THE PORTAL HUB - Pinzgauers, Haflingers, Volvo 303s and more!

Friends,

Is there a way to drive a 712 with one of the four rear wheels off the ground?
Like using a come-along to winch the 1/2 shaft upward?

This would be an expedient way to survive a flat if you had run out of spares.

Search for the red bull truck a few years back. A come along can be used to pull the axle up for towing. I would not plan to drive it.

could you remove 1 rear wheel (say the middle one) and drive a 712?

could you remove 1 rear wheel (say the middle one) and drive a 712?

I know that if you remove one wheel from the rear of a 712 the drum just barely clears the ground (obviously this depends on your tire size). I've used this method on a dynamometer during testing. I would not "drive" it this way -- a rock or bump could shatter the drum and/or damage the aluminum hub casting.

On the other hand, I once had a flat on the mid axle and did not realize it; I probably drove several miles before I was flagged down. It did not do the tire any good, but I probably could have driven much further (having at least the wheel on will protect the drum and hub from most damage). This event caused me to get a tire pressure monitoring system, tubeless tires, compressor and plug kit so I can repair most small punctures by realizing the tire pressure is dropping before the tire has been destroyed. Prevention is much easier than changing to the spare (assuming you have a spare to change).

I know it s crazy thought...But

Yes - that is exactly my question. Lift one off the ground and drive on the other three.

If you removed the wheel and lifted the hub "somehow" - maybe winched it up or something. Maybe it requires a special piece that bolts to the hub with a bearing on it so you can hook to the end of the hub and hold it up out of danger. Hold it up by the gunnel above?

I thought I saw this done in someones Africa travel log. But can't find the reference anymore.

[RedBull PInz search did not yield and good images]

I realise I am bumping a very old thread.

But if you really wanted to do this you could jack up one axle, and replace the standard 18" limit strap with a 'spare' 16" limit strap that you have bought just for this purpose.

Still I would prefer to drive with one flat and destroy a relatively cheap tire rather than a portal hub.

Good point - shredding the flat tire and destroying the wheel is a cheaper solution!