Community Forums

rperrym · 04-05-2016, 07:03 AM

Hello,
I am a new member, wondering if my Canyon Star should come with a spare?
Dealer said they do not.
Not that I could change it, but a road side assistance company could.

Thanks,
Rick

FlyingDiver · 04-05-2016, 07:13 AM

Newmar doesn't supply spare tires with any models. I'm not sure any Class A manufacturer does.

Some people like to carry a spare with them, others will just have the roadside assistance company get one if needed. We never wanted to find space for the spares, as we have two different size tires on our coach.

BPoland · 04-05-2016, 07:31 AM

No Newmars come with a spare. Most people will not have the equipment or strength to change a tire. That being said, there is a benefit to carrying an unmounted spare tire. If you have roadside assistance, they will come and change your tire for you. If you do not have a spare, in most cases, they will find a space for you. It may not be the same brand that you have on the coach, and you will have to pay the price quoted you. That could be rather expensive.

I talked to my tire guy about getting a spare for our Bay Star. When he looked up the price of the Goodyear G670 tire his response was Holy $-it, that tire is expensive (about $525 was the best he could do). He then matched the specs of the G670 to one of his house brand tires. He was able to get me a comparable spec'd tire (I think it was a 14 ply and a higher load range) for a little over $180. It's a spare and it's only mission in life is to get us off the side of the road, so that I can look for a proper replacement.

pcurt23 · 04-05-2016, 07:36 AM

Spare tires are a thing of the past. I do not carry a spare either and it took quite a while for me to quit feeling nervous about it. If you get a flat on the road it is going to be a PIA to get it replaced.
The last time I got a flat was 11 years ago and I was able to limp off the road but the best I could do was a used tire.
The other thing to consider is that it takes a lot of energy to change an rv tire. And they take up a lot of room. If you can, just get over it and go spare less.

jacwjames · 04-05-2016, 07:43 AM

We bought our coach in late 2008. In early 2009 I lost my job and we decided now or never, we planned a trip to Alaska. In preparation for the trip I did lots of research and read lots of forums/posts. A lot of things can happen to an RV with a flat being one of them.

I decided to carry a mounted spare with the reasoning that if I had a flat that may be a possibility of damaging the rim. We didn't pull a toad so I made a carrier that mounted in the rear hitch. It worked fine. Never had a flat but since I invested in the rim and tire I decided to carry it all the time. Since then I've modified my spare tire carrier since we now pull a toad.

Not many people carry spares but if you really want to go ahead. Just one less thing I need to worry about.

vsheetz · 04-05-2016, 09:18 AM

I am in the carry a spare tire camp. ERS will install it for me as needed.

YMMV.

rperrym · 04-05-2016, 10:56 AM

Thanks for all the great feedback.

Rick

wallacerm · 04-05-2016, 12:55 PM

Do not know the wheel size of your rig. I have 22.5" wheels and carry an unmounted spare. Road service builds a new wheel on the side of the road, and I do not have the equipment or strength to change the wheel itself, were I already to have one mounted on the rim. A 19" wheel might be manageable, but for me a 22.5" is not.

Grey Ghost I · 04-06-2016, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacwjames

We bought our coach in late 2008. In early 2009 I lost my job and we decided now or never, we planned a trip to Alaska. In preparation for the trip I did lots of research and read lots of forums/posts. A lot of things can happen to an RV with a flat being one of them.

I decided to carry a mounted spare with the reasoning that if I had a flat that may be a possibility of damaging the rim. We didn't pull a toad so I made a carrier that mounted in the rear hitch. It worked fine. Never had a flat but since I invested in the rim and tire I decided to carry it all the time. Since then I've modified my spare tire carrier since we now pull a toad.

Not many people carry spares but if you really want to go ahead. Just one less thing I need to worry about.

Can you post a picture or two of your spare tire carrier

? I am sure I am not the only one interested in doing as you did. Thanks a lot.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/images/smilies/more/bow.gif

hstansel · 04-06-2016, 04:01 AM

I would like to see some pictures of your spare tire carrier if you have them. Did you make it yourself? Is your motorhome a diesel pusher?

jacwjames · 04-06-2016, 06:43 AM

http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachmen...3&d=1437696055

Let me know if the picture doesn't come through.

Don't know if this will come through, it is a picture stored in my CPI attachments.

I basically mounted a 2" hitch receiver under each of the main chassis rails using a total of 10 5/8" bolts and plates, 5 on each side. I then inserted a dual hitch receiver to elevate the carrier. I then used a clevis type hitch. I made a cross member from a long piece of 2" receiver stock and smaller ends that fit in the clevis hitch. Used a 3/4" pin to hold this piece in on each side, you can pull the pin to allow you to swivel the whole thing. I used a standard bolt on 2" hitch and attached to cross member. The carrier itself is made of 2" tubing and is designed so that the tire can tip backwards to take tire on/off. It also has the ability to carry bikes, in the picture I have a couple of my wifes dog X-Pens. There is also a 2nd bolt on hitch that I can store my Blue Ox in.

The disadvantage of the above it that it weighs quite a bit. The advantage is that being built this heavy I can carry the tire and the X-pens without worrying about failure. It does take effort to swing the tire out of the way, I can do it but most people couldn't. I have been contemplating actually adding a solid piece between the 2 clevis hitches to stabilize the whole thing to prevent twisting which causes the cross member to bind.

G Schulz · 04-06-2016, 07:17 AM

Roadmaster makes a spare tire carrier that mounts on the rear hitch and still allows you to pull a toad. That's what I'm planning to use on mine. I think I'm going to buy new steer tires this year and will use one of the old ones as a spare. Will have to buy a steel rim to go with it. Don't really like the idea of being at the mercy of road side assistance. They could charge you what ever they want for the spare and it may not even match.

2009 Safari Cheetah 40'
350 HP Cat
2014 Ford Focus
Air Force One

jacwjames · 04-06-2016, 07:32 AM

I saw a post on the Roadmaster Spare Tire Carrier.

I had made a similar style. Using a hitch extender and dual hitch.

The problem is to get enough clearance to mount a tire the hitch has to be extended and it will have low clearance. In all likely hood it will drag on a lot of the entrances for fueling and/or parking areas. I know because mine did and ultimately a weld failed due to the dragging. Luckily nothing got damaged when the weld failed.

Check your clearances for this and know the limitations as to where you can drive without bottoming out the hitch.

rperrym · 04-07-2016, 07:17 AM

I found a space in the basement storage pass thru that will hold a tire. I think that will work for me and the road side assistance folks can mount it if something ever happens. We just brought home our 2016 Canyon Star 3755 and have other purchases to make first, like a toad and hitch.

Thanks again. I am grateful for this forum and all the contributors.

Rick