Just a head's up everyone!On our way home to Texas from visiting family in the Cincinnati and Indianapolis areas, we overnighted at the Hinton RV Park in Sikeston, MO. That night some low life stole my bumper mount assembly and spare tire. I can't believe we didn't hear anything - the SOB's knew what they were doing. I know it was stolen at this park because the day before I had put another coat of 303 Protectant on the spare tire cover. I didn't notice it was missing until the next day when we had a flat and I went to get the spare. It was GONE! I called the RV Park to report the theft and left a message (no one answered the phone). They didn't even bother to return my call! Wow, how disappointing! We were on I-55 headed south and had to limp along on the shoulder at about 10 - 15 MPH for about 4 miles until we got to the next exit. I called my emergency service company Coach Net. They were awesome and help was on the scene in about an hour with a new tire. The tech mounted a new tire on the rim on the scene and we followed him to their tire shop (about 7 miles away). After inspecting the other three tires very carefully, I decided to replace all of them with new 10 ply tires. The only brand they had in stock was Travel Star. I had no choice. I've never heard of them, have any of you? My new spare tire will not be mounted to the bumper, I'm going to carry it in the covered bed of my truck.Lesson learned!

did they steal the spare FROM the mount or did they take the tire and mount? i protect the spare on my Jeep wrangler with a lug lock. might work for you.

A bumper mount spare seems more likely to be laying on the highway somewhere behind you than stolen.Either way a bad deal. Glad you got back on the road.

wnjj wrote:A bumper mount spare seems more likely to be laying on the highway somewhere behind you than stolen.Either way a bad deal. Glad you got back on the road.OP stated '...bumper mount assembly and spare tire."Sounds like it fell off....metal fatigue due to vibrationsCoach Net. A1 service

You would think the OP would be able to tell the difference of the Tire and Tire mount assy vibrating loose and falling off or not...I know there are some photos online of the whole rear bumper mount assy coming off but you would think you should be able to see the localized damages caused by something like happening...There really isn't much holding a tire assy to the bumper as shown in this photo... I only see a couple of bolts laying on the ground this guy removed to take his bumper and tire mount off.Google ImageGlad he was able to get to safe place off of the road to get repairs.Roy Ken

I would agree with others and say it's probably laying along the highway somewhere. Seen a new RV spare in the ditch yesterday along 135 North.Neighbor works for highway dept. He finds spares, bumpers and even a portable generator. He's found wallets, cell phones, and tablets as well. Turns it over to highway patrol. Most are never claimed.Since the mount was gone as well I would say the bolts vibrated loose and simply fell off.Forgot to add that I personally lost my license tag off my new 5th wheel when the cheap plastic bracket off the tail light broke off, first trip out.Talking about a hassle to replace.

Beware! Spare tire stolen | Good Sam Community

Dick_B
Explorer
Apr 02, 2017
Call me crazy but we carry TWO spares for the RV; one on the back and one in the vehicle. Since we started using Michelin XPS Ribs we have not had a flat tire in several years. But I do rotate the tires every couple of years and incorporate the spares in the mix.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Apr 02, 2017
HEY OP........

How about a picture WHERE mount and tire use to be??
colliehauler
Explorer III
Apr 02, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
TomG2 wrote:
Since I have never seen a spare tire and mount along the thousands of mile I have traveled, but have had things stolen, I will disagree with the folks who go along with the "It must have fallen off" theory. Two minutes with a nine sixteenths wrench and the spare changed owners.

Agree, hard to believe a spare along with it's mounting bracket could have simply fallen off and the OP not noticed. Likewise how could the OP not have noticed the spare & bracket was missing before he left the campground? One of my cardinal rules is to always do a quick walk around my rig before jumping in the truck to make sure everything as it should be - no forgotten chocks, all doors locked, TV antenna down, etc, etc. Had the OP done this he wouldn't have ended up in this surprise predicament - flat tire and no spare. :R
When they fall off at highway speeds they don't usually stay on the road but slide into the ditch or feild. The spare I found yesterday was approximately 50 yard's from the road in a wheat feild. Aluminum wheel with 14" tire. It's all speculation at this point anyway. Even if you don't believe they can fall off call your DOT office and ask how many they pick up every year. I will agree with SoundGuy statement that it is wise to do a walk around and check. I myself have found the bolts on my spare tire carrier loose. It would be wise for others to check their's.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Apr 02, 2017
For me personally, I think I would be more likely to hear someone right outside my trailer in the middle of the night and take notice than I would hearing something go bang behind the trailer while I'm driving down the road and take notice.
pawpaw47
Explorer
Apr 02, 2017
Thanks for all the comments guys.
I'd like to clear up a a couple of things:
1) I always do a walk around before I leave the the campground. When I did it on that morning, I felt that something wasn't right but I just couldn't figure out what it was. I check and rechecked all my usual stuff (jacks up, chocks removed, power cord stowed, etc) and all was well. I just didn't notice that the entire spare tire assembly was gone. How many of you really check to see if your spare tire is still there? I guess I just took for granted that it was still attached.
2) If it had fallen off, I'm pretty sure there would be some scrapes and scratches on the bumper from it bouncing around before it fell off. There were none of those. The bumper didn't have a scratch on it.
3) We didn't hear a sound because the A/C was running and our bedroom is in the front of the trailer - far removed from the rear bumper.
I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else. It sure put a damper on the whole trip.
Happy camping everyone - stay safe and be aware!
mich800
Explorer
Apr 02, 2017
I don't know why it is so difficult to believe it was stolen. It is not unheard of to have catalytic converters cut off when parked. So a very accessible spare tire would be simple.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Apr 02, 2017
I'm in the group that believe the OP, that it was stolen. We almost had a propane tank stolen from our pop-up in a town called, Normal, Illinois, many years ago. Stopped at a restaurant right down town, "Normal" and when we came out, the cover of the tank was pulled off, and the hose unhooked. They couldn't get the tank off though because of the way it was it hooked in. I even had to fight the thing to get the tank off, and I knew how to do it! Reported it to the local police who said it was not uncommon for RV to have propane tanks stolen for meth labs. We were luck they didn't get it. So you know ... I believe the OP that it was theft.

When we purchased our Outback, the first thing I did was remove the tire from the trailer bumper. Our bumper came factory equipped with a hitch, so the bumper is welded very well, and welded the hitch frame and the bumper together. So I felt very comfortable taking the tire off and putting this (below) on. That meant the spare tire now rides in the back of the pick up truck. With all the stuff we carry in that pick-up truck bed, it would take a lot for someone to take the tire!
Lantley
Nomad
Apr 03, 2017
toedtoes wrote:
For me personally, I think I would be more likely to hear someone right outside my trailer in the middle of the night and take notice than I would hearing something go bang behind the trailer while I'm driving down the road and take notice.

Exactly my point. WE may need Columbo to get to the bottom of this one:@
westernrvparkow
Explorer
Apr 03, 2017
I don't think we will ever know what really happened. However, stealing a spare tire and rack in the middle of the night, in a RV park where such activity would likely be noticed (RV parks are high density and usually sites aren't very private) sure isn't a sign of a criminal mastermind. The tire rack would likely have no value, and a spare tire very little though both would have some weight to them. That's a whole lot of work, for little reward. Most tire and wheel thieves target more valuable aluminum wheels on popular vehicles. Twice in my Lifetime I have come out to find my truck on blocks (not in Montana, but back when I lived the corporate life), but the spare remained untouched. A set of 4 tires with expensive wheels have resale value, a single trailer tire spare, not so much.
As for falling off, physics would dictate that if it fell off the back of a moving vehicle, it would not hit the vehicle since the tire and carrier would begin decelerating once it became unattached while the vehicle would maintain it's speed. Furthermore, any sound would be blocked by the trailer and the vehicle and muffled by other road noises. I've had things vibrate loose over the years and disappear into the side of the road abyss.
1968mooney
Explorer
Apr 03, 2017
I think the thieves snuck up under the dark of night, loosened the bolts holding the spare, and then followed the OP down the road to retrieve the tire, wheel, and carrier when it fell off. Only scenario that makes sense. :S