A system for removing and installing wheels on a heavy vehicle comprising: an apparatus and a rack for holding a wheel in an upright position; the rack has a frame having a base and a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the base and further being configured to enable pivoting to a open configuration wherein the arms are arranged to extend generally upwardly so as to receive an upright wheel therebetween and a folded configuration wherein the arms are foldable inwardly onto the base; the apparatus rack configured to engage the rack to facilitate removal and installation of the wheel on a heavy vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a rack engagement assembly configured to engage accessible portions of the rack and to support the rack when so engaged; a lifting assembly for raising and lowering the rack engagement assembly and the rack, when so engaged by the rack engagement assembly, wherein the apparatus is configured to be positionable relative to the heavy vehicle and movable away from the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels; and wherein the apparatus is expandable and contractible between an expanded configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration; wherein the apparatus when in the expanded configuration, is engageable with a rack in the open configuration, and wherein, when the rack carrying at least one wheel is so engaged, the apparatus is positionable relative to the heavy vehicle and movable away from the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheel (s). an apparatus and a rack for holding a wheel in an upright position; the rack has a frame having a base and a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the base and further being configured to enable pivoting to a open configuration wherein the arms are arranged to extend generally upwardly so as to receive an upright wheel therebetween and a folded configuration wherein the arms are foldable inwardly onto the base; the apparatus rack configured to engage the rack to facilitate removal and installation of the wheel on a heavy vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a rack engagement assembly configured to engage accessible portions of the rack and to support the rack when so engaged; a lifting assembly for raising and lowering the rack engagement assembly and the rack, when so engaged by the rack engagement assembly, wherein the apparatus is configured to be positionable relative to the heavy vehicle and movable away from the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels; and wherein the apparatus is expandable and contractible between an expanded configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration; wherein the apparatus when in the expanded configuration, is engageable with a rack in the open configuration, and wherein, when the rack carrying at least one wheel is so engaged, the apparatus is positionable relative to the heavy vehicle and movable away from the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheel (s). a rack engagement assembly configured to engage accessible portions of the rack and to support the rack when so engaged; a lifting assembly for raising and lowering the rack engagement assembly and the rack, when so engaged by the rack engagement assembly, wherein the apparatus is configured to be positionable relative to the heavy vehicle and movable away from the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels; and wherein the apparatus is expandable and contractible between an expanded configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration; wherein the apparatus when in the expanded configuration, is engageable with a rack in the open configuration, and wherein, when the rack carrying at least one wheel is so engaged, the apparatus is positionable relative to the heavy vehicle and movable away from the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheel (s).