spare tire dropping

[Bill G]

Read this post about spare dropping. Two weeks ago while prepping for trip checked tire, and it was about to fall out. Thanks to the Forum for the input. Saved us plenty.

Bill G & Jan

 

[howson]

Jeff - I really like that solution! That platform looks custom made and attached by more than just the stock single centre receiver. If so, could you share more construction details? Based on other discussions on this forum, I am thinking that it would be wise to carry two spare tires . . . and as you note, the roadside repair would be with the easy-to-get-to one on the back.

BTW, if you are messing about with the standard spare underneath, lower it all the way to make sure the lift cable is not tangled and turn it over so that you can access the air valve without lowering the tire. I think GDRV continues to load the spare with valve up despite suggestions that this makes it a lot more work to check spare tire pressure.

Edit: Jeff - Just found your earlier posts on this subject including the 3rd picture which helps a lot. (I knew that I had seen this before ) Did you originally have the rear bumper or the rear receiver?

Rob

My SuperDuty's spare tire was (past tense) also installed with the valve facing up. I believe that is intentional due to the possibility of road debris damaging the valve thus making the spare unusable. If not for that reason, why make it so difficult? (I turned over both spares--the one on the truck and the one on the trailer. If they get damaged...I guess I'll have my answer!)

My spare lowered without any issues and hasn't shown any signs (yet) of spontaneous lowering. (I'm going to pin it anyway!)

 

[JFF&KRN]

Not sure if this is ok. Private message me and i will give yo my email address etc so i can be more specific on the construction of this.
jeff

 

[dmoore]

I realize this is an old thread, but I think it carries very good safety info and should be passed on to all that tow any kind of tt/5w with undermount spare tires. I had never considered checking my spare and was not advised to do this by my selling dealer. I have now pulled my 337 approx. 1500 miles. I happened on this thread while camping last week. Before breaking camp, I checked my spare and what did I find ...?.. it was loose. I tightened the cable on the spare and will now add this to my checklist before I leave home on any trip. Thanks for the post. I plan to advise my dealer that they should develop a safety checklist to go with every unit sold. This should be on that checklist.

 

[Cate&Rob]

I realize this is an old thread, but I think it carries very good safety info and should be passed on to all that tow any kind of tt/5w with undermount spare tires. I had never considered checking my spare and was not advised to do this by my selling dealer. I have now pulled my 337 approx. 1500 miles. I happened on this thread while camping last week. Before breaking camp, I checked my spare and what did I find ...?.. it was loose. I tightened the cable on the spare and will now add this to my checklist before I leave home on any trip. Thanks for the post. I plan to advise my dealer that they should develop a safety checklist to go with every unit sold. This should be on that checklist.

David - Did you see the earlier discussion about lowering the spare and turning it over so that you can check air pressure? Most owners have never lowered their spare tire . . . and thus, never topped up the air pressure . . . so the spare will not be ready to use if needed.

Rob

 

[ksbowman]

I did that to mine. It sure makes it handy to check air in it. Thanks Rob for a good heads up.

 

[dmoore]

David - Did you see the earlier discussion about lowering the spare and turning it over so that you can check air pressure? Most owners have never lowered their spare tire . . . and thus, never topped up the air pressure . . . so the spare will not be ready to use if needed.

Rob

I did, but thanks for the reminder. I plan to do this before I take the camper back to dealer for final 1 year warranty checkup. We are home until the week after Thanksgiving and I have some time to do this and a few other things (like cut the grass)... Much to do & so little time.
D.Moore

Thanks for the response.

 

[Gumpster]

The first pic in this discussion through the eye bolt is myfix for the spare dropping. Also flipped the tire so the valve is facing down.Also found a huge hole in the coroplast when they cut to run the wire, tooksome tape and closed it up before running the tire up.

 

[duke13]

This looks like a great idea! I checked my spare tire and fliped it so I could check the air. After doing this I noticed a metal piece on the ground. looking closer this looks like part of the winch that helps keep the cable in place. I am ready to make a change and I like your idea. Can you please help me with where to purchase the parts I need. I sure would not want my spare tire to drop to the ground while driving. Appreciate and help ! Thanks Duke

 

[RVoyager]

Thanks! The locking pin is only $1.18 + tax https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GN6YS...colid=WUCATKKGD8XY&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[IBEW Sparky]

Or for those of us who still like to use the hitch for a bike rack there is this option...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KPQYZ6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_eQCAFb641SNWC

 

[Roll With The Changes]

Glad this one got pushed to the top again. Its reminds me that I need to check mine again.

I did find that cracking it up tighter helps keep it from backing off. There are some good fixes in this thread, but I just haven't gotten around to it.

This is just another example of poor design. An extremely simple fix would using a worm gear in the gearbox. It is well known that a worm gear system cannot be driven by the the load. And BTW this is not a grand design problem. They buy their parts from RVjunk.com just like the rest of us.

Rant over...

 

[dannybraner]

We were following friends who own another brand 5th wheel when their spare tire dropped ... at 65mph! Not a fun test of my driving skills. It luckily bounced off the side of the freeway out of harms way. Lesson learned for the friends - they don't use that under-carriage tire storage, they store the spare elsewhere, safe.

 

[duke13]

Thanks guys ! I am thinking about installing the BAL's Hide-A-Spare Tire System. Camping world has it on sale $108.

 

[geotex1]

This is why underslung full-size spare lifts for trucks have the spring on the cable. When the tire is cranked tight against the crossmember, and the spring gets compressed, it's not unwinding by itself. Odd thing, Lippert has these winches in models with and without springs (I underslung a spare on our last two campers using their winches). I normally check the undercarriage items as part of my pre-trip inspection, and will now make a points to lay a hand on the spare.

 

[JCR GD]

Has one ever "fallen"/loosened after unwinding and properly/carefully rewinding tight up against crossmember? Mine never has once wound correctly.

 

[CSwart]

Just a note. I have a ‘24 Imagine MKE17. Towed 1200 miles from Michigan to Florida. Found that the spare tire had lowered about a foot when I was doing my unhook at the site. Not pleased. Very dangerous situation. I cranked it back up and will do the pin through the rod deal when I get back to Michigan. In the mean time, I’ve attached a locking wrench to it so that it can’t spin as a temporary fix.

 

[JFF&KRN]

Just another reason to go with my plan. !!!

 

[Range Rider]

Under belly spare tire update

Hi everyone! We recently purchased a new 2024 22RBE. It came with the spare tire valve stem pointed down and also has the pin to prevent the winch shaft rotation similar to what is pictured in this thread…straight from the dealership. Unfortunately, there still is no spring between the wheel and under belly. When we brought it home (4 1/2 hour trip),this was one of many items I checked. The spare had dropped a little (perhaps due to cable stretch). I unpinned the shaft, raised it a bit and repinned it. We then pulled it 7 hours on a trip to our daughter’s and it was still nice and snug when we arrived.

 

[Grandesigner]

Pin or spring should do the same thing, prevent it from dropping. Mine has neither...now.
Has anyone added a spring to assy?