Have done many CL RAT drops through the years (601 and 604) and learned a few things. Super noisy, distracting, a bit chaotic and crew CRM goes out the window. Best to have a tech on the jumpseat working the checklist with the PNF to accomplish items carefully. Easy to miss a critical step in all the excitement.
PF manages the flying "single pilot" style (with full David Clark headset on) and this is one good reason there's a VFR only requirement.
Probably not the safest thing I do but it gets the job done every 2 years.
Regarding the OPs remark about tire blowout. The RAT wouldn't have caused that to happen but a badly managed RAT drop procedure might have.