I'm not a big fan of "Fix-A-Flat" I have tried it several times and (For me anyway) it only sort of works at best (If at all) and always makes a huge mess of the tire/wheel. Many tire repair places refuse to repair a tire once that stuff has been used. Many refuse to mount a new tire on the wheel unless it is first cleaned up. Oh and by the way... the stuff is extremely flammable. If the tire repair guy is smoking when he pulls out the valve stem the exhausting air/chemical mix can easily ignite. This is well documented and many people have been seriously injured because of this.
C02 compressed gas inflation systems, professionally packaged (And completely NON-flammable - in fact, this is the same stuff they use in a C02 fire extinguisher!):
POWERTANK - CO2 Air Systems
You can also us a proper type tank from a welding supply and build your own system or combine your own parts and some from the powertank people. They specialized in these systems though so if your inclined to go the C02 route, spend some time on their site and read all about the way they have designed their stuff.
Air compressors: Think Gee... I want a train horn and what does it take to make one work? Well here you go:
VIAIR Corporation - Products
Tire repair:
patchboy: Plug Kits, Patch Kits
My plan: 2 spares, 4 tubes, Tire repair kit, on board compressor and C02. Also 0.040 stainless steel safety wire, cordless battery drill, hand drill with several 0.050 drill bits and needle nose pliers, duck bill pliers, safety wire pliers, duct tape, baby powder. Also a Spark plug air compressor, (See below).
Always have a plan and 2 back up plans.
Remember that a patch kit and or tubes will only fix so much damage. If you rip large a hole in a tire, especially the sidewall even a tube will not fix it. This is when you break out the drill and safety wire. You can literally sew the sidewall together with the stainless steel safety wire, cover the wire on the inside with several layers of duct tape, dust with baby powder, insert a tube, inflate and drive on... CAREFULLY and SLOWLY.
I have only done it once but it works..... and it actually worked pretty well.
The hand drill is plan "B" in case the power drill quits.
Several drill bits because you'll probably break a few.
C02 air in case the compressor quits.
If you want a manual pump, you can check the local Pep Boys, Auto Zone, Advance... they usually have a foot powered pump. (Include a box of Wheaties and a gallon of Gatoraid, your gonna need it for that foot pump) I suppose you could use a bicycle pump if you really have a lot of time and plenty groceries to keep you going.... especially if your running oversize tires.
Don't forget a good jack and a good back up jack. Also maybe one of those airbag jacks that can help you get un-stuck too.... (They have been discussed elsewhere on this site before and yeah, they work pretty well too)
The spark plug air compressor: More or less a unit that consists of a replacement (Hollow) spark plug (Or more likely a threaded adapter that fits the spark plug hole threads) attached to a hose and a check valve to a longer hose with a tire air chuck.
Yes, it actually works. Yes, it can/will provide fuel/air mix to your tire. The "Milton tool company" (
https://miltonindustries.com/ ) used to make a tool called the "Chuffer" this would work the same way but would send fresh (No fuel) air to the tire and only cost about $20.00. It seems that after dozens of years making this thing they have quit since it is no longer in their catalog.
A simple home made tool could be made (Don't forget a good check valve!) but unless you have a way to cut off the fuel while cranking the motor your going to get fuel/air mix. Yes, that is flammable, but then again, as noted at the top, so is every can of "Fix-A-Flat" type product.
Here is a link to a site where this is discussed at length:
Air Compressor - Chuffer
As noted on the site I linked to you could also use the same concept on a diesel by replacing one of the fuel injectors.
Hope this helps some.
