Field-tested tips from real-world GXV travel.
You know how much your wheels and tires carry the weight of your adventures. I wanted to share the tools and practices that I use in my GXV Hilt that will help you take better care of your own setup. This guidance is written with GXV Hilt owners in mind, but you may find some useful crossover for other builds.
1. Check Your Pressure & Tread
I keep my tires at 85 PSI in the front and 90 PSI in the back. A good high-pressure tire gauge is essential, and I check mine often. I also carry a simple tread depth gauge to monitor wear and make sure the tires are wearing evenly over time.
2. Tire Rotation
The owners manual recommends swapping the front tires with the rear tires by flipping them 180°. You can also swap front and rear tires or cross them (front right to rear left, and vice versa) to even out tread wear. A 5-tire rotation is another option but adds complexity since it involves lowering the spare. The wheels are universal, providing flexibility. Monitor your tread to decide what makes sense.
3. Removing the Wheels
You’ll notice three sets of lug nuts on the wheels. The set you actually use is the center set. For removal, I carry a 24mm impact socket, an extension (important for the deeper rear wheel pockets), a full socket set, and an impact gun. When putting wheels back on, a torque wrench set to 200 ft-lbs is essential. One tip I learned: always release the tension afterward so the spring in the wrench lasts longer.
4. Dealing With Stuck Wheels
Sometimes the wheel comes right off; other times it sticks. I carry a small sledgehammer so I can hit the tire – not the rim – to break it loose if needed.
5. Safety Gear
I always carry wheel chocks, especially for situations where I might need to change a tire. They’re simple but important for keeping the rig from rolling.
6. Airing Up and Down
For off-road use, I use an electronic inflator/deflator kit from Morfflate. I connect it to both front tires at once, then both rears, and set the PSI I want. The GXV Hilt has air compressor connections on either side, so it doesn’t matter what side you work from. Before I had this system, I used an ARB deflator, and it also worked well.
7. Tire Repair Essentials
One of the most important things I carry is a GlueTread / Factor 55 tire repair kit. It includes everything you might need for sidewall punctures, valve stem issues, and other small tire damage. It saved me once, and now I never leave home without it.
These are the items I use and the process I follow. If you have comments or suggestions, feel free to share them with us. I hope this helps you feel more prepared and confident when caring for your rig’s tires & wheels – on the road or off it.
