Are the wheels on your American Tourister luggage worn, requiring replacement, and do you want to know how to do it? You’ve come to the right place, for we have researched this question, and we have the answer for you.
Replacing the worn-out wheels on your American Tourister is easy. Simply unscrew the old and screw the replacement wheels into the same spot.
If you need more detailed instructions on how to do it, proceed to the succeeding sections and start replacing the wheels on your American Tourister like a pro.
Read on!
Wheels On Luggage
The wheels of your luggage are its hardest working part.
It supports the weight of your things so that you can easily pull them. It doesn’t have any shock absorbers, which means that the wheels will take the impact from any fall or the vibration from rolling over rough surfaces.
The wheels also collide with the storage bin walls or with other suitcases because it is the one part that sticks out the most in your luggage—unless you forget to retract the handle.
The development in the technology of luggage materials brought us various technologies for wheel design—including how to make cheap wheels that look good and last longer (or just look good).
Thus, damage to your luggage wheels is bound to happen, and getting into a situation where you have to decide whether to replace your American Tourister luggage or try to repair the wheels first is not as uncommon.
How to replace the wheels on American Tourister luggage?
Before you proceed with the steps below, look for replacement wheels that match the wheels on your American Tourister. Some models use plastic wheels that you can replace with rubber or silicon. The important thing is that the base should match so that you can more easily install the new set of wheels.
Some models have exact wheel replacements that you can buy.
- Most American Tourister luggage has a layer that covers the hardware, like the wheels and the retractable handle. This cover can be made of a padded, smooth and shiny material. Most of the time, this cover has a reversed zipper that makes it easy to access the hardware area. Carefully unzip to access the hardware area.
- If your American Tourister doesn’t have a zipper that will give you easy access, you will have to pry the cover from the side of the luggage to access the hardware area underneath.
- Locate the screws that keep the wheels in place and unscrew them.
- Get the new wheels and line them up in the same area. If the holes for the new wheels do not line up with the old ones, drill new holes for the new wheels.
- Screw the new wheels into place. It is a good idea to replace both wheels. This will make your luggage more even, and this will distribute the weight more evenly between the two new wheels.
- If you had to drill new holes for the new wheels, use a plastic putty to seal the old holes. Apply the putty on the inside of the luggage.
- Let the putty dry before proceeding.
- Zip the cover close.
- If you had to pry the side of your luggage to get to the hardware area, use a fabric adhesive to reattach the cover back to the wall of the luggage.
- Wait for it to dry before proceeding.
- Test the new wheels.
Vallejo Plastic Putty is available on Amazon through this link.
Aleene’s fabric adhesive is available on Amazon through this link.
Which is better, two wheels or four wheels?
Two-wheel luggage—or rollaboard—is an older design where the luggage uses only a single pair of wheels that are on the same side as the handle. The two wheels allow you to pull the luggage using the handle, and the wheels will provide the mobility that the luggage needs.
Four-wheel luggage, on the other hand, is a newer design. It is also known as spinner luggage because of its ability to spin in different directions, making it more maneuverable.
Despite the advantages of the newer four-wheel design, some travelers still prefer to use the two-wheel design. There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of designs. And knowing both will help you decide which one is better for you.
Advantages Of Rollaboard Luggage
Rollaboard luggage has been around for decades, and although there are still new models available, they are starting to become rarer.
One of the biggest advantages of 2-wheel suitcases is the price. It has less hardware, making it cheaper than its 4-wheel cousin.
Aside from being cheaper, the wheels are more durable than the wheels of a 4-wheel suitcase. The wheels are simple, it rolls in one direction, and that is it. On the other hand, the wheels on a 4-wheel suitcase move in different directions, having multiple moving parts that can lead to failure.
There is slightly more space in a 2-wheel suitcase. The wheels are partly embedded into the body of the suitcase. This allows manufacturers to make a slightly larger body cavity, dropping it a little closer to the ground, creating more storage room inside.
Another advantage is in carrying a 2-wheel suitcase. You pull it behind you with your arm and hand in a natural position. This minimizes the stress on your arm and hands regardless of the weight of the suitcase.
Disadvantages Of 2-Wheel Luggage
The most common disadvantage that you will notice in a 2-wheel suitcase is that it can be prone to falling forward. If you do not plan the weight distribution of your things and have the heavier stuff in the front, then the suitcase can fall forward. The front of the 2-wheel luggage is not supported by wheels but plastic or metal stands that are not good at handling weight imbalance in the front of the suitcase.
If you need to use multiple suitcases (for some reason you do not have access to a single bigger suitcase), it will be difficult to drag along two or more 2-wheel suitcases. There are accessories that help you overcome this limitation, though.
And speaking of movement limitations, moving a 2-wheeler sideways across a crowded aisle in the plane is impossible. Most of the time, you will need to carry the suitcase until you get to your seat, then lift it to the overhead storage bins.
Luggage straps to connect three luggage are available on Amazon through this link.
Advantages Of 4-Wheel Luggage
The four wheels of spinner luggage are not there just for show. It brings the advantage of maneuverability, having the ability to twist and turn in any direction. This makes it easy to roll a 4-wheel suitcase even in the tightest spaces.
You can roll it in the tightest aisles of planes. The revolving wheels allow you to push it forward in any direction or orientation.
Because the weight in front of the suitcase is supported by two more wheels, this makes it stable even during uneven weight distribution.
Disadvantages Of 4-Wheel Suitcases
The four wheels make it hard—and even dangerous—to roll over uneven and rough surfaces. The pivoting joint adds another possible point of failure when rolling over rough surfaces. This brings us to the second disadvantage of 4-wheelers—it is less durable than 2-wheelers.
Since you need to allocate space for the roller and the wheel holder, a 4-wheel suitcase has slightly less space than a 2-wheeler.
Since it has more hardware than 2-wheelers, plus it is a new trend, it is also slightly more expensive than 2-wheel suitcases.
Conclusion
It is possible to replace the wheels on your American Tourister. Just look for the right replacement wheels, and it’s just a matter of screwing in the replacement.
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