 40+ year auto tech, couldn't have explained the benefits of the extension of leverage better than this... Thank you Beau... Your existence gives me/us hope for the future...
I was once that gal on the side of the road. I knew how to change a tire, but the nuts would not budge. A kind UPS driver helped me, and he explained that my power is in my legs. Squat down, grab the bar with locked straight arms, and use your leg strength to pull the bar up. This will apply far more force than your entire body weight can, even with bouncing.
Add in a 2ft length of 2x4 in your trunk. It has lots of uses, like as a wheel chuck to keep the car from rolling while it's up on the jack. But it's also good for whacking things with minimal damage. Sometimes it's road grime or rust in the threads that are keeping the nuts from moving, and a few whacks on the nut with the 2x4 can break that bond. Also, crack the nuts before you raise the car up on the jack so you are not fighting the wheel spinning. And give them a last tighten when the car is down for the same reason.
And finally, if you take your car in for tire work, always crack the nuts yourself before leaving the mechanic. The power tools they use to tighten the nuts can make them too tight for humans to loosen. If you can't crack them at the mechanic, you won't be able to crack them on the side of the road. Make them crack them for you and then re-tighten the nuts yourself.
I live in NZ. Our recent former Prime Minister took on the role at 37. Jacinda Ardern was the youngest woman ever to take on the top role national leadership. World wide. I'm convinced she was the best leader our country had in my life time. Clear, courageous, compassionate. I'm 69 and male.
I'm a kiwi too.
She was a better leader than the current guy, I agree.
Congratulations NZ on losing hardly anyone at all to COVID. We did envy you.
Agreed my friend.
I was always impressed by her.
She was also very good on Gun Control after a Mass shooting!. Mad props to her for that!.
Yes. The videographers are the kind of men that make women choose the bear. Verifiably true.
Have not seen the video in question. Do we know the videographers were male? Did they provide a running commentary while filming the three women?
About bears vs. men...it's pretty easy to avoid bears in daily life if you don't live in deep woods. It's impossible to avoid men unless you *do* live deep in the woods and stay there. I'm 65, have never seen a bear outside of a zoo, but I've had many bad/scary encounters with men, at work, at home, in daily life, and while driving. Never had a problem with a bear, ever.
@@retriever19golden55 The viral question posed on the internet was: which would you rather face alone in the woods: a (random unknown) man or a bear? So the assumption is that you are encountering one or the other., not factoring in the unlikelihood of seeing a bear. Otherwise, I agree with you. Men can be trustworthy or very much not. The ambiguity is what makes them more dangerous, as you might let your guard down with a man and get badly hurt, raped, or ingeniously and sadistically murdered. Bears are less potentially malicious and easier to evade on sight.
@@serendipityshopnyc It would be safe to assume so, judging by the belittling remarks from men. The whole point of the meme is to draw awareness to women safety issues at home and work.
@@retriever19golden55 I've been within 20 feet of adolescent black bears a handful of times. Back bears aren't aggressive, so unless it's mother is hiding close by (always keep your eyes peeled) or it visibly has rabies, just stand pretty still until it's done snarfling for food scents and it'll usually wander off on its own.
They don't want anything to do with you, and I've had multiple dogs just chase them off the property entirely (but I mean things like Pyrs and Neapolitan mastiffs, loud and conditionally very aggressive dogs with super beefy barks; I don't really consider anything under 100lbs an actual dog, personally)
Something I did in the first month we were married was teach my wife how to change a tire. She tells me that when she got a flat tire, she was so confident she could handle it, she got the tire change while wearing her heels and turning down offers of help. To ensure I knew how confident she was, she had the replacement tire put in the trunk, drove it home and made me watch her put it back on the car. This was the late eighties when your spare was full sized. Man she loves telling that story.
Also in the 80s, a friend of mine made his girlfriend watch while he changed his fanbelt, saying it could be useful to know how (she wasn't convinced). Soon after, she was on a roadtrip with a couple of guys and their car overheated. The guys were all utterly clueless, so they thought she was a goddess when she rummaged around and found a spare fanbelt and enough tools to change it. She never told them that it was the ONLY moving part she knew how to fix.
The "y'all are the reason they choose the bear" at the end was such a break in composure. I loved it.
One thing I like about this channel, it's not just politics.
It used to be about so many things ... And then Trump came along and ruined *everything* 😡😡🤬
@@FinalMeep It's going to about a lot more than politics now: the Beau team has big plans
“Now you have a pipe.” Thanks Beau.
I had a friend who worked at a tire store. One thing to remember never piss off the people at the tire store. All of your lug nuts will be stuck.
I've learned to check the torque on my lug nuts when picking my car from the tire store. They are always too tight and I've had to go back in and tell them to break the nuts loose, find a torque stick, and do it right. I have had the situation described here happen to me way out in the middle of nowhere late at night and had to wait nearly three hours for roadside assistance to change a tire.
Tell them up front, and make them show you before you pay them.
@@Sunflowrrunner Note: The torque stick is just a limiter to prevent overtightening.
After the car is on the ground, the lug nuts are still supposed to be properly torqued with an actual torque wrench.
-
At the roadside (in my experience always at night and in the rain, dangit) putting one on yourself, you just go for "pretty darned tight" and get it done properly later.
Another reason to pick the bear. Bears aren't so petty they'll put you in a potentially life threatening situation because you weren't knob polishing.
The leverage is a good tip.
Also, before jacking up the car, loosen the lug nuts (just a quarter turn). They’re easier to turn before you raise the car.
And do remember the reverse when you're done - tighten the nuts an extra bit after removing the jack.
We were driving in Wyoming, I got a flat tire and luckily was next to a rest stop. I had my mother and 2 grandchildren (15 & 9) and a loaded car on a cross country trip. The area was so isolated that USAA couldn’t find anyone to help, so they called the state police and they came out and showed my grandson how to change it. (I couldn’t do it because I am physically disabled) that cop showing up and using it as a teaching moment was truly inspiring. I made sure that he (the cop) was acknowledged for the good that he did.
I always remember Jerry Kraynick. He was the bicycle guru of Pittsburgh. He had a shop full of tools and stands and taught and encouraged people to do their own repairs.
Any time I was in his shop and had to use this trick for anything he would shout out "My man Archimedes!"
60 year old man here...a cheater bar is a wonderful thing to have and not just fie females. I know I don't have the strength that I used to and a cheater bar can give one that extra bit of oomph.
Also lets all of us use force that's in the controllable range, should something break or suddenly let go. Most mechanics' scars are self-inflicted.
Agreed. I think I ought to get one.
“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.”
Archimedes 😊
Yeah, not so bright was he?
He forgot the space suit.
Archimedes is an OG
One car I had about ten years ago, I needed about a four foot cheater to get the lug bolts off.
Won't we roll off when someone does that?
Former mechanic here - Solid advice, also throw a can of penetrating oil in the trunk for this and a bunch of other reasons
Also: Crazy weird, but sometimes useful advice, if they still won't budge, try tightening them just a little bit first
I love the bit of advice that said, "If something should move, but doesn't, use WD-40.
If something moves, but it shouldn't, use duct tape to keep it in place.''
@@wolfe6220You get that from Red Green?
@@wolfe6220 Duct tape - the tape that does everything poorly lol
There used to be a penetrating oil specifically for removing nuts in a situation like this. It was called, “Nuts Off!” As twelve year olds we thought that was the funniest thing ever.
Did you used to use a torque wrench to tighten tires/wheels to the vehicles you serviced by chance?
The first time I changed my tire I learned this lesson from a man who stopped to help me: LOOSEN THE LUG NUTS WHILE THE TIRE IS ON THE GROUND. I had jacked it up first. Oops!!! I knew better for the 2nd time when I stopped to help an older woman with a flat tire.
I'm thankful my stepdad taught me the tactic you're describing before I left for college in 1969. This is the sort of thing that should be taught as a life skill in high school now that actually useful things like nutrition and cooking, financial management, basic home repairs, etc., are being taught to young women instead of how to bake muffins and sew a frilly apron from scratch. Thanks, Beau.
Got a 4-way cross lug nut wrench from my grandfather when I was young and he was teaching me to change a tire. He didn't want his granddaughter caught unprepared. 🥰
Keep it safe. They’re precious.
"Y'all are the reason they choose the bear."
Outstanding.
We rest our case!
Yep
Please explain this one.
@tommcallister7647 so there was some discourse a while back about women. Would they rather see a bear or a man in the woods if they were alone.
Alot of women said bear. And alot of "very secure" men went to the internet to inadvertently prove why women were choosing the bear. Via harassment of women.
Sorry if this is rambling. But I hope it helps.
@@boblukasik323 thanks, I did not know this either.
Pro-tip: Sometimes rims have a special key lug. Make sure the tool for that wheel is in your glove box.
I taught my daughter and son both how to change a tire. My daughter had to do it in the rain, in the dark, wearing good clothes and with her grandmother in the car. She skinned her knuckles, and I'm sure used some of the language her truck driving dad (me) probably taught her as well. 😂
A power company employee stopped and helped after she was about half done.
He was greatly appreciated!
I know how to change a tire. My mom taught me. But thank you for this advice. I have had to do the jumping before to loosen a very tight lug nut. Defiling the idea of keeping a pipe nearby.
And you had me chuckling at: “You’re the reason they choose the bear” comment. So true.
“Y’all are the reason they chose the bear.” Honest to God, Beau, I adore your videos. 😂
I wish I got that.
This absolutely killed me! 🤣
@@livenhfreeThere was a survey about whether women are more afraid of encountering a man or bear if alone in the woods….
@livenhfree A couple months ago, there was an online poll directed at women asking whether they'd prefer to encounter a man in the woods, or a bear. Men performed poorly.
Meet one bear or one man,women will prefer the BEAR. Bears are predictable, men aren't.
Thank you,Beau, for being the wise uncle, that a lot of people never had, but desperately need(ed) in their lives. You and the crew shining light on this confusing and scary world and making it not so scary.
Agreed--and thanks for mentioning and giving credit to Beau's crew. We only see one face so far, but there's clearly a great team making this channel happen.
❤ 100% ❤
Thank you!
Good guy Beau. You're all of our Big Brother that cares about us.
Caring Dads teach their daughters how to change a tire.
“Give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the world." True now as it ever was. Leverage is handy (in all sorts of contexts.)
Thanks for the extra tip, Beau!
I was so proud of my 16-year-old kid who helped 2 different sets of stranded motorists change a flat tire on their vehicles last week. The first was a couple of girls in their early 20s who had gotten in a small fender-bender and popped a tire, and neither one knew how to change it, so my daughter (along with a small assist from mom) changed it for them. The next one was a couple of guys at a hiking trailhead and she came upon them right after they attempted to jack up their car but had forgotten to put the parking brake on, so the car had fallen off the jack and broken the jack, so she offered up our jack and her know-how to get the tire successfully changed. It’s a great skill to have. 😊
My mom still tells the story of when we were driving through Tahoe in winter on super slick snowy roads and I (a high school girl) had to help a car full of college guys put chains on their tires.
Every teen needs to be taught how to change a tire, check ALL fluids and put tire chains on
Oh and how to properly jump start a car.
Yeah the parking break so here's a fun one to remember when you're changing the breaks on your own. Don't do it on an incline. Turns out when your breaks are poor and you're jacking up one of the back wheel, might be a good idea to put in a block or something in front, so it doesn't roll of the jack, coz remember, at least on older stick shift models the parking break only applies to the back wheel (which is why we used to do those fun and stupid hand-brake turns).
Archimedes is always your friend.
UNLESS, you’re on an invading ship which is trying to attack his town!😂😂😂
Best laugh I've had all week! Absolutely the reason we choose the bear! 😂😂😂
Thanks. Beau &. Beau Team! I am a 67 year old female with a 4-cross lug wrench, and can of WD- 40. I never heard about a cheater bar being used to change a tire. I have had like 6 flats in my day! I changed 4 of them I did have to call friends a couple of times when the mechanics had used impact wrenches instead of hand tightening the lug nuts. The one friend was a burly wrestler guy. He had to jump on the wrench like 4 times before he eventually got it loose. Thanks for this new addition to my tire change equipment & repertoire!! Best to all!!
As a dad, seeing you being dad to your subscribers, the way I try to be a dad to my kid's friends who don't have a dad around, warms my heart. Thanks Beau!
Go to hardware store with wrench- “I need a cheater for this” - and something to knock the camera of the dudes filming me changing a tire into space.
... and wait for the dude in the hardware store to pick his jaw off the floor. "Like, you know what a cheater is, ma'am?" Guys still look at you weird if you know anything vernacular about tools.
Good one!
@@eternalfizzer Truth! I've run into that doing some mechanical work on my own cars.
I actually enjoy it, unless it involves sorting out nasty electronic bugbears. 😸
If long enough, the cheater can do both jobs.
I wonder if a trucker’s winch bar could do the job. Check at the nearest truck stop to see if it works.
The last time I stopped to assist a woman with a flat, as I was approaching, she came to me with the lug wrench in her hand and asked "what the fuck do you want?" I just said, "I was gonna offer to help, but it looks like you got it covered" and turned around and walked back to my car. I have always admired that gal.
I don't look like a friendly person (unintentional, but true), so if I get out of my car to help a woman at night, I always go wide from my car so she can see me coming the whole time, and I ask of she'd like a hand before I'm anywhere near her. If she says no, I'm back in my own car before I was ever even within ~20' of her.
It was kind of you to help, but we can't tell by looking at someone whether they're a gentleman or a monster. It's sadly safer to assume the latter, so I totally understand her reaction. You responded with grace. ❤
Thank you for stopping. I always appreciate the offer of assistance, even if it doesn't seem safe to accept it.
I am a small-medium sized woman, and growing up in a rural area has meant that when I see a vehicle pulled over at night on a back road, I stop to ask if everything is okay. I'm not foolhardy, the doors are locked the window is cracked and the transmission stays engaged in D or 1.
Invariably they already have help on the way, but they thank me for stopping.
@@RevShifty One of my favorite authors has a fantasy series in which the main characters are paladins whose God has died and they are currently investigating a several book mystery. Each book also has a romantic subplot and I loved the one where the really big guy is just kind of automatically running through all the steps he takes to make sure the heroine doesn't feel in danger at the beginning. She is a captive transferred to his party as a peace offering after he kills the heir who attacked him - a complicated situation explained beautifully to kick everything off. And then later, he's including all these little things to make sure she is not pressured into a relationship with him. So she continues to feel that her ability to track the other kidnapped members of her order is not dependent on doing "favors" for him that she wouldn't otherwise do. The author's a dab hand at snarky dialogue and thoughts.
Give me a place to stand and I can move the world. Great job, Beau on explaining this in a very simple, understandable way
Ah, you beat me to it!
A quote usually accredited to Archimedes.
In his youth, my uncle used the principle to lift a car with a flat tire but no jack. Impressed the kids who were with him.
And, give a woman a place to stand & the leverage of social media, and she can indeed move the world!
TheBaken - "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." Archimedes
it is something I always forget so im glad Beau always brings it up,
if there is a video of someone struggling that means that theres someone filming and not helping,
people love making talking points about videos about how (insert marginalized group) can't do a thing
when really all those people are saying is that if someone needed help they would be off to the side filming
"Y'all are the reason they choose the bear" -Zinger!!
And that's the rare proper context for using the word 'leverage'.
Thank you! I sometimes have to work on grantwriting and leverage as a verb just grates on me.
@@johndziak6865 Aren't buzzwords great? :P
@@johndziak6865 even after 67 years of such usage?
It is also appropriate when discussing the titles of high-quality TV shows, even if the title was likely chosen based on the metaphorical meaning of the word.
@@johndziak6865 But 'leverage' _is_ the verb. The noun form is 'lever'.
Finally things are okay enough to do a silly video like this again. Thank god.
Seriously! My mood has been off the past couple weeks due to the political climate. Harris 24
Not a silly video. If you ever need it, you need to know it. I did.
Not silly! It's great advice, speaking as someone that has been there. But I get what you mean.
This is Not a silly video. The information in it can and will be very useful in this kind of situation. I keep that kind of tube in my car for that exact same reason. Not only am I female, but I am also old. 😊
It's nice to take a breath between foiling fascism and not declaring war, I definitely agree. But being stuck on the side of some road alone - there are horrifying movies about that too.
never underestimate the power of a youtube tutorial video when you are in an unexpected situation.
And you want to find out how to really do it.
Read the comments.
@@shawnr771 Truth! Had a good laugh with that. I've used YT vids to help me with a number of car issues and phone repairs. Not to mention finding sound information on foreign policy and politics from an insightful guy in shed who helps other guys not get passed over for the bear. 🖖😸🍀
Edit: I can't write today, lol.
Excellent advice. One important addition. Loosen the lug nuts first, before you raise the car. This is more stable. They can all be cracked loose safely before raising the car.
Other things you can do if you are worried about this:
Use your pipe to loosen the lugnuts one at a time in your driveway, and tighten them up as tight as you can using just the lug wrench. Then you know they aren't tighter than the pipe can loosen (check them again in ~50 miles to make sure they are still tight). Because you only ever have one loose at a time, you can do all this on the ground. Re-do this if you have any work done that require the mechanic remove the wheels as a lot of them just ram the lug nuts on as tight as they can with an impact gun.
If you live in places that uses road salt. Buy some anti-sieze at an auto parts store, remove each lug nut, smear a little on the threads of the exposed lug threads and tighten the lug nuts back on. This will prevent them from rusting in place.
For extra security, remove each wheel and smear it (very thinly!) on the face of the brakes between the lug nuts (don't need to go out to the edge, just that area immediately between them) and on the outer surface of the raised center hub where it meets the surface the wheel sits on. This will keep the wheel from sticking to the brake/hub.
If the wheel is already stuck, turn away from it and donkey kick it where the wheel meets the tire, you can get more force and you are hitting with the sole of your foot and not your toes. If that doesn't work, put the lug nuts back on loosely, jack the car down and drive it slowly forward or back swerving a little. At some point you will here a loud clunk of the wheel popping free. Then jack it back up and remove the lug nuts and wheel.
I am a 6ft 200+ lb cis guy who has worked on cars his whole life. Getting lug nuts loose and wheels off is sometimes challenging for me. Any guy who claims this is a "weak women" thing is a moron and probably has never changed a tire in his life or he'd know to shut his mouth.
The delivery of your message "now you have a pipe" combined with a sweet but entertained chuckle is priceless. This is exactly how my husband instructs and calms myself and my daughter's fears.💞
My dad always said, it's good to be smarter than the object your working on. Really great advice beauh.
Mine said, work smarter, not harder. Same sentiment. 😊 Thanks, Dad.
I showed my son on the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere, in the dark. It was a lot like that scene in "A Christmas Story" but with more cursing than Ralphie. Yeah, take your child/children outside and give them a primer.
Recommend first lesson in daylight...
When I got my first car my dad made me take a rear tire off and put it back on, after showing me how to attach jumper cables to the battery, before giving me the keys.
@@robo5013 Good plan. You shouldn't drive without a general "what do do if" scipt.
I had just taken a bite of cheese and cracker when the last comment came out. I’m just glad it wasn’t a liquid!! Omg!! I ❤️ you Beau!!
Decades ago, my wife (then, she was my girlfriend) was on a day trip with several of our friends (three young men and her). They got a flat tire on the highway, between Austin and San Antonio. Dave pulled over and said, "I guess we'll have to walk to the next exit and find a phone."
That generated this conversation:
My wife: "Don't you have a spare?"
Dave: "You mean, like a tire? I don't know."
My wife: "Open your trunk."
It turns out, not a single one of these young men knew how change a tire, so my wife did it. I have to say, I was rather disappointed that my buddies couldn't do it, but was even more proud that my wife got them back up and running.
Beau! Thanks so much for keeping your content short, sweet, and meaningful. I’ll often watch you over others, just because of this. 👍
Same.
"now you have a pipe"... made me chuckle. I love it. Thank you for taking this young ladies fear seriously and providing a real solution. Stuff happens and we need to be prepared. My Dad made sure I knew how to change a tire many, many years ago :)
I made a point to change a tire, by myself, in front of my dad. (He was impressed).
Beau, you are everybody’s dad! 😊
I didn't think I'd ever be happy to see a video about tricks to remove a lug nut (always known about how to remove them).
But compared to all the other videos about a certain 150+ kg nut, this video was a breath of fresh air.
For those who seem to have bad luck with tires (like me), a 2 ton hydraulic trolley jack and an 8 inch wide board long enough to sit the jack on will ease your mind a great deal. When on soft ground or gravel, jacks have a tendency to sink into the ground and become uneven, resulting in accidents. That's when the board comes in handy.
"2 ton hydraulic jack" may sound big and intimidating to someone who doesn't know much about cars, but they're so much easier and safer than the scissor jacks that normally come with cars. And you can find them for less than 40 or 50 dollars in most cases. They're worth every penny.
I was very blessed to have parents who were knowledgeable and willing to teach me about cars. I've been in the situation multiple times where I was the only person in a very large group of people who knew how to change a tire, jump a car, check why a car was overheating, etc. If you weren't as lucky as I there are loads of resources online! It's always best to research these things before you need them. Never be ashamed that you don't know, you were never taught and that is not a failure on your part.
As a woman, I love everything about this video!
I'm a 220 lb guy and I had to do this before. Any guy that couldn't provide that answer probably hasn't changed more than a couple of tires.
I’ve always used a 4 pronged lug wrench 🔧 just because if you can’t get a lug nut to budge, I stand on it. Works!
Beau doing way more than teach us about politics. You’re the real one, my friend.
On my list of things children should be taught, this is number three. First, how to swim. Second, how to fall without breaking your wrist. Third, how to change a tire and jump-start a car.
Bear every time.
Especially in a red district!
As a former auto mechanic, all I can say is my AAA membership is the best use of $100 that I spend every year. Flat tire, out of gas, no start, lock out - they do it all.
Ditto, my insurance has roadside assist as long as it's not a repeat call for previous issue. Used for dead battery and punctured break line.
Anti seize? Especially after you get the lug nuts off those aluminum rims on the steel hub can be worse. I always put a dab of anti seize on the hub.
True, but if conditions are bad (heavy rain, sleet, snow storm, heavy fog (other motorists can't see you kneeling next to the car)), you may be stuck waiting for them for a couple of hours (I was once stuck in 5F with heavy wind and snow for two hours waiting for them to come). If it's possible to get the car going yourself, that's always preferable
I have that too, but there are dead zones with no cell reception.
I add it to my car insurance for much less than that. I have to pay at roadside with credit card but insurance reimburses. I think it is about ten dollar for six months.
That tip sounds awesome! Jumper cables, kitty liter, a shovel, and now a long pipe. I like this check list
Not just any pipe, the longest length of pvc-coated rigid metal conduit that will fit.
Don't forget water and blanket.
Get can of Liquid Wrench leave it in car. Spray lugs with it before doing anything else it can help if lugs are really on there good.
I currently live in Florida and was laughed at for having that same stuff in the trunk of my car! Until a co-worker needed his car jumped due to a dead battery. Add a tarp and blanket.
Not PVC pipe if you can get something better. If it's cold enough out, PVC may shatter, trust me, have the T-shirt. 😒
During her university years, my daughter once 'saved' a bunch of her piers by helping them to change a flat tire, because THE GUYS DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
Peers..... Tyres.....
@@Mute_Nostril_Agony Peers, yes. Tyres, not so much if you're in the USA.
Archimedes of the Fifth Column.
This was an absolutely iconic Beau video maybe on par with the one about black people and guns that turned me on to his wisdom to begin with. 🤘
That was such a good one.
I love your emergency preparedness videos. I'm glad you added this one to that playlist. Thank you for answering people's questions and being kind about it. Not everyone had someone in their life who could teach them these things (or were willing to).
When I got my first car my dad made sure I knew how to change a tire, do basic maintenance like oil changes, and loaded the trunk with a socket set, a shovel, a bag of kitty litter, and long pipe, among other things. He never mentioned that I might have trouble doing something - instead he gave me the skills and tools to overcome them if needed.
Sorry, German here, I have to ask: a bag of kitty litter??
@@ktinxx Useful for traction if you're stuck on ice.
For the winter if the vehicle is stuck on ice. It helps gives the tires traction , as long as you don't keep spinning the tires
@@ktinxx On ice or snow, place fore and aft to give traction for the tire. .....O.....
Also useful in case of oil spill
62 years old, my father insisted I learn to change a tire before I was allowed to get my license; I've had two occasions where I was grateful that he had. After the second time I got AAA and have gladly paid that $$ for over 30 years. Get the pipe too, it never hurts to have something that can do double duty.
Leverage is a beautiful thing 😊