BAL Hide-A-Spare

[silverback31b2]

Looking for the pros and cons from anyone who has one on their fifth wheel, either factory installed or added. Thinking of adding it to our fifth wheel. Easy to use? Strong? Install? Or suggestions on another mounting method. Etc, etc. Thanks.

[aruba]

I installed one on my Keystone Cougar last week. The underbelly is fully enclosed, but behind the rear wheel, the I-beam was exposed. It is bolted to there and so far am pleased with it. My rear bumper is extendable for bikes, so with the spare gone, it frees up space and weight.

[silverback31b2]

Thanks for the responses, was thinking this may be more secure than a crank up tire holder, like our trucks have. Although, I've never had one on any of my trucks fail either.

[shadows4]

I looked into these, but decided to just put my spare under the bed inside the 5er. I wasn't using all that space so why not? And there was not cost!!!
Dick_B I also wondered about the weight issue of having to push the spare up. Sucks getting old!

[Bob_Vaughn]

720Deere wrote:

Dick_B wrote:
I'm not sure which one is BAL but we use the kind that have a magnetic base and the top slides open to insert the key. It also helps to wrap the key to keep it dry. Has worked for years.

Not a hide-a-key, this is a spare tire mount.

I put one of these on my 5ver and the thing I did not like about it was getting it down was a piece of cake because gravity did the work. BUT lifting it back up was a *****....I could not do it....I then put two furniture casters to the arms attached by u bolts to move it from the side of the rv back under the frame. I then took and old bumper jack I had and cut part of the post off so it would fit under the camper. Once I get it back into place I slide the jack under it and lift it up then a slight push on the carrier pushes it into place and I can put the bolt back into the hole. I also replaced their safety pin with one that was more user friendly. The one they put thru the bolt might work fine on some one's desk but laying on the ground under the rv was a PITA....

[720Deere]

Dick_B wrote:
I'm not sure which one is BAL but we use the kind that have a magnetic base and the top slides open to insert the key. It also helps to wrap the key to keep it dry. Has worked for years.

Not a hide-a-key, this is a spare tire mount.

[yankee_camper]

I bought one over the course of the winter, kinda an impulse buy. Now that spring has come I've been out looking at my 25 ft coachman 5th wheel and I really don't think I'm going to be able to use it. The only places that I could put it are under my holding tanks,don't think I want to do that or in the rear but my steps and stabilizer jacks are in the way. I might be able to "gerry rig" something but I'm not sure.Long story short make sure you've got the room.

[Dick_B]

I'm not sure which one is BAL but we use the kind that have a magnetic base and the top slides open to insert the key. It also helps to wrap the key to keep it dry. Has worked for years.