Anyone else have their spare drop?

[pjsasmo]

We were returning from a trip yesterday and as we turned onto our street I heard a skip/skid noise and some clunking. Got home and noticed nothing as I walked around the trailer. But as I was returning after unloading some items, I saw the spare mounted underneath the trailer had dropped and was pinned vertically under the trailer. I cranked it back up and it again held firm to the frame.

Maintenance issue? Greater problem?

 

[297sox]

I had it happen to me on my 2018 shortly after owning. Cranked it up and never had an issue again
TOM

 

[pjsasmo]

I had it happen to me on my 2018 shortly after owning. Cranked it up and never had an issue again
TOM

Thanks, good to know. Appreciate the response.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

We were returning from a trip yesterday and as we turned onto our street I heard a skip/skid noise and some clunking. Got home and noticed nothing as I walked around the trailer. But as I was returning after unloading some items, I saw the spare mounted underneath the trailer had dropped and was pinned vertically under the trailer. I cranked it back up and it again held firm to the frame.

Maintenance issue? Greater problem?

Spare dropping happens. On trucks too. It's a good idea to check from time to time

 

[dryfly]

I've never had it happen but I went ahead and put a chain connected to the wheel and looped it up over one of the cross members just in case. I'm thinking if it dropped going down the road it could do some big time damage.

 

[DougW9876]

Ours did that, I cranked it back up nice and tight and it has stayed so far. I was thinking they might not have been tightened properly when they left the factory.

 

[Dutchman2]

We were returning from a trip yesterday and as we turned onto our street I heard a skip/skid noise and some clunking. Got home and noticed nothing as I walked around the trailer. But as I was returning after unloading some items, I saw the spare mounted underneath the trailer had dropped and was pinned vertically under the trailer. I cranked it back up and it again held firm to the frame.

Maintenance issue? Greater problem?

Check out this link for a low dollar solution to the spare being able to lower as you travel.
https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/showthread.php/28649-Loose-Spare-Tire?highlight=lost+spare+tire

Post by - khughes02 (see attached pictures)

Dutchman2

 

[Toy Haulen]

I used a chain and looped it over shaft with a lock.

 

[pjsasmo]

Thanks everyone! I’m going to put checking it on my pre departure checklist. Think I will also add the hitch pin solution when I get a chance.

 

[MtnGuy]

Every time I checked the spare on my 2017 Reflection 337RLS 5th wheel, it seemed I could always turn the crank about 1/2 turn. As a precaution, I ran a ratchet strap under the spare to each frame rail. And it would still crank about 1/2 turns each time I checked. But the peace of mind was worth it.

My current Imagine 22MLE has the hitch lock, but I will still probably use a ratchet strap as a precaution.

 

[Patman]

Yup, mine did it to, tightened it up and it also has'nt moved again.

 

[IBEW Sparky]

Thanks, good to know. Appreciate the response.

Mine was hanging down about 3" from the underbelly and I simply retightened it. It was fine for a while but almost a year later when I was checking tire pressures before a trip it was lose again, hanging down about 2". I drilled and taped the frame and added an eye bolt, drilled a hole through the crank piece and put a pin through it to secure it. Four years later and it's never loosened up again on its own.

 

[huntindog]

Mine was hanging down about 3" from the underbelly and I simply retightened it. It was fine for a while but almost a year later when I was checking tire pressures before a trip it was lose again, hanging down about 2". I drilled and taped the frame and added an eye bolt, drilled a hole through the crank piece and put a pin through it to secure it. Four years later and it's never loosened up again on its own.

View attachment 51166

CAUTION!!!!
Before drilling into the frame, drop the coroplast to see what is on the other side!!!
Mine had hydraulic lines there.

There is a simpler solution that does not require drilling the frame.,
I just used a 1/4" bit and drilled a hole in the shaft in an angle that allowed me to put a long 1/4" bolt thru it. put a nut on it to hold it in place. The long bolt will hit the top frame rail and stop the loosening. Only downside is a few seconds to remove the bolt if I ever need to lower the spare.

 

[Jims94vmx]

I also drilled the handle and ran a zip tie through it around a small washer. The washer was then screwed to a coroplast screw already there.....

 

[IBEW Sparky]

I also drilled the handle and ran a zip tie through it around a small washer. The washer was then screwed to a coroplast screw already there.....

That works too.... Many of others have also drilled and tapped that hole without any issues. Being as it's located about 1/2" from the center of the handle on a horizontal plane there's very little chance of any type of lines or even wires being run vertical in that location.

 

[Chuckog]

I had it happen 2 times. Both times a truck flagged me and made me aware of it. So now whenever we are I have it on my list to crank it snug and when we stop for anything I try to remember to check it.

 

[Santa61]

We were returning from a trip yesterday and as we turned onto our street I heard a skip/skid noise and some clunking. Got home and noticed nothing as I walked around the trailer. But as I was returning after unloading some items, I saw the spare mounted underneath the trailer had dropped and was pinned vertically under the trailer. I cranked it back up and it again held firm to the frame.

Maintenance issue? Greater problem?

I too had the spare dangling issue. The dealer I purchased the rig at pointed this out to me upon inspection when I had the rig in for the warranty work. The tech said that sometimes from the factory the winch has slack in the line and causes it to evenly dangle loose. The suggested fix was to winch the tire back up snuggly expecting this to remove any slack in the line.

Weeks later, I had the same issue. The tire was dangling about 6 inches. Again, using the technicians theory I dropped the tire fully down and winched it back up very snuggly thinking this was the cure. Not so, happened again.

I had a small C clamp that I attached to the winching rod right up against the I frame of the rig. The C clamp fits perfectly and is wedged nicely against the I frame thus I know it is not coming loose. Forgive me for not posting a picture but my rig is in storage for another 3 days.

Since I attached the C clamp which prevents the winching rod from moving I have had no further issue with it coming loose.

 

[RoscoeTX]

Mine dropped every time we moved the trailer. Before pulling out of the driveway/campground I would have to tighten the tire carrier about 1 turn. Temporarily used a pair of vice-grips to hold it in place until I built a lock out of bits and pieces of aluminum that were laying around the workbench. It also covers a mouse entry point. My sister has a 2023 Reflection 315RLTS and it does the same thing. Our previous RV was a 2020 Reflection 150 230RL and the tire carrier never dropped.

 

[powerscol]

I did the same thing.

 

[IBEW Sparky]

I did the same thing.

Yup... and there's plenty of room to poke your finger in the hole around the crank and feel for any wires, water lines, etc. It does work extremely well!