Traveling without a spare tire

[WilBoud]

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 ...???

[Mich_F]

I'd also recommend getting a spare. Of the 4 Class C's I've had/have, 2 had spares mounted on relatively simple brackets under the MH, with the spare mounted between the frame rails. Removing/replacing them wasn't particularly easy, but the vehicles had spare tires. My Coachmen 220RK had a spare tire mounted on a bracket on the rear wall. The wall was reinforced to carry the considerable weight of the spare tire. My 31K came without a spare. I bought one and I put it in the large outside rear storage compartment, against the rear bedroom interior wall. I've thought about making or having a frame mounted carrier installed, but since I don't need the room that the spare takes up, I haven't bothered.

[phillyg]

The distances road service has to travel just to get to you could be considerable. I wouldn't consider an AK trip without a spare, and maybe two.

[tobydad]

Why would anyone travel without a spare? You have roadside assistance, they will remove the flat and install the spare, but they will not get a tire for you on the road if you do not have a spare - I know from experience. Some people carry spares with carriers on the bumper, carriers in the hitch, in the trunk of a car they are towing, attached to the front bumper, and stuck in a storage bin. Insurance is insurance - you may never need it, but it is there when you do.

[Dusty_R]

In '88 we bought a new mh that included a spare. In '02 we again bought a new mh tha also included a spare.
With the '88 we had flat about 6 times. with the '02 we NEVER had a flat, the spare was never used.
We now have a new '15 mh with no spare. I'm considering getting a spare.

Dusty

[Dick_B]

If anyone can predict if you will have tire trouble on a multi-thousand trip I want to take them to the track.
I got a nail in my TV tire with 50,000 miles on them with plenty of tread left.
I carry TWO spares for my RV and have never had to use them since I got the Michelin Ribs.
Did somebody mention insurance?
BTW what is the downside to carrying a spare?

[midnightsadie]

had your same problem. heres what I did ,bought a spare TIRE no rim. had a vinyl bag made for it and mounted it on the roof, mine had a carrier frame up there for suit cases. never used but I was ready if I needed it.you could also add a hitch front or back on the rv ,I had a hitch on the front for launching my boat.

[Greydennyhawk]

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.

[Trackrig]

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

[pauldub]

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.

[time2roll]

I would at least carry an unmounted tire.

[Rolin]

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%.

[darsben]

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.

[WilBoud]

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

[darsben]

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

[ccxnola]

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!!!