Class C Ford E-450 chassis spare tire -- or lack thereof

[mleekamp]

Been asking some questions about Class C's over the past month. Here's another.

Our 2019 Jayco Class C, on the Ford E-450 chassis (dually) has no spare tire. All of our travel trailers never came with them, but I always put one on (carried via bumper mount set up).

I have found a set up from eTrailer for the Roadmaster RM-195225 that slips in the receiver hitch. You gotta buy the wheel/tire from there.

Couple questions:

anyone using this type of setup (hitch mounted spare tire carrier?)?

if we went this way and got the spare tire mount, where do I get the spare wheel/tire -- it's not your average 5 lug wheel

should we skip this whole mess and just sign up for GS, Coachnet, FMCA, etc etc ???

[ernie1]

mleekamp: I have the Roadmaster spare tire carrier on my 2018 Mercedes Sprinter and I highly recommend it. Look at how it functions carefully and you'll find that when you need the spare, it can be pivoted down to ground level for easier handling. Also when it's time to stow the spare away, it can be pivoted from the ground up.In addition, there is an opening at the hitch level to attach another accessory like a bike carrier.

[cpman1949]

Have a new 2021 Jayco Grayhawk. Prior to this had a 2002 Jayco Granite Ridge. On Granite Ridge blew 6 tires over time. Unit was build too heavy. Issue disappeared once stopped buy Goodyear tires and replaced them all with Bridgestone steel belted tires. That unit had a spare. Carried 10 ton jack, required wrenches and changed tire. With new unit was afraid to be without a spare. Purchased the Roadmaster RM-195225 spare tire carrier from Carid. Bought bare rim from Roadready wheels and bought tire that match the tires currently on coach. Just getting tire mount so have not put everything together yet but feel I will be able to travel feeling more comfortable. When all set and done will have around $900 but it will be worth it. PS If you are a vet both CARID and Roadready offer a military discount.

[DrewE]

My class C has the underframe winch holder for the spare. I think it's about the best all-around way to carry one if you can manage; it's not the most convenient to access, but it doesn't cut down on storage space or get in the way of a trailer or sit exposed to UV light etc.

I had to use it less than a week ago in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, in fact. Changing a tire is not fun, of course, but not exceptionally difficult on a class C either. (In case you're wondering, I got slightly too close to a stump in a tight spot on Cades Cove Road, a spot made tighter because of a long line of cars pulled off the other side of the road. A few splinters of wood from the stump got worked in between the tire bead and the wheel's rim...luckily, the tire and wheel themselves appear to be uninjured, though I need to take it to a tire shop to have the splinters removed and things checked out.)

[Desert_Captain]

"The auto industry went to the small spares to save fuel. They are much lighter. "

Yes they are lighter but they are also far cheaper. By downsizing to the cheapo mini spares Detroit et al found a great way to save money while appearing to pursue fuel economy. The auto industry recognized what many RV'ers fail to acknowledge... that everyone needs a spare.

:C

[tarnold]

I mounted ours on the roof. Got a piece of 12" square stainless about 1/4" thick. Drilled 2 holes that met the lug pattern and got grade 8 bolts welded on long enough to fit the rim with nuts.
A bunch of #12 stainless screws around the edge of the plate to hold down. 2 layers of fiberglass cloth slightly larger than the plate to help hold down and seal any chance of water leaks. Extension ladder at an angle easily got it up there. Gravity is your friend getting it down! Tire has a snap on cover so no uv but stays under shelter when not on the road.

[mleekamp]

Thanks for all the great info. I agree it should have a spare, and you gave me exactly what I hoped for...your situations and experiences. LIke I said, we always added a spare to our various TT's over the years.

When we looked at the C, I glanced under, from the middle of the unit, and all looked ok. Could not see the back overhang. SHame on me for not verifying.

Before our big trip next summer to Glacier & Yellowstone, a spare will be added.

[lakeside013104]

SidecarFlip wrote:
My philosophy about not having a spare on board is like getting dressed and not putting on pants. Might be ok around the house but anywhere else, not so good.

I have a spare on mine and if I could not physically change it, still would be cheaper than having a road service to a tire change off and on a rim in the boonies. A mounted spare makes life easier and much less expensive because, it's not if you get a flat, it's when you get a flat.

Happens to everyone sometime and the difference between being prepared and caught with no pants on can be appreciable, money wise.

Ponder that.

Good one, Mr. Sidecar, Your post gives me something else besides my zipper, military alignment and whether or not my belt is on backwards to think about every time I put my pants on from now on. Now I will be thinking about my spare tire.

Seriously, it is a very good idea to travel with a spare already mounted tire and wheel. Great idea to be prepared whether driving an RV, camper, 5er, boat, auto, or utility trailer. Cheaper in the long run and the preparation comes with peace of mind.

Lakeside

[ron_dittmer]

pnichols wrote:
I also carry all the equipment along in our Class C to jack up the rig, inflate a tire, plug a puncture hole in a tire, or change a bad tire ... just in case we're out someplace where ERS won't come to.

pnichols is offering very good advise.

In the 11 years owning our E350 chassis motor home, I finally had a reason to handle the front tires when replacing the shock absorbers. Over the years on RV forums including this one, there is much mention of road-side assistance for changing a tire. It had me thinking the tires are too heavy to handle. I am not a strong person, never was, never was athletic because of it, never worked out, 60 years old, not young, yet I had no physical challenge in removing the front tires and put them back on. They reminded me of handling the tires on my first car, a 1971 Delta-88. Maybe in my 70's and beyond I might consider roadside assistance.

I advise to do as pnichols says and carry what you need to change or repair a tire yourself, and actually "change" the tire yourself if or when you need to. A half hour delay is much better than wasting a day or longer. If you don't know how, learn how at home. It takes just one practice.

[b17drvr]

Desert Captain wrote:
On our E-350 2012 Nexus 24' C I mounted the typical bumper mount spare tire holder to our square rear bumper.... After a couple of thousand miles through pretty close to every pothole between Tucson and Maine the mount fractured leaving my spare leaning back at a 45 degree angle. Fortunarely I caught it in time, moved it to the cab over and got on down the road.

I have yet to ever encounter a bumper mount spare tire holder any sronger than the one I mounted and it quickly failed. The physics of this equation simply dictate failure. The leverage imparted by the weight of a spare combined with the bumps and motion of being located on the rear bumper guarantees a a disaster and probably sooner than later.

We solved the problem {after the failure} by stopping at the Nexus factory in Elkhart {which we happily were passing by} and had them custom weld a spare tire mount up under the rear of the coach. The weight is down low, very secure and out of the way but ready for deployment when we need it and there is no question that some day we WILL need it.

A couple of decades ago the auto industry decided that no one needed a real spare and the little mini spares began appearing in trunks across the nation. These are garbage, probably the worst idea to ever emerge from Detroit and it remains a concept {less than a real spare} embraced by the RV industry {because it saves them money to not install a proper spare}.

IMHO: Get a proper spare, fully mounted on the appropriate wheel and then... get on down to Harbor freight {or wherever} and buy the tools necessary to change said sapre - Bottle jack, jackstands, lug wrench, chocks, tire reparir kit and a compressor is a nice touch. Practice at home in your driveway and hope that when you call your ERS they arrive promptly {not likely} change your tire and send you on your way but... knowing that in a pinch you can get it done without them.

As always... Opinions and YMMV.

:C

The auto industry went to the small spares to save fuel. They are much lighter.

Last month a young guy at work was late because he had a flat. He said AAA took awhile. I asked him if the car had a spare, he said it did. He said he had to wait for AAA to change it. I asked why he didn’t change it and he said he didn’t know how.

[pnichols]

rjstractor wrote:
I vote for the under-mount between the frame rails. This keeps it out of sight of potential thieves (although I suppose they may look under) and away from UV exposure. Changing one of these is not much different than a full size HD pickup. The rear axle will be heavier of course, but the tires are about the same weight and the lugs should only be tightened to 140 ft./lbs. A person of average strength should have no problems loosening or tightening with a standard 2 foot tire iron as long as some knucklehead installer didn't rattle them on with a 3/4" impact wrench. These are nowhere near as difficult as the 22.5s found on larger rigs, these are often torqued to 450-500 ft./lbs.

That's exactly where my Winnebago Itasca came with it's spare - mounted in the rear up in between the frame rails just like where the spare is on a pickup truck - including my GMC pickup.

I would not buy a new motorhome without a spare ... but I would also tell the salesman that ... so that he knew why I walked away from a new model they were showing me that otherwise met all of my other requirements. This would be called "customer feedback" and might train the dealer to order all future inventory with spares!

I also carry all the equipment along in our Class C to jack up the rig, inflate a tire, plug a puncture hole in a tire, or change a bad tire ... just in case we're out someplace where ERS won't come to.

P.S. We also carry along a satellite access texting device to maybe get help when cell phones wont' work.

[Expyinflight]

The spare tire on our 2017 Winnebago Spirit 25b was optional. I wanted one, and would not leave home without it. Ours is mounted inside the rear storage compartment.
Our neighbor just bought a 2019 Winnebago Spirit 22m. The optional spare tire is mounted underneath, between the frame rails.

[rjstractor]

I vote for the under-mount between the frame rails. This keeps it out of sight of potential thieves (although I suppose they may look under) and away from UV exposure. Changing one of these is not much different than a full size HD pickup. The rear axle will be heavier of course, but the tires are about the same weight and the lugs should only be tightened to 140 ft./lbs. A person of average strength should have no problems loosening or tightening with a standard 2 foot tire iron as long as some knucklehead installer didn't rattle them on with a 3/4" impact wrench. These are nowhere near as difficult as the 22.5s found on larger rigs, these are often torqued to 450-500 ft./lbs.

[ron_dittmer]

Back in the day, our Phoenix Cruiser included an integrated spare tire compartment (with spare tire & wheel) as shown.


As of late, now you have to special order a PC and request it, otherwise you will get this 😞

[IAMICHABOD]

The rear bumper may not be the best choice,although some RVs have them.
Mine is mounted inside my large rear storage compartment,bolted to a frame that is welded to the frame rails.

>
Another way to go is mounting the spare using the receiver.

Here are some examples

Or you can mount it underneath

Like Baja Man did

I also carry roadside assistance,to have them do the replacement.
If you don't have your own tire you are at the mercy of them to get one for you and that is really expensive.