I'm looking to make some changes this season to my fifth wheel. First, I'm mounting the spare tire under the trailer up front near the landing gear. I think that's going to work just fine. Secondly, I'm looking to add a box in front of the first axle that will hang down about 12 inches (still above the axle) to store my waste water tote. It would seem this would work fine except maybe some elevated RR crossing or something (which I would never attempt anyway). Is there anything else I should be thinking about. I'm looking for ideas. The other alternative is to add a box to the rear of the trailer but I don't really want to do that. I plan on having a hitch welded on and putting a bicycle rack back there. My camper does not have a ladder on the back and I've seen some folks strap it to the ladder. That's not an option for me.Thoughts? Photos?

Something like this should probably do the trick. A bit pricy but most things that fit RV's are.Barney

Thanks for the feedback.I actually came across that in my travels. It is not big enough for my tote. To be clear on my ask, I'm custom making the box. It will be 1 foot tall to fit my tote. I'm just curious if there aren't any gotcha's with something like this that I'm not thinking about. I will supply a photo or two when I'm done but before I get started I thought I'd seek some feedback from others.

If just for the tote, maybe just some angle iron to hold it might be easier.

My previous trailer had the spare up front under the trailer. It was well supported and I was able to add "safety" chains around it and attach to the frame.My big concern with a front mounted spare is if it ever came loose. The damage as it bounced it's way to exit in the rear could be catastrophic. The retractable hangers used to hold the spare up that are on most trailers are pretty flimsy.

dryfly wrote:My previous trailer had the spare up front under the trailer. It was well supported and I was able to add "safety" chains around it and attach to the frame.My big concern with a front mounted spare is if it ever came loose. The damage as it bounced it's way to exit in the rear could be catastrophic. The retractable hangers used to hold the spare up that are on most trailers are pretty flimsy.That's a great piece of advice. Thanks for sharing that. That should be pretty easily accomplished.

Underframe Storage | Good Sam Community

dryfly
Explorer
Mar 05, 2021
JRscooby wrote:
dryfly wrote:

My big concern with a front mounted spare is if it ever came loose. The damage as it bounced it's way to exit in the rear could be catastrophic. The retractable hangers used to hold the spare up that are on most trailers are pretty flimsy.

Wow.........you had to really hunt to come up with that conclusion. We are talking about the location of a spare tire here, and not necessarily from the standpoint of highway safety concerns. If we approach every topic on this forum with the premise that it primarily should relate solely to the safety of others, it's going to get pretty complicated.

Sorry if I offended you. But no matter how many times I read that statement I see somebody that is worried about property damage to their property if a spare comes loose. I have seen real disasters where others people where put at serious risk from stuff falling off vehicles.
IMHO, damage to your trailer don't amount to a pinch of snot, if it is you that dropped things. If that chance of damage makes you prefer a rear mount...

No offense taken. I'm just a little amazed that the aspect of highway safety would not be "implied" in any post on this forum.

If you read my post again, I hope it's obvious that my "big concern" is front mounted vs. rear mounted spare tire brackets. I was not addressing the consequences of what happens once the wheel leaves the trailer. that is another issue, and I'm sure it's of concern to anyone pulling a trailer.

In any post dealing with how often should one perform bearing maintenance, or asking if a rear trailer hitch will support a bike rack, or if a ladder can be carried on the back of trailer, etc., the highway safety factor is always implied, and does not have to be stated.
gkainz
Explorer
Mar 05, 2021
I interpret the above to say the add-on underbody mounts (aftermarket?) are more flimsy than the rear bumper spare tire mounts (factory), and nothing to do with an attitude of "don't give a rip about anyone behind me, as long as my stuff is not hurt" ...
JRscooby
Explorer II
Mar 05, 2021
dryfly wrote:

My big concern with a front mounted spare is if it ever came loose. The damage as it bounced it's way to exit in the rear could be catastrophic. The retractable hangers used to hold the spare up that are on most trailers are pretty flimsy.

Wow.........you had to really hunt to come up with that conclusion. We are talking about the location of a spare tire here, and not necessarily from the standpoint of highway safety concerns. If we approach every topic on this forum with the premise that it primarily should relate solely to the safety of others, it's going to get pretty complicated.

Sorry if I offended you. But no matter how many times I read that statement I see somebody that is worried about property damage to their property if a spare comes loose. I have seen real disasters where others people where put at serious risk from stuff falling off vehicles.
IMHO, damage to your trailer don't amount to a pinch of snot, if it is you that dropped things. If that chance of damage makes you prefer a rear mount...
dryfly
Explorer
Mar 05, 2021
JRscooby wrote:
dryfly wrote:
My previous trailer had the spare up front under the trailer. It was well supported and I was able to add "safety" chains around it and attach to the frame.

My big concern with a front mounted spare is if it ever came loose. The damage as it bounced it's way to exit in the rear could be catastrophic. The retractable hangers used to hold the spare up that are on most trailers are pretty flimsy.

Let me see if I understand what you are saying. Your spare, mounted on front, comes loose, it will bounce around destroying your property. But if it is mounted on rear, your property is safe. The death and destruction that likely will happen behind you is not important?

Wow.........you had to really hunt to come up with that conclusion. We are talking about the location of a spare tire here, and not necessarily from the standpoint of highway safety concerns. If we approach every topic on this forum with the premise that it primarily should relate solely to the safety of others, it's going to get pretty complicated.
NiasWagn
Explorer
Mar 04, 2021
JRscooby wrote:
dryfly wrote:
My previous trailer had the spare up front under the trailer. It was well supported and I was able to add "safety" chains around it and attach to the frame.

My big concern with a front mounted spare is if it ever came loose. The damage as it bounced it's way to exit in the rear could be catastrophic. The retractable hangers used to hold the spare up that are on most trailers are pretty flimsy.

OP, on level ground, park the front tire on a string. Pull that string up to the lowest point halfway between that axle and the rear axle of TV. Box above string? Very unlikely to hit it. Could you make a cage to hold tank up between crossmembers? Might need it hinged so could lower outside end to get it in/out.

My trailer has an enclosed underbelly and I don't want to mess with it but that is actually a good idea otherwise. I've got the underside sealed up pretty tight. The first year I parked it over the winter I had mice in there...since then...none. I saw the string trick in the instruction manual Lippert sent me for my spare tire carrier so I'll give that a shot too up front. Thanks for the advice there.
NiasWagn
Explorer
Mar 04, 2021
shadows4 wrote:
I have seen some pics of the Bal spare tire carrier that also held a waste water tote and the spare tire. Something like that would work well I would think. Good luck.

Bal carrier.

Believe it or not, that was my original plan exactly. This spring I set out to put it into motion and guess what? I can't buy that BAL carrier anywhere. There's a sudden shortage of spare tire carriers now. Instead I paid four times as much for a Lippert model. The good part is it is made for the frame so just bolt it on and go.
shadows4
Explorer III
Mar 04, 2021
I have seen some pics of the Bal spare tire carrier that also held a waste water tote and the spare tire. Something like that would work well I would think. Good luck.

Bal carrier.
JRscooby
Explorer II
Mar 04, 2021
dryfly wrote:
My previous trailer had the spare up front under the trailer. It was well supported and I was able to add "safety" chains around it and attach to the frame.

My big concern with a front mounted spare is if it ever came loose. The damage as it bounced it's way to exit in the rear could be catastrophic. The retractable hangers used to hold the spare up that are on most trailers are pretty flimsy.

Let me see if I understand what you are saying. Your spare, mounted on front, comes loose, it will bounce around destroying your property. But if it is mounted on rear, your property is safe. The death and destruction that likely will happen behind you is not important?

OP, on level ground, park the front tire on a string. Pull that string up to the lowest point halfway between that axle and the rear axle of TV. Box above string? Very unlikely to hit it. Could you make a cage to hold tank up between crossmembers? Might need it hinged so could lower outside end to get it in/out.
NiasWagn
Explorer
Mar 04, 2021
dryfly wrote:
My previous trailer had the spare up front under the trailer. It was well supported and I was able to add "safety" chains around it and attach to the frame.

My big concern with a front mounted spare is if it ever came loose. The damage as it bounced it's way to exit in the rear could be catastrophic. The retractable hangers used to hold the spare up that are on most trailers are pretty flimsy.

That's a great piece of advice. Thanks for sharing that. That should be pretty easily accomplished.
dryfly
Explorer
Mar 03, 2021
My previous trailer had the spare up front under the trailer. It was well supported and I was able to add "safety" chains around it and attach to the frame.

My big concern with a front mounted spare is if it ever came loose. The damage as it bounced it's way to exit in the rear could be catastrophic. The retractable hangers used to hold the spare up that are on most trailers are pretty flimsy.

Forum Discussion

Underframe Storage

About Fifth Wheel Group

Related Content

Tailgate storage

Kayak storage?

Food Storage

Storage

Hitch storage