Traveling without a spare tire

WilBoud wrote:
Reaching out to those with experience.

We are in planning stages to take our Jayco Greyhawk 29MV Class C to Fairbanks (about 12,000 miles round trip) from south Louisiana in mid May through June.

In my planning, I suddenly realized the coach doesn't have a spare tire.

Has anyone here tackled such a drive without a spare......???

Where would someone carry a spare on a Class C coach ...???

hitch carrier goes in receiver

Wil,
'DON'T leave home without it!!!'
On our Alaska adventure a few years ago we were on the way from Tok to Chicken when some of the 'crush gravel' (it was the size of grapefruit and sharp!) spiked an inside on the duals. Slowly and with great care we made it back to TOK. There we found a fine gentleman to change the tire for us since I had a spare - otherwise it would have been at least a week to get a replacement tire.

When we arrived in Fairbanks, I purchased a replacement for the spare - at $25 less than the new original tires I bought in So Cal before we departed!!

Fortunately, it was not needed in the rest of the trip - but it was there! I think it is called 'insurance'.
So YES - carry a spare - mounted and inflated is best!!!

How old is the coach?
If a year or 2 old you can chance it.
Do you have a roadside assistance policy?
Have you a toad?
Are you going to be in populated areas or in the boonies. on interstates or backroads?
How tight a schedule are you on?
Can you sit for 3-4 days if a tire cannot be found near where you are. Such as a rural area on 4th of July weekend?
What size tire is it.
Answer these questions and you will probably come to a conclusion

darsben wrote:
How old is the coach?
If a year or 2 old you can chance it.
Do you have a roadside assistance policy?
Have you a toad?
Are you going to be in populated areas or in the boonies. on interstates or backroads?
How tight a schedule are you on?
Can you sit for 3-4 days if a tire cannot be found near where you are. Such as a rural area on 4th of July weekend?
What size tire is it.
Answer these questions and you will probably come to a conclusion

The Coach is brand-new except for the one thousand mile from the factory to the dealer.
Roadside assistance from State Farm and Good Sam(?)
Totally retired (no schedule
No, It's not my dream to sit by the side of the road for have-ever many days. That's why I'm reaching out to the more experienced traveler

Okay now to answer your question.
If you travel without a spare you will be at the mercy of whoever supplies the tire. It may not be the same quality as your others and may be a poorly made china junk tire. You may pay top dollar for the piece of junk tire and it may be a NOS tire that has been hanging around a long time . You do not HAVE to have the spare mounted on a rim in order for it to be useful.
So for peace of mind carry a spare.

We have traveled on some long trips to fairly remote places and we always carry a spare. I go a little further and take a jack with tools to remove a tire and a torque wrench to properly tighten the lug nuts after replacement. Have never had to use those items (other than a practice in the driveway). But feel so much more comfortable knowing if needed I can do it myself.

If you have a rear bumper you can get a spare carrier that will attach to it. If not then the they have carriers that attach to the receiver hitch.

Great time to plan your trip to Alaska. Cheap gas and USA dollar is strong. Probably reduce your overall costs by 30%.

I would at least carry an unmounted tire.

I used my spare tire when I drove my van and TT to Alaska in 2001. You'll find no cell phone service on most of the route so plan accordingly, depending on how long you would want to sit on the side of the road waiting for "professional" service.

Don't feel all alone. Most of the Class A MHs don't have a spare either. In three years that included up and down the Alcan and more dirt roads in the states than I probably should have been driving on, I've never had a flat.

Bill

If you need one, I have a new Michelin on a new ford rim cheap!
I carried it in the back of my Greyhawk for 2 years
E mail me.