Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Topic: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic) (Read 1688 times) previous topic - next topic - Topic derived from just bought 89 grandv...

Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

April 25, 2015, 10:37:45 pm

I forgot to ask.. Do you carry a spare tire?

Mine doesn't have one... Just asking

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #1 – April 25, 2015, 11:27:56 pm

Mark,
I don't carry a spare currently. I don't get to travel that much right now but I will carry one in the future. Pierce carries one as do many others but you have to be prepared to change one on the side of the road. If the need arises I have Good Sam roadside assistance for that purpose.

Jerry

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #2 – April 25, 2015, 11:57:11 pm

Quote from: coastprt – April 25, 2015, 11:27:56 pm

Mark,
I don't carry a spare currently. I don't get to travel that much right now but I will carry one in the future. Pierce carries one as do many others but you have to be prepared to change one on the side of the road. If the need arises I have Good Sam roadside assistance for that purpose.

Jerry

Are the wheels in the front the same as in the back?
or does one just carry a non mounted spare tire, letting the road service mount the tire?

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #3 – April 26, 2015, 09:17:59 am

Mark,

Very few of us carry spares. We carry emergency road service cards.

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #4 – April 26, 2015, 04:44:37 pm

We don't move without a spare. I have the tools to change it or can let AAA change it, depending on how I feel. Too many places without cell service here in the west. Pain in the rear to have it in the compartment but we work around it.

Pierce

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #5 – April 26, 2015, 09:03:48 pm

We and most of the other Foretravel owners I know do not carry a spare. But like Pierce, we too do not move the coach without a current towing insurance policy such as Good Sams Roadside or Coach-Net.com. You should sign up online before moving the coach. I'm too old and feeble to change a coach tire and no diesel mechanic. I have had both policies. They both are good but I currently have Coach-Net.

All of the warnings are well founded and shouldn't be ignored however, I went from a motorcycle and a pup tent to a 36 foot Foretravel. The learning curve was steep but taking every thing slow and easy when I first started I have driven the coach ever since without incident. If I were closer I would come and help. Hang in there. It's worth the effort.

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #6 – April 27, 2015, 09:28:44 am

Mark,
First off welcome!!
After we had a blow out on I-75 in the middle of TN on a Sunday and dropping $800 for a new tire and service call we carry a spare. That ORED has no storage for it so we mounted it on the roof. No rim and it sits on pads I made from spare carpet and secured to the grab rails at 4 points. I also made a special cover to keep it protected from dreaded UV rays. Good luck with this great project!!

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #7 – April 27, 2015, 11:54:37 pm

Congratulations on aquiring your FT. As you're finding, the folks on this board are invaluable.

On the spare tire- take a look under the front- mine is stored there.

Look forward to more posts and pictures

Take care.

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #8 – April 28, 2015, 10:41:37 am

Quote from: WC7610 – April 27, 2015, 11:54:37 pm

On the spare tire- take a look under the front- mine is stored there.

How about a photo of your front spare tire mount? I have looked and measured trying to find a way to mount our spare up front but the frame rails are too close together and was worried the spare would hang down too far even if I moved the air tanks and tow receivers. A VW Vanagon pivoting mount would be perfect.

The bumper folded down on my 4107 bus with a nifty compartment for the slide out spare.

Pierce

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #9 – April 29, 2015, 10:16:58 am

Pierce, it's in LT storage now, but will be up there in a couple weeks and get a picture. Hope I'm not dreaming...

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #10 – April 29, 2015, 10:25:20 am

No spare tire/no way to change. Roadside assistance and if a tire is needed buy a new one. May cost a little more but why carry something as heavy to lift as a spare tire. If you travel the normal roads

OK If you go to a dessert or Alaska where tires are hard to find maybe. DAN

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #11 – April 29, 2015, 02:13:34 pm

I carfry an unmounted spare for road service to install. I have been stuck without one in 2002 in Yellowstone. they will not let commercial road service in and it was a 300 mile drive to get a spare tire. I have had friends not be able to find a tire on a sunday and had to sit all day. It is very simple to put in the bay and roll up some hoses and extension cords inside and sit my barttery charger on to of all of it.

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #12 – April 29, 2015, 03:20:14 pm

A lot depends on where you live and go. If we depended on cell service, we would be out of luck as we don't even have reception at home. Some of the most scenic country in the U.S. is in the southwest and covered on AAA's great Indian Country map but not covered by Verizon or AT&T.. We go for days without cell service there as the tribes have their own tower and service.

We have found the coverage maps from most cell providers to be grossly optimistic.

Pierce

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #13 – April 29, 2015, 04:38:33 pm

Well, I found out that the national parks sell the rights to service all the vehicles in the park to concessions companies and they do not carry our sized tires. I started carrying a spare after I needed one in Yellowstone. I carry a D2 governor as ours kicks in sooner then the trucks version and a couple spare fuel filters as well as fluids. Not too much but it does mean I can cover a lot of stuff that comes up. Oh I also have a spare solenoid that I bought to replace a perfectly good one. So I kept it as a spare.

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #14 – April 29, 2015, 05:16:25 pm

My recommendation is do not carry your spare on the roof. James said my delamination was caused by previous owner carrying a spare on the roof

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #15 – April 29, 2015, 10:03:04 pm

Quote from: Dan J. Stansel – April 29, 2015, 10:25:20 am

No spare tire/no way to change. Roadside assistance and if a tire is needed buy a new one.

When you need one, you may not be able to FIND a new or even used one. If you are on highways in populated areas, it's not a big deal. But you will pay dearly for the spare. Of course, this can be offset by never needing one and having the space. Carrying an unmounted spare seems like it takes a lot of space, but I stuff lots of cords and stuff inside it and it fits in the bay on my joey bed on my 34' (and it has all same size compartments).

I picked up a decent used tire for $60 and tossed in. I have coach-net and the guy can come out and remove the bad tire from the rim and put my spare on it. Before I go out west I'll get a spare mounted on a wheel. I'll probably being towing an enclosed trailer too. I carry air operated jack and a small 20 ton, a small top half of a craftsman box, IR electric 3/8 and 1/2 electric impact guns (the 1/2 will remove properly tightened and lubed lugnuts). And one of these lugnut remover multipler (it's great, and I used it to remove differential yoke as well) Welcome To Our Home Page!

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #16 – April 29, 2015, 11:45:40 pm

Boy, am I bitter now. Paid $80 for a good 295.

When we picked up our U300, the owner had taken it to town to wash it. Got a flat that tore out the side and the road service they belonged to got another but was over $600 and not the brand that was on it. Plus, they would not put it on so a couple of hired hands at the farm jacked it up and finally got it on.

Pierce

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #17 – April 30, 2015, 01:41:18 am

I haven't carried a spare yet... the U225 has abbreviated stowage due to being lower overall height and 96" wide (not 102"). I think I would mount the spare on the rooftop using VHB tape to secure recessed loops to the fiberglass. These loops fold back down into the fitting and are meant to be mounted flat on a hatch. Several of them could surround a spare and then line could be used to secure it in the middle.

WDR

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #18 – May 01, 2015, 09:18:59 pm

I did find a tire mount under the front nose.. It's obviously shop made, but done well.

No air Tanks in the front of my rig like yours Pierce, plenty of room for a spare in the 89

I am of the mind, I'll feel better having a complete spare with me whenever I ever hit the roads

As far as the added weight, I have 6, whats one more.

It may be a good thing to have a little added weight front for balance.

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #19 – May 01, 2015, 10:21:01 pm

Quote from: Mark of Houston – May 01, 2015, 09:18:59 pm

I did find a tire mount under the front nose.. It's obviously shop made, but done well.

No air Tanks in the front of my rig like yours Pierce,

Mark,

Where are your air tanks located? Yours is the first Grand Villa I've ever heard of with a spare mount under the nose. Maybe Caflashbob can tell us if this is a factory or a prior owner mod. I'd like to see pics of it when you get a chance. Sounds like a good mod if the spare tire doesn't limit access to anything else under there.

Thanks,

Jerry

(fixed quote formatting - Michelle)

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #20 – May 01, 2015, 10:32:07 pm

Quote from: coastprt – May 01, 2015, 10:21:01 pm

Yours is the first Grand Villa I've ever heard of with a spare mount under the nose.

See here:

Quote from: WC7610 – April 27, 2015, 11:54:37 pm

On the spare tire- take a look under the front- mine is stored there.

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #21 – May 01, 2015, 10:47:16 pm

Jerry,

I'll get my worker to snap a picture of it next time I'm up there... I cant get down
on the ground anymore.. maybe next year after my needed hip surgeries..

The tanks are located center mid section, all three side by side.. laying parallel to the
length of the coach, between the battery bay and wet bay. no real access to them accept for
a removable panel in the large empty forward bay. Even with that large panel removed, there is still
limited access to my tanks.

Mark

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #22 – May 02, 2015, 12:01:55 am

Thanks Guys!

Jerry

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #23 – May 02, 2015, 12:03:16 am

I carry an unmounted spare for road service to install.
We are not full timers so we have room to carry it in under storage bay.

But i have an idea to create a swing tire carrier just like Jeep's do ... Our FT has a triple hitch .... So i just need to draw it and get my father-in-law to weld & build it :-) .... Project number 77 $:-\$

Re: Carry a spare tire? (split from another topic)

Reply #24 – July 29, 2015, 11:56:21 pm

Here's a new spare tire carrier/hitch from Roadmaster. It has a patented lift mechanism, rated at 10000 lbs, powder coated, and a 400 lb capacity. Easy up and down for access to the engine bay doors(s). Roadmaster's New Spare Tire Carrier | MotorHomeAdvice.com

It ain't cheap at $600 bucks but at least you can control the cost of a new similar tire and rim that may be hard to locate, save storage space, and easily have it ready to go. Looks like it could save time, money and a lot of headache if the blowout doesn't cause a towing situation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7VEMZSIDCc

Jerry

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