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George Schweikle · 05-07-2014, 06:41 AM

Of course!. One of the more contentious threads.

On the original topic, if you do carry a spare and intend to change it, the lug nut sizes may be larger than what seems normal. I had to order a wrench from an auto parts store.

Quote:

Originally Posted by topdownman

You forgot Walmart vs. campground

DriVer · 05-07-2014, 10:21 AM

At the 10 year mark, don't forget to include replacing your spare tire.

That's what gets me. I never used the tire but I would have to buy 7 tires at the next pit stop.

In my experience, I did need to use a spare tire once but that was 13 years ago on my previous motorhome. :-).

Sent from my iP5S using iRV2 - RV Forum

89sandman · 05-10-2014, 12:39 AM

I wouldn't leave home without a mounted spare. If you have soooo much stuff to bring along with you that you can't make room for a spare maybe you need to have less stuff. Who wants to pay an inflated price for a spare and inconvenience your family when your service guy has a problem getting you a spare when you could be done and gone in a few minutes? I would equate it with driving with just enough gas to get to the next exit...

slickest1 · 05-10-2014, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD4Mark

We had a blow out on a Saturday afternoon, not carrying a spare. First Good Sam said we had to buy a tire from their "in network" meaning a Goodyear, tire. We have no problem with Goodyear but the coach had 6 Michelin on it.

After a lot of fooling around they couldn't find an "in network" dealer near us and said we would need to buy the tire from the RSA they would send. Swell, that is what I wanted in the first place. Turns out no one nearby (that was open) had an exact match for us so to get home we bought a recap Michelin.

Home safe we replaced the four rear only since the front were replaced two weeks before and kept the recap. It fits nicely in the through basement storage, tucked into the middle, not an easy place to get stuff out of. We wrap it in a tarp and fill the middle with things we take but won't use much if at all.

Long story, short. We never planned to have a spare for the same reasons stated in this thread but not wanting to run a recap but owning one kind of forced our hand. Might have been able to sell it but it is a warm, fuzzy feeling knowing it is there.

Because you had Michelin on the coach does not mean you cant put a Goodyear or any other brand with it. As long as they match in height they will run fine as a spare. I think I would rather have an old spare rather than a recap. On a commercial truck I would use a recap but not a coach.

Gadget Man · 05-10-2014, 09:26 PM

No.

rbpower · 05-11-2014, 04:09 AM

yes I carry a mounted spare.. like others have said do not want to be at the mercy of the road side service having to buy a tire. AAA will put on the spare for no charge under some plans.

**CLIFFTALL** · 05-11-2014, 04:15 AM

I carried an unmounted spare ( a mounted one wouldn't fit ) for the reasons mentioned above. My previous MH had a mounted one and I used it twice. Both times , I was on my way in less than one hour and had the luxury of purchasing another on my terms .

Cliff , Tallulah and Buddy ( 1999-2012 )

aboatguy · 05-11-2014, 09:52 AM

There's been a mounted spare under this Allegro bus since 1997. (Never been used in an emergency. When time to change tires, the best of the old ones goes under the bus as a spare . (Tires have always aged out not worn out.

Mike

HD4Mark · 05-18-2014, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickest1

Because you had Michelin on the coach does not mean you cant put a Goodyear or any other brand with it. As long as they match in height they will run fine as a spare. I think I would rather have an old spare rather than a recap. On a commercial truck I would use a recap but not a coach.

I understand that but wanted one that would match the others in appearance. The recap was to just get us home and worked fine for that. Hopefully we will never need it but if we do I will use it the same way, just to get us to our destination then work on a good replacement.

The price of new tires from the truck stop we ended up with were out of site compared to what we paid when we replace all four rears and no way to get the FMCA discount.

Tha_Rooster · 05-18-2014, 09:12 AM

No room here.

ImagineIF · 05-18-2014, 09:17 AM

To the OP that has 22.5" tires, in an ideal world carrying an unmounted spare would be great. If you have 315s, an even better idea due to limited availability. Unfortunately, they take up a lot of room. My guess is most with tag axle 43'+ coaches don't carry one.

StevenNSteph · 05-18-2014, 09:27 AM

DEPENDS

Do you keep your tires in good condition, do you monitor the PSI or check it each and every trip? Do you change your tires before they age out? Or are you running on 12 year old tires withe cracks bigger than the Grand Canyon on the sidewalls?

I check my tires before I depart and monitor PSI through a TPMS. I coat them with 303, 4 times a year and I don't cover them (heat destroys tires faster than UV - google it) However when I went to Alaska I invested in and carried one as an insurance policy and although I didn't use it, I helped out another RVer in need with it and saved them a boatload of money. Pay it forward type thing.

Traveling around the continental US and the lower part of Canada I don't bother. If a flat happens I will call my roadside service, find out their contractors in the area. Call them personally and make a deal for a temp spare to be mounted. Then I extend the slides, make lunch turn on a movie and enjoy my little respid.

Bottom line in 19 years of RVing I have never had a flat on a Class A and one on a Class C which had a spare underneath that I changed myself. I have a plan in case one happens and I am pretty confident it wouldn't ruin my bank account to pay for a spare at highway robbery prices so I don't carry one.

PS I should also say that my tires are a very common size in the trucker world so I am pretty confident that I can get a spare just about anywhere, if I had an uncommon size (why do RV manufacturers do that?) I might consider carrying one.

Grandpere · 05-20-2014, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigd9

x2 I have time now to get a good price on a spare, on the road one is stuck with what ever is found and usually at a very high price, and it is mounted in case the rim gets ruined.

Dr4Film · 05-20-2014, 03:29 PM

I carry one rubber tire, no wheel, for my coach only because I have room in my 30 foot rolling garage.

When I stop pulling my garage with me wherever I go, then I won't carry the tire with me. I will either be towed and wait for a replacement or pay the high price, depends on the situation.

Dr4Film ----- Richard