Community Forums

mikee409 · 03-02-2021, 12:17 PM

I feel like this is a dumb question but I'll ask it anyway.

If I bought a spare rim and mounted a tire on it can it be used at any location on the RV.
I'm thinking the direction the rim is mounted onto the hub might have a clearance issue "valve stems "or "brake rotors".
Say like a front axle rim being put on the rear axle turned in or out.

Condensed question, Do I need 2 different mounted spares/ "front to rear/valve stem in or out"

Mikee

Vintage Iron · 03-02-2021, 12:39 PM

With regard to your wheels; I think you have an F53 chassis like I have. All of the wheels will work in all positions as from the factory. If you have custom single piece valve stems (usually in the rear wheels) those stems will be bent depending on whether they are on the inner or outer dually. Those may be facing the wrong way if used in another position. I have a mounted spare with a short valve stem (like a front wheel position would have). I can put it anywhere.

gatorb8 · 03-02-2021, 01:36 PM

I believe your spare should be steel, not aluminum it you have aluminum outer wheels. The aluminum wheel is thicker and 2 may not go on the dually studs correctly. That was an issue years ago when I had a spare, may be different today, worth checking.

GypsyR · 03-02-2021, 01:51 PM

Same for me. It may be very difficult to get air into that spare when it's on with the short valve stem by itself but I've found valve stem extensions that suit me so all I would have to do is not forgot to put that appropriate on the spare before I mount it. I do have three different extension styles that suit me. Fronts, inner rears, outer rears, and my tag axle that takes the same as the fronts. Other folks use different extensions, some none.

TFell · 03-03-2021, 08:18 PM

Do you plan to change it yourself in the event of a flat? Can you use the leveling jacks to get the wheel off the ground?

Coarsegold · 03-03-2021, 08:23 PM

So how are you going to get those lug nuts loose out on the road? Where are you going to put that big spare? Just asking............

GypsyR · 03-03-2021, 11:08 PM

I know nothing about 2018 Vistas. My old RV has a spare carrier that was empty when I bought the coach. I scored a wheel and tire from an F550.
I bought a 6 ton bottle jack which I have used and it fits the recommended jacking locations. I have not done that with an actual flat tire though. I suspect I would have to use the onboard jacks to raise the coach enough to put my 6 ton into position.

To change tires I carry a Milwaukee 2720 battery powered impact that is rated for like 1400 ft.lbs. It changes my tires handily. As a backup I have a breaker bar that stays onboard. I've had all the wheels off and on using both. At home.
Though lug nuts are supposed to be torqued I figure in a road emergency situation that's not really going to be one of my priorities and I don't carry a torque wrench.

Just what is working for me and my particular coach. Others will be different and I know the newer F53's use bigger wheels and lug nuts than mine. I'd still carry the same tools if I had 19.5" wheels. OK, a bigger lug socket, and maybe a cheater bar for the breaker bar.

A lot of people here say bump all that stuff and they just make sure they are signed up for some kind of road service. Which makes a huge amount of sense for many people. Probably most people really. Stubborn independence runs in my family though and I hate being caught out without proper tools and having to rely on someone else for things like flat tires. So when I travel I carry an excess amount of tools and equipment. I guess.

TFell · 03-04-2021, 08:52 AM

Roadmaster makes a hitch mounted carrier. I would totally be one to carry a spare and change it myself. Just curious how you get the wheel off the ground. Also wondering what a 19.5 wheel and tire weighs...that could change my thinking.

mikee409 · 03-04-2021, 10:05 AM

[B]Tfell, Coarsegold,
I am planning to carry the spare either in the back of our toad or use the receiver hitch on the toad to store it on a tire rack.
I've been a petrochemical mechanic for the last 40 years "Retired this past Feb 1st

. Changing a tire is more an inconvenience than a challenge. I'll use the leveling jacks for the initial lift then a bottle jack. Of course I'll break the lug nuts with a cordless impact or a breaker bar before I lift the tire off the ground.

It may be a bitch but if I'm some where there is no cell signal in the middle of nowhere I can take care of my situation. Now if we can get a quick response from our road service policy I'll let them do the grunt work

Now if we still had the Diesel pusher motor home I'd have to call someone. Those were big tires & lug nuts : 0
Thanks to all for the replies, now I got to go find a rim. Mikee

Vintage Iron · 03-04-2021, 11:27 AM

Mikee,
Being a belt and suspenders guy myself, you might find this post interesting about an aid I made up for changing tires on the road. Look for
"Bad backs and tire changing." - iRV2 Forums
I use a roadmaster hitch mounted carrier for my 19.5 spare. The tire can be swung down to the ground. Total weight for tire and carrier is about 200 lbs. Tire/wheel alone is about 130 lbs. My ten lug wheel only needs about 150 lbs torque. I can use a 2 ft breaker bar and the little support tool I made up.

Lakehouse 2 · 03-04-2021, 03:12 PM

Mikee, make sure you get the proper steel 19.5 rim. If you have 245 70 19.5 tires you'll probably need the rim that is 6.75" wide. If your tires are 225's the rim may be 6"wide. both rims have the same bolt pattern but the in addition to the width difference, the wheel offset is different. The easiest way to figure out what you need is to get all the information off one of your current wheels. All the info is stamped on the inside of the wheels, (check the outer wheel on the rear) . The 6.75 wide wheels can be hard to find. In 2019 I found Wheels Now had them. www.wheelsnowinc.com

John

Lakehouse 2 · 03-05-2021, 07:39 AM

I use a roadmaster hitch mounted carrier for my 19.5 spare. The tire can be swung down to the ground. Total weight for tire and carrier is about 200 lbs. Tire/wheel alone is about 130 lbs. My ten lug wheel only needs about 150 lbs torque. I can use a 2 ft breaker bar and the little support tool I made up.[/QUOTE]

Phil,

I'm curious about the "little support tool" you made? How does it work? Could you post a picture.

John

Vintage Iron · 03-05-2021, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakehouse 2

I use a roadmaster hitch mounted carrier for my 19.5 spare. The tire can be swung down to the ground. Total weight for tire and carrier is about 200 lbs. Tire/wheel alone is about 130 lbs. My ten lug wheel only needs about 150 lbs torque. I can use a 2 ft breaker bar and the little support tool I made up.

Phil,

I'm curious about the "little support tool" you made? How does it work? Could you post a picture.

John[/QUOTE]

John,
I posted a description and a set of pics under "Bad backs and tire changing."
There were several responses and a lot of ideas for different approaches. Keep in mind that if you have an adequate impact wrench with you, you don't need the "tool".
Phil