Community Forums

Peterk56 · 01-23-2021, 04:50 PM

Just bought a Jayco 212QBW TT (dual axle, Rocky Mountain, BAJA, Western edition) last summer and will be touring out west and maybe into Canada this summer. My mechanic back home in NJ who tows a lot of utility trailers (cars, etc.) said I should get a 2nd spare tire. As I was asking why, I realized that if something takes out one tire, the other adjacent tire might be taken out as well, leaving you one spare and SOOL.

From your experience, is that likely? Should I buy a 2nd spare and strap it on the back bumper to be sure I'll back on the road quickly? I should say that this TT comes with some pretty good tires: Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT LT225/75R16 radials.

Skilletface · 01-23-2021, 05:50 PM

Fellow RVer, if it gives you piece of mind by all means get a second spare especially if you will be traveling remote areas. Forty years of RVing I personally have never had a need for a second spare. I’m guessing but if you find yourself requiring two spare tires something else is going to be damaged and you’ll need a tow truck.

Toby Dog · 01-24-2021, 09:35 AM

Not a terrible idea but I'd carry it in the bed of the truck. You might lose the rear bumper and both spares otherwise.

Dave Pelletier · 01-24-2021, 09:37 AM

Not many downsides except weight but I wouldn't bother. I fo carry a plug kit and compressor though.

George Schweikle · 01-24-2021, 09:48 AM

Me, too. In 40+ years of towing different car trailers, IIRC I have had 3 tire failures, but just one where the second tire on that side needed replacement (internal visible damage only, the tire didn't disintegrate). Once I began carrying 2 spares there has never been a tire failure

.

If you have good tires to begin the trip, and they are not near their end of life date (7 years), then the decision for a second spare is mainly about peace of mind. Or, if you will, a "belt & suspenders" concept.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skilletface

Fellow RVer, if it gives you piece of mind by all means get a second spare especially if you will be traveling remote areas. Forty years of RVing I personally have never had a need for a second spare. I’m guessing but if you find yourself requiring two spare tires something else is going to be damaged and you’ll need a tow truck.

jacwjames · 01-24-2021, 09:50 AM

I have a dual axle car hauler trailer. I was carry a heavy load of rough lumber to the kiln. I had checked all the tire pressures and tires before I left. On the second load, flat road, the rear passenger side tire blew, the tire disintegrated. Luckily I was able to immediately pull off the road, if not I might have damaged the other tire on that side as it was hitting the fender well, the springs swiveled on a pin but with essentially no tire it allowed the front tire to be pushed up. Luckily I had a spare.

I don't carry 2 because I only use the trailer for fairly close hauls. If I were going on an extended trip I would consider carrying 2 spares.

TXiceman · 01-24-2021, 09:53 AM

If you are running the Chinese "China Bombs" I would feel more comfortable with a 2nd spare. See too many with blow outs.

Ken

Arch Hoagland · 01-24-2021, 11:02 AM

I had a six month old trailer that blew out two tires at the same time. 10 miles east of Winnemucca Nevada in the desert where it was 100 degrees.

They were Goodyear tires that had a recall on them. I had gone to a couple Goodyear dealers before the trip and they said the tires were fine. Checked the tire pressure every morning with no problems.

Les Schwab came out from Winnemucca and changed the tires right there along the interstate. Went on into town and had them replace the other two tires....need less to say with their brand and NOT Goodyear. I've been a Les Schwab fan ever since

Discovered the Goodyear tires had a big bulge in the sidewall on the one that wasn't totally destroyed. I also learned to carry more and bigger fire extinguishers from that experience. The tires were smoking by the time I got stopped so I sprayed them with the tiny RVIA approved fire extinguisher.

What a joke those are. I now carry five fire extinguishers.

.

Bill Gail · 01-24-2021, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Pelletier

Not many downsides except weight but I wouldn't bother. I fo carry a plug kit and compressor though.

X2 on the plug kit and compressor , I also carry a spare tire and a truck size aerosol can of Fix-a-flat for slow leaks.

IC2 · 01-24-2021, 01:32 PM

Unless you are doing a bunch of off road driving or maybe are on the way to Alaska, just a food set of tires and a single matching spare of about the same age is normally all you need. The usual junk that trailer manufacturers use are not what I call quality. Carrying a plug kit and compressor are fine if you have a simple nail puncture but my run of tire failures has historically been a jagged piece of iron and a big gash which in turn trashes a tire. We have 28K on our current 5er and the only flat to date was a valve that failed as we were pulling our driveway last year ago after an extended trip and is the same kind of failure we had a few years back with the previous 5er - which reminds me that I need to change the other 3 valves before we take off again.

move on · 01-24-2021, 01:56 PM

You probably won't experience a blowout but what is a common problem for trailer towing is to get a puncture and loss of pressure and you don't know about it because you can't feel it back there. Then you're riding on a flat for who knows how long until your tire disintegrates and wipes out your wheel well. It's more important to have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) so you can catch it in time. Then if you have a repair kit and a Viair 12v portable compressor you'll be OK.

I think you'll be OK in southern BC but if you go up north a second spare wouldnt be a bad idea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peterk56

Just bought a Jayco 212QBW TT (dual axle, Rocky Mountain, BAJA, Western edition) last summer and will be touring out west and maybe into Canada this summer. My mechanic back home in NJ who tows a lot of utility trailers (cars, etc.) said I should get a 2nd spare tire. As I was asking why, I realized that if something takes out one tire, the other adjacent tire might be taken out as well, leaving you one spare and SOOL.

From your experience, is that likely? Should I buy a 2nd spare and strap it on the back bumper to be sure I'll back on the road quickly? I should say that this TT comes with some pretty good tires: Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT LT225/75R16 radials.

Peterk56 · 01-25-2021, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by move on

It's more important to have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) so you can catch it in time. Then if you have a repair kit and a Viair 12v portable compressor you'll be OK...

I will look into a TPMS and a patch kit. I have a Viair 12v portable compressor already.

Thanks to everyone for all the replies. Doesn't sound like a 2nd spare makes sense, given the odds.

MtCamper · 01-25-2021, 06:52 PM

Odds are you can get a spare at most any farm and ranch store or even most big box stores in an emergency. I wouldn't pack a second one. Vair is right on and will probably fix 90% of your flat/low tires until you can get to the tire store to have it fixed correctly. TPMS can be a trip saver if it saves a blowout.

Jshopes81 · 01-25-2021, 06:52 PM

Ive seen a few situations where one tire takes out the other. It doesnt take long at all for this to happen. I probably wouldnt go out of my way to get a 2nd spare, but say youre getting all new tires, id probably throw one on a steel wheel just in case instead of tossing it.