04 Southwind Tire Change

[matteo92065]

I just picked up a 2004 Southwind 32V with the Workhorse chassis. 11000miles/30 hrs on the generator. We really like it!!
I've been going through the coach fixing and improving stuff as I find it.

Now I'm onto the process of making sure I can change a tire. I will be joining coachnet or similar, but I would still like to be able to do it on my own if I have/want to.

The coach has a spare tire with rim (mounted).

Has anyone removed or used their spare wheel and seen what it takes to get it out?! It looks like you have to lay on your back, reach up really high, and unbolt a rear panel (at least 4 bolts w/nuts i.e. a wrench in each hand). I've seen pictures of similar year Bounders and it looks like they have the same compartment, but it has hinges and latches for easy exterior access.
I've ordered a 33mm socket, extensions, bottle jack, jackstands, and a breaker bar and will going thru the process when I get all the stuff together.

I'll try and get some pictures of the spare wheel hatch, and maybe modify it to be more like the Bounder. I've looked around the forums and have not read about anyone else with this concern.

[dezertcamper]

I have an 03 Southwind on a WH chassis and yes getting the spare tire down is a total joke. Helen Keller could have come up with a better design. I believe mine has 6 bolts holding the rear access / licence plate panal on.

I too have thought of a better way of mounting that panel. I have yet to do it, but I have most of the parts in my garage to do it. One way to do it is to replace the bolts with a clevis pin and clip set up or a quick release push ball pin. This way you will still have to crawl under the back side of the coach, but you will not be playing twister trying to unbolt the panel using two wrenches. Imagine doing that in the dark holding a flashlight!

The other thought I had was to get a piano hinge and hinge the top side or right or left side of the panel and then use a pin and clip for the other side. This way you would have 2 pins to pull tops. And the small bit of piano hinge that you will see can be painted to match. Once this is done you will never notice the small amount of hinge showing. It will look just like the gas tank door hinge right next to it.

It would have been much smarter if WH would have just made a crank down system like Ford's MH chassis has, and like every pick-up made has.

[exrench]

I shuddered when I saw the bunch of bolts and their location when the Southwind was new and removed them before they rusted in place and simply dropped a 1/4x2 inch bolt in each of the top and bottom holes-no nuts.That was 40K miles ago and they came out nice and easy when I blew a tire and did not have to pay a mechanic to do the impossible.

[*scooter*]

Well I can't take credit for the modification done on my 32v but the spare door has a key lock (same as the cargo doors) on the top left and right hand side, and the bottom portion of the door rests on a latch. The keys unlock the compartment and the whole door is removed. The tire is secured with a 'tie down' type strap. Undo the tire down and use it to pull the tire out. It's heavy though ! I've done it a couple times...

[lcsmith6922]

If it's a 04 Southwind, I'd check the manufacture dates of my tires. Even though the RV only has 11,000 miles, the tires are probably close to 7 yrs old and will need to be replace soon My 04 Southwind 37C tires were manufactured in mid 03 and I plan to replace them early next year prior to a planned trip to the east coast from CA.

Larry

[matteo92065]

So I'll rig something up for the access door.

Regarding the tires and the age of them. I looked and they are from '04. No cracking, and not much wear. I'm going to use them for 1 year.
I might be buying a TPMS shortly.

[supercub]

I've change mine........there's 6 bolts on my cover...and yes the spare tire is heavy. Use the motorhomes jacks to lift it off the ground, may have to use some boards or whatever under the jack to get it high enough. Don't forget to block all tires to keep it from rolling and bending the jacks. Once up, put a jack stand under the axle for safety. Don't forget a socket that will fit the wheel covers........there's two nuts holding each of mine. Break the lugnuts free prior to jacking. You'll need a jack stand for this also to place the extension coming from the wheel lugnuts on. Get a good strong breaker bar and try to remember how much strength it took to break the lugnuts free so you can estimate the torque when reinstalling..........would be good to stop and have them torque at a tire store. I had a flat and called Good Sam ERS, waited an hour or so, and decided to get started....well I ended up doing the whole thing, and called Good Sam back to tell them I didn't need the service, it was 3 hours after I had the flat and they were still looking for someone to send out.........As far as a flat, in the future I'd just change it myself.......it's really not a big deal as long as you have the proper equipment. Yes, you're going to get dirty........but you do have a shower. Good Luck
Brian

[George Schweikle]

I assume you have 19.5 in rims. One of these with a Michelin 225 section tire weighs 100 lb (and a 22 in size is obviously more). One of the best things I did to assist with tire changing was to make a "bracket" to lift the tire up onto the mounting studs. These brackets can be purchased but I just got three lengths of 1/2 water pipe and two 90 degree elbows and assembled the pipe into a "U" shape. I have the bracket packed away so I can't provide measurements, but, the end section must be less than the tire diameter (18 - 20 in). The two legs can be around 3 ft.

Use the bracket by placing the two long ends of the "U" at each side of the tire, projecting inward, with the cross piece toward you. Place the long ends so they contact the tire at about 50% of their length and pull up on the cross piece. This provides the leverage to lift the tire so you can use less force than lifting the entire 100 lb tire & wheel assembly

[R&K Mobley]

I have a 2004 37C it has a crank down device to lower the spare down like the ones you find on many SUVs. It also has a piece of metal bolted across the tire to secure it in place. The crank is inserted into a hole in the passenger side rear storage bin. I have not tried this device but the crank is mounted in the right rear storage.

[matteo92065]

good advice and information. I did a test tire change in my garage, then I joined Good Sam. I still haven't tried to get the spare tire out... yet...