Newbie question re Class A spare tire

[Dick1142]

Do you folks carry a spare tire on your Class A? Mounted or unmounted? Can you depend on your road service to be able to provide or mount a spare? Just wondering as I prepare to take off cross country on a 4 month trip. Thanks, Dick

[RVRon]

Dick,
In my experience, you can't depend on road service to have a match to your RV's tires (make, model and size). If you don't want to be towed off an interstate, you may want to make a shelf in a storage bay for an unmounted spare (weight savings by not being mounted). If you're willing to take the risk and have the time to burn, then a spare, (mounted or not) is not a necessity as you may only have to wait a day or so for a match to be shipped in. The wheel, in case you damage it, is usually much more available, and you can use a painted wheel in a pinch.

I am buiding a rack for my second back storage bay and will be carrying an unmouted spare starting this season. (experience talking).

Good luck with whatever you decide and have a great trip...4 months...I'm jealous!!

[Rick Long]

I live where there are wide open spaces with NO cell phone coverage from any carrier. A mounted spare and the tools to put it on, 12 ton jack, electric & air impact guns with sockets/extensions, 30" breaker bar (in case I"m below 1/4 tank and can't start the genny.. it happened once). Mounted spare is under my bed and a royal pain to take out but doable. If the cell phone works... GoodSam can come change it, if not, I can do it. Sure beats setting along side the road when it's 115°

[gripper]

I restled with the same thing, when I purchased my 30' Fleetwood, 2 years ago. I ran one year without a spare, but last year (2009) I bought one - unmounted, because I was going to travel out West. The reason I didn't mount it, is because if it was one of the rear dual tires that blew, what good would one mounted on a front rim do me? The reverse is also true. I have a storage area on the right rear that was made especially for a spare.

I just have to hope that whoever I call, can change the tire for me. Some say that the spare could dry rot, before it is needed. However, the problem of locating an exact size, etcetra, when I am out in the "boonies" led me to go ahead and purchase one anyway - just to be safe.

Roland

[Diplomat Don]

Dick1142......I carry an unmounted spare on top of my slide tray (dead center). I made a rack that supported two sides of it while the edges of the slide tray supported the other two sides.


I found a screw in my rear tire a couple of years ago while backing my coach into my side yard. I checked local tire dealers (Los Angeles area) and no one had one in stock. It took 3 days to get it. I wouldn't want to be on the road and have this occur, even if I was retired.

I store stuff inside my tire and under it. I originally had a new tire that I wrapped in saran wrap and then 2" masking tape. When I needed to use that tire recently, I put a good used front tire in there and wrapped it again the same way.

[bullydogs1]

You guys are going to get me going again and now once weather warms up a bit...I need to take a good look and see how I can carry an unmounted tire....the only bay the thing will fit in is probably the pass thru and I have chairs, dog stuff, etc and it's not heavy but it is bulky in size and I have utilities, tools, etc in the other bays. Under the bed won't do it--4 month trip?.....they don't have one of those emoticon that says green with envy do they?

[RVRon]

Don,
Is the rack to hold up the two sides of the spare made from wood and did you fasten it down to the slide tray? I was going to weld a metal rack to hold the tire up off the slide and install it on the curb side, but this seems a lot simpler....

[Nonno]

Quote:

I need to take a good look and see how I can carry an unmounted tire

I don't carry one but have thought about it also. Like others, my pass thru is the only spot but there is no room because of other items.

So thinking out of the box, what about;
1. Put it in the trunk, back seat or cargo bed of the toad.
2. Put it in the pass thru and take those things that are used when you arrive and put them in the trunk, back seat or cargo bed of the toad.

[MonacoMama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVRon Don, Is the rack to hold up the two sides of the spare made from wood and did you fasten it down to the slide tray? I was going to weld a metal rack to hold the tire up off the slide and install it on the curb side, but this seems a lot simpler....

RVRon...here is another photo of Don's "tire rack"


Let me also remind folks of Don's Modification Photos at this link... Talk about "Green with Envy"!

[Dick1142]

Thanks everybody. I appreciate your comments and will carry an unmounted spare in my middle passthru bay. Dick

[SRT]

we were lucky when we bought our HR in August 1999. At that time a fully mounted spare tire (19.5) was in the same compartment as the propane tank. Several model years later the spare tire was history.

Several times it was really handy to have a spare tire on board.

[Diplomat Don]

RVRon......I used 4 pieces of 1" square tubing, 12" tall, to make the four uprights. You can see them in the photo MM posted. I welded 1" square tubing between the four uprights at the height of the slide tray edges. The frame is just sitting there and doesn't move, yet I can still slide it in the tray toward either end to make accessing the tire easier. I can also fit items in the tire and under the edges.

Eventually, we'll take a trip to Alaska. I plan on buying another used tire and steel wheel as a mounted spare. I'll carry this one in the bed of my pick up truck.

[ernieh]

I carry an unmounted spare on a hinged rack that I made, just behind the fuel tank on my XC chassis.

[billyb]

i just bought a couple of great looking used 22.5 tires and will be mounting one up under the rear end, where ther is plenty of room for one, and looking for any advice for mounting it against the frame.