Necessity of a spare?

[jrpend]

Greetings!! -

The DW and I are about to take delivery on a new Itasca 37F. One of things that surprised us about the coach was that a spare tire is not included.

Is this simply a acknowledgement that normal humans cannot change those tires and we must call a truck tire guy anyway? It appears that a lot of big rigs no longer have spares as well.

We are concerned about the situation where we are stuck outside of some remote location with a flat. Based on the experiences in this forum, how real is that fear?

How do others mitigate the lack of a spare?

Thanks,
Jerald Pendleton

[Jim_Norman]

Continuing the discussion. Our Itasca came with a spare. It was stored in a compartment at 'floor level' under the rear bed. Access was on the driver or street side. Getting the spare out, Easy. Gravity assist! Putting the dead tire back? Nearly impossible. Solution? Built a carrier that fits into the upper receiver on the hitch adapter, made an extension to add height and packed a small come-along, I can lower the tire to the ground and pick the dead one up. A side benefit is that I now have a large storage compartment that fits all mu cable and hoses (except sewer) in plastic bins. Also where the Come-along and extension are stored.

I may never have another blowout or flat, and if I do, I might be in a civilized location, but just in case, I am prepared.

[Canadian_Rainbi]

There was a spare on our older gassers, both 16" and "easy" to change. 50 years ago when I was much younger I spent a year in a tire shop where we did a LOT of commercial trucks including road service. The current rig has 22.5 radials and though easier to change the the old bias plys I knew they would be beyond me.

We have travelled all of North America from Alaska to the Belize border in Mexico and have never had a blow out in the Atasca. CHECK TIRE PRESSURES BEFORE EACH TRIP and check tire temps at each stop using an IR gun.

In the Commander many years ago we had a blow out but even though we had a spare I called the road service.

[roam1]

do you need a spare? no
should you get one? depends....

I've been RVing for 24 years and used my spare twice. Glad I had it on hand. Once was July 4 th in the afternoon and I have this "not available" XRV size. Other time was nail found at departure tire pressure check. quick change and on my way.

if you have a spare, do have an ERS that will change it for you
if you don't have a spare, do have an ERS that will find one for you and be prepared to "possibly" wait longer and pay more....possibly

is there a right or wrong answer? no (unless you didn't get ERS!!!):B

[Jim_Norman]

I see that a lot of people depend upon Roadside assistance and a cell phone. The one time I had a flat, I was VERY lucky. We were in a spot about two miles long that HAD cell coverage. I now as indicated in a prior post carry a spare and the equipment to make the change, Not everywhere has cell service or a reasonable response time. The one time I needed it, it was a 4 hour wait! But I also understand that not everyone is physically able to do the change over. As I get older I realize I will not always be capable, but having the equipment and the mounted spare makes the change over easier for the good Samaritan that might happen along.

[DoubleVeteran]

I agree with Executive, but put your unmounted spare in one of your bays. I can't climb up on the roof on my MH with a 50+ pound 22.5 spare in tow, and I doubt you can either 😉

Executive wrote:
You'll notice your coach doesn't come with a JACK either....:W

Considering the torque necessary when the wheels are mounted, the danger of changing the tire on the side of the road, the 200# tire itself and the room it takes to store it and the rare occurrence of a flat tire, I believe it's a waste of time, energy and room to carry a spare.

I've been RVing for over 50 years and have had exactly TWO flat tires! Now if you're one of those guys that abuses his equipment, runs the tires for over 10 years and consistently drives the rig over 70 mph, then maybe you're a candidate for carrying a spare. In that case, take the unmounted spare and throw it on the roof over one of your vents. It weighs a ton so it won't blow off. Be sure to carry a good torque wrench and a cheater bar along with an adequate jack and some heavy duty jack stands.

Choice is yours. Me? I carry a MasterCard and CoachNet. I'll take a nap while waiting for the tire guy to bring me the new tire. My last flat was last August where I ran over a piece of metal on the highway and punctured the tire. I run 295/80/22.5 Goodyears. It took the tire guy almost an hour to get a tire and get to my coach. The one he put on? 295/80/22.5 Goodyear, date code 10/14. Total cost was $733 which was paid in full by my insurance company, no deductible. I polished the coach while waiting for the tire guy to arrive.....Dennis

[cjoseph]

I could see keeping a used tire that fits just in case the roadside assistance truck can't find your size. This will give you the ability to limp to a better place to shop for the tire. You will then have to pay to mount it twice though.

I don't want to carry $500 worth of tire around for 7-10 years just to have it age out, so I don't bother. To some, that is good insurance.

Another option people forget or don't realize is that Ford provides roadside assistance to you for the duration of your warranty. They will send a repair service to you. You can buy the tire then. Ford will also assist you after the warranty but you pay.

I received a complementary membership to Coach Net with the new MH. When it came time to shop, I discovered that I have roadside assistance from Ford, so I went with that.

In this day and age with mobile data, cell phones and all that, I think I could track down a roadside service truck as quickly as the next guy. The service will be on my dime, though. So far, I'm ahead one year.

[Jarlaxle]

mpierce wrote:
I have 12R22.5 tires, no spare. My son and I tried to take off a front wheel so we could change an air bag. We farm, and have a pretty good assortment of tools. We used a 1" drive socket set, with a 3' handle. We then put a 2' extension on that handle. We both were on that 5' handle, and could not break a single nut loose! So, we gave up, and changed the bag with the wheel on!

They were overtightened!

[rgatijnet1]

mpierce wrote:
A rear would be harder, because of how far the studs are recessed.

Actually those recessed studs are not a problem. Just take an extension for your socket that is long enough to bring it out to where it is clear of the wheel. ON my coach, a 12" extension is long enough. Then I use a lightweight adjustable jack stand(Jack Stand) to support the extension while I have the breaker bar attached. This allows me to stand on the breaker bar extension(I use a 4' piece of pipe) and I am able to easily loosen all of my lug nuts which are SUPPOSED to be tightened to 475 ft pounds. They are usually much tighter but the extension pipe and my weight still works.

[mpierce]

I have 12R22.5 tires, no spare. My son and I tried to take off a front wheel so we could change an air bag. We farm, and have a pretty good assortment of tools. We used a 1" drive socket set, with a 3' handle. We then put a 2' extension on that handle. We both were on that 5' handle, and could not break a single nut loose! So, we gave up, and changed the bag with the wheel on!

There is NO WAY we could change a wheel on the side of the road. A rear would be harder, because of how far the studs are recessed.

There is a space on the roof of the DP for a tire mount. I am thinking that when I change tires, I will put an unmounted tire up there with a front end loader. As it is a 12R22.5, it is NOT a common tire. So, if needed, a road side tire truck could get the tire down, and mount it on the wheel with the problem.

[Ivylog]

Mine only goes to 626F but it has the laser pointer which is fun for exercising the cats. Took a little longer than normal from China... three weeks. On a clear day point one straight up... you'll be surprised. My daughter used one to get the formula 98F so her new born would take the not so real stuff.
I bought my first one over 30 years ago and it found a overheating problem on a machine I'd been fighting in less than 5 minutes.

[Mr_Mark1]

Ivylog wrote:
The trigger on my Raytech IR broke and they do not sell a replacement. Send it in and for $40 they would sell me a new one. Bought this one on Ebay for $9.50 and I'm pleased with it.
As for getting my spare on the roof, at home I use my BobCat but on the road I have drug one up the ladder using my 30amp cord as a rope. On that previous MH I put the unmounted spare around a roof vent in the middle of the roof without fastening it down. On this MH it's at the back where there is a lip plus I run a strap around it to the ladder.

I just bought a Sears Infra-red thermometer gun for $99.00. I have never seen them as cheap as the one you posted, wow! The one I bought has a max temp capability of 1,400 degrees.

MM.

[Ivylog]

The trigger on my Raytech IR broke and they do not sell a replacement. Send it in and for $40 they would sell me a new one. Bought this one on Ebay for $9.50 and I'm pleased with it.
As for getting my spare on the roof, at home I use my BobCat but on the road I have drug one up the ladder using my 30amp cord as a rope. On that previous MH I put the unmounted spare around a roof vent in the middle of the roof without fastening it down. On this MH it's at the back where there is a lip plus I run a strap around it to the ladder.

[Jim_Norman]

Starting off with a confession, I have not read the entire thread!

I have a spare. It came with our rig. I have had a flat (Front Right blowout) no damage, just drove off onto the shoulder and stopped. Spare WAS carried in a drivers side compartment about 5 feet off the ground. I did not have a jack or a set of tools that would come close to dealing with this. We were lucky, Cell service was good, for about 1/2 mile in each direction from where we were stopped! 4 hours waiting for road service and we were on our way.

NEVER AGAIN!

The spare is now mounted on a rear carrier, I have a 42" 3/4 drive breaker bar, an impact wrench, appropriate sockets and a scissors jack to support the breaker bar. I also have a come-a-long so I can lift the tire off the carrier and raise the flat back up.

Now if you never leave civilization you might think you don't need this. I was on US 50 just across the bay bridge out of Annapolis, MD, not out in 'the boonies'

You may not be able to effect a change yourself, but having the proper equipment may enable others to assist you, even another RV in your party. All this said, I have about 25 vehicles in my fleet and flats are nowhere as common as they were 40 years ago, doesn't mean they can't happen.

[msturtz]

Effy wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
Keeping your old tire costs nothing. Wrapping it up in alum foil and plastic wrap costs very little. Carrying it on the roof does not take up any bay storage area. IF they have a replacement new tire at a reasonable price I'll do that BUT IF NOT then my old spare will get me to where I can buy a new replacement at a reasonable price. If in the middle of nowhere I'll change it myself. I like having options.

Just curious how you get it on the roof, fasten it down and then get it off? Those things are heavy.

And for the others that carry a spare, what do you do about the inner dual?

Most Motorhomes have the same tire and rim at all positions. Have a spare and call ERS to put it on. No big deal.