spare tire storage

[iamcanuck1]

This may sound kind of dumb, but how do I use my spare tire carrier. It is at the back, under the storage compartments. It is a frame of 1.5" angle iron. At one end there are a pair of dollies on each side. There is a latch at the front, with a cable going inside a compartment. When you pull the cable, does the whole unit drop to the ground? How do you get it back up? Or is this a job better left to the tire service person?

["007"]

Welcome to the Newmar forum.
I have the same tire cage under rear of my 03 coach also. Never considered how to drop tire. Some with cable have a takeup reel behind number plate accessed through hold behind plate,that you turn.
Never needed tire change so question why carry the extra weight.
Will look into how mine drops and if when I buy new tires if spare is needed.
Will check it out and let you know.
Mean while enjoy the forum.

["007"]

OK took a look at my spare tire carrier and its suspended by a steel cable, rusted steel cable, that has a tension spring attached to the end of cable.
What you have to do to release the tire carriage is lift up on the carrier with a heavy tire bar or digging bar for manhole cover removal, which I have, stick it through your tow hitch tongue hole and lever,with bar, the carrier up and pull cable through retaining slot, towards rear, to release tire carrier cage.
Looking at mine the cable is pretty rusty and looks like some strands of cable might be broken.
The whole assembly needs to be lubricated before I'd even think of dropping system down to get tire. Tire has 90lb of pressure and is heavy.
To reset I would think I would have to use 8ton jack to lift back into position, some job I'd say at my age.
Like I said previously never use a spare tire on any of my coach's they always came with coach but these days there are no spares because of little use and extra cost for everyone.
Never had a flat or blowout either ever.
So I would guess its up to the RVer and what he wants to do.
May just forget about it when tires get replaced would take off some weight off rear axle thats for sure.

[squeak]

call aaa

[edgray]

ALL of the Newmar installed spare tire carriers such as you described that I've seen have a hinged license plate holder. Pull the LP holder down and you "should" see a hole, thru which you insert the tool which turns the shaft that raises and lowers the steel frame holding the tire. Note: there "may" be a bolt or pin somewhere on the carrier frame to act as a saftey device, which will need to be removed before the thing can be lowered. Take a good flashlight and look it over carefully, I'm sure you can figure out how it all works. Good luck. Ed

["007"]

Ed, thats what I thought also until I looked at mine. It just has a suspended steel cable with spring device on end of cable to take up vibrations. Behind my number plate I have the hole but no take up reel for cable, its attached to a bar.

[bdaball]

My take-up cable and winch broke a couple of years ago. I replaced the whole thing with a (shhhhhh......dont tell! ) a FORD replacement assembly. Took a little grinding and it fit like a glove. Now the lowering is done with a 3/8" socket extension and ratchet.
During this process I took the entire frame and lock-bolts out. Wire brushed, painted everything and reassembled with Never-seize. Now it works fine.
If you ever needed to pull the spare out you need to lower it all the way to the ground. Roger is right. It is HEAVY. Make sure you use a fulcrum point and long bar. With a little effort it comes out fine. Just remember, chances are you will need to put your flat tire back in the rack if your on the road.
If you use a TPMS use one on the spare. Helps you remember to keep an eye on it.