Where do you store the spare tire?

vito

Picked up my new T@b today, and was surprised at one of the dealer's recommendations. He said that the spare tire, which is inside the camper, has a mounting place underneath the camper. But he recommended against putting it on the mount, saying it could easily hit the ground or otherwise get torn off or damaged and that I was better off leaving it inside as it came from the factory. The T@b storage room is limited enough  that I hate to give up that space, but I also would not want to lose my spare tire. What do you T@b owners do? 

Rad

Many of us have moved it to the tongue, either mounted on the side or up on the tongue against the jack.  If you scroll back through the threads there was one on the subject only a couple weeks ago.

vito

Did you have to fabricate a mount or have the dealer do it?

Rad

Lots of mounts to choose from for the side mount.  Check out places like etrailer or even Amazon. For the mount next to the jack, a regular side mount is used and you add u bolts as a do it yourself modification.

Trum@n

Mine was installed underneath by the dealer & I was shocked at how low it hung. Took it off as soon as I got home & put under seat. Someone else put theirs on the tongue against the jack using a mount from lowes that doesn't require finding u bolts. There's a thread a ways back about mounting spares.

Rad

Trum@n said:

Mine was installed underneath by the dealer & I was shocked at how low it hung. Took it off as soon as I got home & put under seat. Someone else put theirs on the tongue against the jack using a mount from lowes that doesn't require finding u bolts. There's a thread a ways back about mounting spares.

Are you sure about the Lowes mount?  

They don't list one other than a side mount just like the other side mounts, therefore it would require u bolts.  

Unless that person just used the straight flat plates that come with those type of mounts.  That sure would not be my first choice in mounting the bracket to a cylinder.

Trum@n

gilbutler had the last post a few threads back under spare tire. Quite a few folks have done it & the weight will be at the bottom on the tongue so the bracket just holds it up.

Trum@n

These are gilbutler pics.

jkjenn

I was just working on moving mine to the tongue tonight. I am half way there.

Rad

Trum@n said:

These are gilbutler pics.

The pics are small.  It looks like he just used the flat standard side mount plates

Cyclonic

vito said:

Picked up my new T@b today, and was surprised at one of the dealer's recommendations. He said that the spare tire, which is inside the camper, has a mounting place underneath the camper. But he recommended against putting it on the mount, saying it could easily hit the ground or otherwise get torn off or damaged and that I was better off leaving it inside as it came from the factory. The T@b storage room is limited enough  that I hate to give up that space, but I also would not want to lose my spare tire. What do you T@b owners do? 

Your dealer is correct, and I have a few scrapes on my spare to prove it. 

Right now I throw mine in the TV on on top of the TV, but plan on setting up a mounting as others have done, on the tongue, center mounted against the jack.  It will add to the tongue weight, but in my case I need that additional tongue weight anyway, so it works for me.

Ratkity

I used the Outback Yakama Rack/Basket system to move the spare to the back of the rig. It was an ordeal installing the rack. The LG instructions were sparse, but at least answered the question why they didn't use the stock drilled holes in the tracks on the Outback. They point out where the T@B crossmembers in the roof are and that's where the self-tap screws go, but other than that, they don't tell you the spacing of the rails from the edges or to each other, and just say "refer to the Yakama rack instructions". I also got shorted a couple of screws. 

It was a major endeavor to put on the rack (measure, level, measure, measure again - mark - drop sharpie - repeat). 

I will say that getting the spare out from under the T@bitha was more than just a pain. Having a couple of bricks so the tire could lower and rest on them while I laid on my back to unscrew the lugs was helpful. My truck lug wrench sorta worked. Technically, I should have used a smaller lug size, but the two lugs holding the spare under the rig weren't on tight and there was no room to use my trusty crossbar lug wrench. Lifting the spare to the rack wasn't fun either. I found using a wheel chock helped hold the tire on the rack to position the spare tire holder mechanism. There were times that physics wasn't my friend and having an extra body would have been helpful. I have a generic 14" tire cover that took me being on an 8 ft A-frame ladder to get it on the tire properly. I find those things are easier to take off than put on.

It took 7 hours to complete the project. I've installed Yakama racks before, so I know how they fit together.

Tools: drill, level, sharpie, gray butyl putty tape (isn't user friendly in hot weather), square-head screwdriver, pocket knife, paper towels and cleaner, lots of water to drink, patience and an 8 ft step-ladder. 

Difficulty: Moderate when installing it solo. Possibly less of a pain with the presence of a helper, but not guaranteed! 

judymac

jkjenn said:

I was just working on moving mine to the tongue tonight. I am half way there.

How did the spare tire mount work for you?  Would like to do this mod and was wondering if you feel comfortable with the extra weight.  Have any pictures?

jkjenn

Spare on the tongue worked just fine. I am now storing in my TV, though, because the additional battery box I added did not leave enough room.

Nomad

Tongue works for me - Was the first mod I made to my T@B. The tire was on the tongue within two weeks of ownership.

gilbutler

Rad said:

Trum@n said:

These are gilbutler pics.

The pics are small.  It looks like he just used the flat standard side mount plates

Yes, That's what I did.  I did use some heavy duty rubber between the plates and the jack post, but even without the rubber, the flat plates along the post would make more contact than a couple of u-bolts.

GlennBeck

Check out Allie's link for better uncles pics from a previous thread:

http://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/discussion/1148/spare-tire-tongue-mount-hardware

GlennBeck

Here's the tire mount on trailer.com and the correct size (26.3" 205/75D14) tire cover on Amazon.  

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Cargo-Control/Fulton/FSTC1000301.html

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Accessories-80-203-160402-00-OverDrive-Custom/dp/B00LSTF6SS/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1442726387&sr=1-2&keywords=26"+tire+cover

Will be ordering these in two months. 

Nomad

That's the one I used.

GlennBeck

Also found on Amazon:

Extreme Max (EMSTC) Bolt-On Spare Tire Carrier

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J06MCE2/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687742&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0000AZ70V&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0KF7Y28ZPJYFAT0TST22

JandJ92010

I keep mine under the bed, and no there is no "rubber smell".

Mouseketab

Dutchmen's must have a different height underneath. Mine has been underneath the trailer for 8 years+ has never drug, banged or scraped. I plan on leaving it there

JimDrury

I found a photo of a spare tire mounted on the rear of a Tab.  The license plate suggests that it's a photo from Europe.  Does anyone know how to order parts from Eurotab?  I find the big basket solution suggested by LG to be clunky.

Mr.Uncle.Bill

I've seen a cargo rack on the teardropshop.com website.  It has a tire carrier associated with it.

http://teardropshop.com/collections/t-b-accessories/products/yakima-spare-tire-carrier
http://teardropshop.com/collections/t-b-accessories/products/t-b-yakima-cargo-rack

Nomad

Mr.Uncle.Bill - That's the one that comes on the Outback standard.

GlennBeck

Mouseketab said:

Dutchmen's must have a different height underneath. Mine has been underneath the trailer for 8 years+ has never drug, banged or scraped. I plan on leaving it there

Mine doesn't drag either but if and when I have to change a tire in bad weather, nasty ground or any other reason I don't have to lay down under the T@B to wrestle the tire out from underneath with a tongue mount.  Murphy's Law dictates you'll be a bit soiled after removing the spare and then when reinstalling it after tire replacement. 

GlennBeck

Okay, finally home from overseas and mounted the spare.  Glad I did, as the underside spare mount lugs were already corroded to the point I almost had to cut one to free the tire under ideal weather and surface conditions.  A great reason to move the tire to a more accessible.  Used two muffler mounting brackets to easily mount to the jack post.  Painted the moiunt bracket flat black to protect from rusting and covered the wheel for aesthetics.

John_and_Kris

Ours is a 2016 T@B Max S and the dealer said he has mounted all his there and has never had a problem or complaint about them dragging or hitting. I would however think they would if you went off a curb or went over extreme angles. Perhaps Ed Kaufman could shed more light on this issues

jkjenn

JimDrury said:

I found a photo of a spare tire mounted on the rear of a Tab.  The license plate suggests that it's a photo from Europe.  Does anyone know how to order parts from Eurotab?  I find the big basket solution suggested by LG to be clunky.

I know what you are talking about. They are thin silver accessories rails that look awesome on a T@b. That is their off road model. If I could find those rails I would definitely mount on the rear. Personally, I didn't care for the Yakima rack look.

gulfarea

We had a Casita  and I found my JEEP Wrangler spare tire would fit so I did not carry a spare for the trailer. Yes it was a 15 inch wheel going on one side & a 14 on the other but works in a pinch. I Now am looking at T@B trailer & will do the same if wheel is 5 hole on 4 1/2 center. If not that size I would rather buy a small aluminum tire adapter to carry around instead of the weight tire and wheel. I just want something to get to a place to buy a spare tire. Art

Verna

jkjenn said:

JimDrury said:

I found a photo of a spare tire mounted on the rear of a Tab.  The license plate suggests that it's a photo from Europe.  Does anyone know how to order parts from Eurotab?  I find the big basket solution suggested by LG to be clunky.

I know what you are talking about. They are thin silver accessories rails that look awesome on a T@b. That is their off road model. If I could find those rails I would definitely mount on the rear. Personally, I didn't care for the Yakima rack look.

If you find the source, I'd be interested, too. I need to keep the spare in the rear to offset the weight of the two batteries (no, not installed yet).