Tow Vehicle Spare Tire Mounting Question

[TucsonJim]

When I purchased my Chevy K2500 back in 2004, the spare tire was mounted under the bed with the valve stem up. There was no way to check the tire pressure on the spare without dropping the spare down in order to get access to the valve. So I dropped the spare to the ground, turned it over, and cranked it back up with the valve stem on the bottom.

Now, on my 2013 F350, I crawled under the back of the truck, and sure enough, the spare is mounted with the valve stem up. There was no possible way to check the tire pressure without dropping the tire. So, I got a chance to check out all the tire changing tools in order to flip the spare to valve stem down.

I wonder why the manufacturers do this? I wonder if Dodge mounts their tires this way?

[TucsonJim]

gmcsmoke wrote:
my chevy is down; this just proves Ford lacks intelligent foresight.

My 04 Chevy was up. Maybe since they are Government Motors now, they changed. 😉

[mikebo]

I learned the hard way that you need drop the spare occasionally. I just sold my 9 year old gmc sierra,and wouldn't you know it, it had a flat when I was on my way to Carmax to sell it. I could not get the spare to drop from under the bed. Part of the mechanism that you had to tuen was nylon and the lift mechanism had a metal nut. The nylon part wouldn't hold on the nut. Finally had to unbolt the entire lift mechanism and drop it to get the spare down. Poor design IMHO.

[Norskeman]

On my Chevy the tire is mounted with the valve stem down. On my wife's Envoy it is mounted with the valve stem up.

The difference is the hoist for spare tire - on the Envoy it has a latch on the top of the "hook" that captures the tire when fully raised. I do not have the same hoist on my truck.

[Beverley_Ken]

Its probably a good idea to take the tire/wheel out once a year, just to make sure the mechanism works. On our current c-class the spare is mounted between the frame rails underneath the MH, valve is down, so it was easy to check the pressure, BUT could not be removed, bolts had seized. The mechanic in the shop needed heat/torch and impact wrench plus my $50, to remove. This also happened on an old truck, had to cut the bolts off with a torch.

Now its part of my yearly maintenance to remove the spare and lubricate, put anti seize compound on all bolts that may have to be removed.

Beverley and Ken

[time2roll]

Passin Thru wrote:
I have a compressor so never worriy about the P in the spare.

+1

[RAS43]

Maybe they are mounted that way to protect the valve stem and the outer side of the wheel which will show when mounted on the vehicle. My 5'er's tire is mounted with the valve down and the wheel is all nicked up from road grime. It would look bad if I had to put it on the hub.

[gmcsmoke]

my chevy is down; this just proves Ford lacks intelligent foresight.

[Passin_Thru]

I have a compressor so never worriy about the P in the spare.

[boogie_4wheel]

What are the odds...

ALL of my spares have had the stems down (purchased new and used) on the trucks/suvs/trailers.

[Old-Biscuit]

YEP........and the spare on 5'vr was same way

Had to flip both.

I don't know for sure but think the valve stems are 'up' to protect them (and the good side of rim) from road debris/rocks etc.