how to take the tires off my 2004 3023

I just tried to take the wheels off my 2004 3023 to do a brake job. How do i get the wheels off? i released the front section of the TM but i still can't get the wheel clearance. Do I have to open both sides? This looks like it would be a pain if i had to change a flat on the road. HELP!!!! Jeff

Unfortunately, I believe you will probably have to at least pop the shells so the wheel skirt is exposed and then take the skirt off. It is a pain when changing a flat.
Cheri

[B_and_D]

And you probably will need the special driver to get the screws out...

You don't need to remove the wheel skirt - there's enough flex there to get the tire off, at least there is on my 2007 2619. But it sure does seem like the shells need to go up to me.

[rickst29]

Originally Posted by grakin

You don't need to remove the wheel skirt - there's enough flex there to get the tire off, at least there is on my 2007 2619. But it sure does seem like the shells need to go up to me.

There is enough room on your 2619 to leave the wheel skirts-- but it has only the 14" rims and tires. The Witz Clan will have to either remove the wheel skirts, or desperately "trim" them with a kitchen scissors if they can't find the $%#^ square drive screwdriver. The other posters are right.

I'll give you one guess what I did to my 2619 when I was desperate My 2619 is built with the bigger 15" wheels and HD axle, I think it's nearly identical to their 3023. And the tire was too tall, too wide to squeeze past the wheel skirt. Not finding the proper screwdriver right away, I grabbed a scissors and trimmed the skirt into a "crescent moon" shape to squeeze the tires through. I've since trimmed the other side, so that it matches-- but neither side is "pretty", it's much better to KNOW that removing the wheel skirt solves the problem than to do my sort of amateur plastic surgery.

I must recommend that EVERYONE try the "install the spare tire" at home, in the light, for practice BEFORE you ever need to do it on the road (maybe in the dark, maybe in a hurry, and maybe too exposed to traffic to "play around" for a long time figuring out how it all works). I was a dumbass, did all my "learning" in the dark, with enough swear words to burn the ears off a coal miner....

[countrygirl]

I read this last night and YIKES it scared me...I rold my dh and he said...not a problem......

When we get one ...we will practice changing tires in the daylight first though!

[fcatwo]

It was a tight squeeze but I was able to get the 14" Marathons off our 2619 without popping the lids or removing the skirts by jacking it up with the levelers and working the wheels out. We do have the 2" extra height and I'm not sure it would have been possible otherwise. The truck tires our Louisiana tire dealer/expert member is supplying a few people for a trial should be easier to work with. If I recall correctly they are a little narrower than the Marathons -- although higher rated.

[rickst29]

Originally Posted by fcatwo

It was a tight squeeze but I was able to get the 14" Marathons off our 2619....

Nice for owners of normal 2619s and 2720s, (WITH lift kit), to know. Thanks!

But for owners of the 15" wheel, 5000 lb axle models: you're gonna want that square screwdriver, and you WILL need to pop the shells.