TV roof rack for T@B320 spare?

YanniLazarus

So, I am over the moon happy with my two six volt agm batteries (in the storage tub by the propane tank)... seems like an endless power supply after the 12v lead acid battery.

  I have a minimalist setup - my TV is a RAV4 Adventure, with a tow capacity of 3500 lbs and a max hitch wt of 350 pounds.   With my new batteries and a full load I’m getting uncomfortably close to 350 pounds.  One of my first mods was to move my spare from the factory rear under mount to the front jack post.  Now I’d like to move it either into/onto the TV or as counterbalance on the back of the 320S.  All of the discussions of post-factory roof rack installation make me think: expensive, finicky, not terribly useful.  I think I’d be happier with the absolutely simplest way to mount the spare on my 2018 Toyota factory installed roof rails.  By the way, I know I double the effect of relocation by mounting the spare aft of the T@B axle, but that isn’t compelling for me. 

Sage advice, my dear fellow travelers, requested.

Sharon_is_SAM

All I can tell you is that we initially carried our spare on our Sienna minivan roof using purchased cross bars from Amazon.  It was so noisy, we removed it and now carry it in the rear seat boot.  

gulfarea

I did a thread here on with photos using the T@B spare on the TV. That way you only carry 1 spare tire for both, the T@B and the TV. I don't know your tire size or wheel stud spacing is but you can get a wheel adapter for most wheels, mine was 32 dollars for my Jeep. What this does is lightens my jeep as the T@B spare weighs less then my Jeep spare and not having to carry 2 spare tires saves the weight on the T@B as it now carries no spare. Another words the Jeep spare now carried on the back of the Jeep where I normally would carry its spare, IS the T@B spare and the Jeep spare with the 32 dollar adapter. It is not perfect but SURE beats no spare at all. If you mount the T@B spare on the front of your TV be careful as when hard breaking it may pull hard to that side as the wheel center offset  spacing could be different. On the rear of my JEEP I noticed NO difference at all with the smaller T@B tire on the jeep even up to speed like driving a car with a smaller doughnut on. Using this is just to get you out of where you got the flat and to get a new tire or have the flat repaired, not to drive around on it forever. Art.  

YanniLazarus

gulfarea said:

I did a thread here on with photos using the T@B spare on the TV. That way you only carry 1 spare tire for both, the T@B and the TV. I don't know your tire size or wheel stud spacing is but you can get a wheel adapter for most wheels, mine was 32 dollars for my Jeep. What this does is lightens my jeep as the T@B spare weighs less then my Jeep spare and not having to carry 2 spare tires saves the weight on the T@B as it now carries no spare. Another words the Jeep spare now carried on the back of the Jeep where I normally would carry its spare, IS the T@B spare and the Jeep spare with the 32 dollar adapter. It is not perfect but SURE beats no spare at all. If you mount the T@B spare on the front of your TV be careful as when hard breaking it may pull hard to that side as the wheel center offset  spacing could be different. On the rear of my JEEP I noticed NO difference at all with the smaller T@B tire on the jeep even up to speed like driving a car with a smaller doughnut on. Using this is just to get you out of where you got the flat and to get a new tire or have the flat repaired, not to drive around on it forever. Art.  

That is really interesting.   I was wishing I had run flat tires on my TV so I could just carry the T@B spare.   This is probably even better.   Anyone else do this? 

YanniLazarus

Sharon_is_SAM said:

All I can tell you is that we initially carried our spare on our Sienna minivan roof using purchased cross bars from Amazon.  It was so noisy, we removed it and now carry it in the rear seat boot.  

I was just looking at yakima load warrior rooftop cargo basket with spare tire carrier.   Not sure if that would be more or less noisy.   I was going to say that I never drive over 60 and hope that you go faster in your sienna to make that noise, but I'll admit that there will be non- tow days with higher speeds for me...

Sharon_is_SAM

We drive 62 max.  Still noisy.

YanniLazarus

Starting to like the rear seat boot idea more and more...

gulfarea

I forgot to mention that before I did the mod using the T@B spare for the Jeep spare I looked into putting the Yakama basket and tire mount on the rear of the T@B but that would add about 50 MORE pounds! Art

Tabaz

Gulfarea - what a clever solution.  I hereby nominate you to the DHHoMF (DaleH Hall of Mod Fame).  Regarding things mounted on the TV's roof, I have a Yakima cargo shell that I used twice.  It was extremely noisy and affected the handling characteristics of my full-sized Ford SUV.

YanniLazarus

Looks like my smaller non- boondock rims won't clear my RAV4 Adventure brake assembly...

gulfarea

YanniLazarus The wheel adapter is made in several sizes up to 2 inch thick and this pushes the wheel out much further, should clear your brake assemble but that is the problem if you use it on the front tire when braking. It can pull badly to the side DURING HEAVY BRAKING. A cure for this if you have a flat on the front of the TV would be to rotate the flat tire from the front to the rear and put the T@B tire on the rear of the TV. Yes more work but how many spare tires do we want to carry incase we get a flat. There was an incident on a highway where a truck hauling small metal pieces dumped part of his load  and many cars had 2 or more flats behind him. As humans we worry about those things! To cover myself for that worry I would haver to carry several spares for both the TV  and the T@B.  To me a spare is to get me away from all the alligators in the swamp and yes a flat is work no matter where you are but if I have a spare at least I can get out of the swamp I got myself into. Thanks for reading, Art

YanniLazarus

...will continue to investigate.  I guess my incredibly robust heavy duty car tires are less likely to flat than my T@B tires, anyway.  this is an elegant solution.  The roof rack, either on the T@B or TV, is no longer an option for me.  It's either in the car, or your adapter solution.

gulfarea

YanniLazatus The spare tire dilemma on cars and trailers has always been a problem. From doughnut tires to just not carrying one. To carry or not to carry that is the question! Think of all the miles we have toted the spare around and not used it. But as humans worry we don't want to be in the swamp without one! Good luck on whatever you do and if you come up with an even better solution please let us know. Thanks Art 

YanniLazarus

...there are never any calamities in the gulf area...  and thanks for your support!!!

AnOldUR

I can't believe that nobody makes a spare tire rack that will mount on the back of a T@B. Something like the Yakima, but without the extras. Looking for just the rails (or something else mounting to the cross braces) and a tire mounting adapter? Small and simple would be nice.

YanniLazarus

AnOldUR said:

I can't believe that nobody makes a spare tire rack that will mount on the back of a T@B. Something like the Yakima, but without the extras. Looking for just the rails (or something else mounting to the cross braces) and a tire mounting adapter? Small and simple would be nice.

I see you have the same make/model.  I am in T@B love, by the way...  although it doesn't take long to realize that the spare can't stay under the rear frame!  a Simple solution would be nice... successfully/carefully mounting anything into the roof framing slats is... scary.  Let me know if you find a good solution.  I wish i could mount it just UNDER the bumper on the down slope curve.

AnOldUR

@YanniLazarus ... Recent purchase for us. Haven't been out with it yet, but the T@B love is strong here too. Ours came with a second storage bin on the tongue, so moving the spare there would be difficult. Also my TV has a 200lb tongue weight limit. I'll post if I find another solution. Happy camping!