Spare Tire

Because of the fact that my propane tanks (dual fuel)are where the spare should be, I have to carry the spare in the bed normally. SO when loaded with the TC I put it in the small trailer we tow. Really easy access.

I think a good option for me is to adapt my 20 volt impact to work the spare tire winch up or down.

But... one of the most important issues is getting oil/ lubrication to the spare tire winch once in awhile. Them things are known for rust and failures. One guy saw his spare rolling down the highway along side. Could have killed someone. So my spare is also chained up with a chain binder cause those tire winches are the most rusty prone thing on the planet.

Just google spare tire winch failures/ forums... you will see what I mean.

plenty of room under my Lance 1055 to access the hole for lowering the spare tire. Had to change one on the side of I5 a few years back I would have had the entire thing done in under 20 minutes if I had checked the air pressure in the spare, It to a while with the small compressor on board to bring the spare up to 80psi. My jack lifted the truck and tc just fine.

We had a flat in New Mexico a couple years ago out in the middle of no where. I jacked up the camper, pulled the truck out from underneath the camper, dropped spare, changed tire and reloaded camper. Took me about an hour and half or so, including putting the flat tire back under truck where the spare was. Drove truck to nearest town and repeated the process to get the tire repaired the next morning.

And note that I have seen 3 single rear wheel pickups hauling campers with rear flat tires in the last 4 weeks. Just saw one last night on a Ford f350 pulling a boat behind the camper.

One of these three, the one we saw in Idaho the entire wheel/tire was gone and he was grinding the brake drum. Looked like a fun ride had happened based on the pavement scrapes.

HMS Beagle wrote:
Curious about spare tires. I've not had a flat on the last three trucks. With a dually, one could always remove the flat and continue (slowly) on the remaining 5 tires. There's plenty of people running heavy campers on single rear wheels, the load rating of the OEM tires in single use on my Ford is 3750 which would be slightly under the 3920 I measure on each rear. Driven slowly to the next place to have the flat fixed is probably going to work. And you get to use the spare location for another fuel tank.

Any opinions?

I personally never travel without a spare tire for my truck nor any trailer I might be dragging. Also my 18volt impact wrench, impact sockets, breaker bar, jacks, etc....

I have a heavy camper so to take the duals to a single would mean almost 5K on a tire. That won't last long, might get me to an exit or something.....so another reason I still carry a spare.

Curious about spare tires. I've not had a flat on the last three trucks. With a dually, one could always remove the flat and continue (slowly) on the remaining 5 tires. There's plenty of people running heavy campers on single rear wheels, the load rating of the OEM tires in single use on my Ford is 3750 which would be slightly under the 3920 I measure on each rear. Driven slowly to the next place to have the flat fixed is probably going to work. And you get to use the spare location for another fuel tank.

Any opinions?

2BLAZERS wrote:
Funny thing I haven't changed a flat tire on my 2016 Ram nor on my old 2011 nor the 2005. All were duallys and I always run good tires. ......

I don't have a dually, but my camper is fairly light weight. Last summer I had a flat in your State of Oregon. I drove on the gravel road to and from the Alvord playa. A stone went through the thread of a brand new Michelin E rated tire. According to the tow truck driver that is a common event in areas with volcanic gravel roads.

BTW, I have a 2010 Ram 2500 and a 9.5' Northstar Igloo. The whole for the jack was accessible.

I "stretched" my handle extension. link

Sincerely, Dave.

Buy an Arctic Fox, is always a good idea, We love ours. That being said, I went with a front mounted receiver and tire carrier. It does not have a noticeable effect on engine cooling and it takes 100lbs or so off the rear end.

If you have a flat, especially a rear flat, I'd lift the camper off the truck and change the tire that way. I have great tires and have had zero issues with flats in the last decade. That being said, they still happen. I carry a cheater bar and socket and a 10 ton hydraulic jack in lieu of the factory equipment. Most factory jacks are the absolute minimum and cheapest possible part for the job. If it is too far in the sticks for the tire shop guy to drive out I want something that works.