Spare Tires

[speedman42]

How many of you carry spare tires? I only ask because I just realized I don't have one on my American Dream motor coach. I think this is something I should have but I wanted to check and see how many carry one.
thanks

[flaggship1]

Originally Posted by speedman42

How many of you carry spare tires? I only ask because I just realized I don't have one on my American Dream motor coach. I think this is something I should have but I wanted to check and see how many carry one.
thanks

I carry Master Card - Visa - GS Roadside Assistance. They weigh less - cost less - and when they age out the CC companies send me new ones. Also don't carry a jack either. I do have a spare tire around my waist but I'm trying to get rid of that. I think you will find many A owners who do not and a few that do. They really are heavy - space hogs. Just my take on it...

[Bumps]

I carried an unmounted one for about a year. Then decided I needed the basement space for things I would actually be able to use. \ken

[Pigman1]

We do. I have Coach Net service, but I also carry tools to break down, mount and install the unmounted spare tire if necessary. I can and have done this. We travel in remote areas of the southwest and Alaska and have found that this will save us days if we lose a tire. Last flat in Alaska took us 2+ days before we were back on the road, and we were in a fairly major town. Almost 250 miles just for the tire man to find the tire, get it and get it to us, plus another 100 for him to get home, and the tire was NOT a match to the ones I had on the Bus. I later found out Coach Net paid over $700 for that service call and I paid over $600 for a tire I that I had to replace when I got home.

Decide where you'll be traveling, and how important time and money is before you make your decision.

[DDDonkey]

I carry one only because my coach came with one and it is a 19.5 rim. When we upgrade to a bigger coach that does not have one I may take the 'best' used tire (no rim) when replacing the old ones and stick it under the coach or is a storage bay if i have room. Other than that I also have Visa and Mastercard.

[zippo]

I carry an unmounted tire under the bed. Reason I carry it is because my size tire can be hard to come by in some places either new or used. In my younger days I could mount or dismount but now days maybe not. Road service can handle that part.

[jacwjames]

On our trip to Alaska I decided it was worthwhile to carry a spare. I had just changed the front tires on the coach so I had a decent used tire to use. IMHO if you have a flat, especially on the front, the chances of ruining your rim is high, so I invested in a rim. I then fabricated a tire carrier that mounted into my trailer hitch combined with a bike rack.

Since then I've fabricated a different mount that provides a swing away function so I can have access to my engine compartment. The mount also gives me a place to carry dog pens for when my wife goes to dog shows. The mount also allows me to still tow my Jeep.

Yes this adds some weight to the RV but I think it's worth having. I carry the tools to change the tire if needed but also have AAA RV Plus for a service call if needed if my wife is flying solo.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I don't and have not since 2002. If I should ever need a tire, I would call my road service (Coach Net) and wait. I'm willing to trade some wait time and extra expense (you probably pay list price to have a tire delivered to you) for the convenience of not toting around a huge and heavy extra tire.

The last time I needed a tire was 2001 and we have been over 100k miles since then, including Alaska. I'll risk it.

[vsheetz]

Many threads here on this topic findable via search. Many responses both for and against carrying a spare. I am in the camp of carrying one. I maintain a ERS to do the actual changing of the tire. Having one means I don't run the risk of getting gouged for price if/when in need, delays in getting a tire, having to put on a tire not of my first choice, etc. I have carried both mounted and unmounted, either way is preferable to not having a Soare IMHO. I have had multiple occasions to use ERS...

[cwit]

I carry a 19.5 spare under my Fleetwood Flair. It has a factory storage area.

[Downsizer]

We saved best when replacing tires & store on roof. So much easier to supply road service good spare if ever needed. Out of way yet available. Why be at mercy of tire guy in middle of nowhere?

[OldDoggy]

I also am looking to "Spare up" my rig. Got a tire now looking for a Ford F53 19.5"x6.75" 8 lug wheel to fit my 2004. Plenty of F550 wheels but they are 6" and about a half inch less on the off set. Going to use a reciever carrier to haul it on the rear. Found a Roadmaster double reciever, so I'll put the spare carrier in the top. To lift it on and off the Curtis carrier, I got a jibcrane off of Sportsmans Quide. They sell it as a lift for deer and other game, but it will make a handy spare tire lifter upper!! When done I will break it down and stow in the rear compartment. Any help in finding a RV junk yard that might have my wheel in it would be welcomed.

[CountryFit]

i carry one unmounted. when i found out there was no spare tire, i bought a used tire about 50% tread but recent, and put into one of compartments. although it may never happen, if i were on a remote area and had a flat, good sam's could find somebody to come over, but more than likely he may not have the tire size... it'll save not only money but also time...

[twogypsies]

We don't carry one for our 40' MH and have been traveling constantly in it for 10 years, including Canada, the Yukon and Alaska. However, we take good care of our tires, check them often and replace by age - not by looks. We have roadside assistance but have never used it. If we happened to be stuck alongside the road we'd just make the best of it during our wait and enjoy the scenery. That's just us.