Warning: Spare Tire Nut Size Different

DurangoTaB

When we bought our T@B last year we didn't get much help, including a lug wrench (much less a jack) to change the tires...no problem, as I carry a serious 3/4" deep well socket (that fits the alloy wheels) and wrench when we camp.  BUT...in all our camping, despite living in the mountains, I've never thought about taking the spare off for ground clearance until today, preparing for a trip this weekend.  WOW...was I surprised to learn that the spare, mounted on a steel rim, has 13/16" nuts holding it up.  Had we had a flat in the last year I would not have been able to change it.  I talked to Ed Kauffman; he said "that's what the tire company sent", which I don't buy...since the dealer usually mounts the spare, and someone had to know there was a difference.  It was also a huge learning how difficult it is to get the spare off (I'll skip the details of the gyrations to lower the tongue and raise the rear).  Once you loosen the two (13/16") nuts the tire, obeying the laws of gravity, falls...onto your arm.  And it's virtually impossible to get back up (I presume one wouldn't do that in a flat situation, i.e. put the allow rim flat in that spot...so you better have a plan for where to put a flat tire).  I ended up using a floor jack, some creative woodwork, to hoist it up so I could thread the nuts. BTW, Ed said they're changing the design to still mount the tire down there, but add a crank/wire/drop system (similar to pick-up trucks), presumably negating the nut size difference.  In the meantime, I'm going to check out the tongue mounted option...

Vagabonds

Thanks for posting this...now the question is when will the changes be put in place? Ours is on order.

JandJ92010

Wal-Mart sells a wrench that has two double sided sockets, 11/16"-17mm & 3/4"-19mm in one socket and 13/16"-21mm & 7/8"-22mm in the other socket, and they do fit in the alloy wheels. The handle can be inserted into either end of each socket and the 1/2" drive is in the middle. Both sockets needed to change a flat.

LARK

Yep, the lugs come attached to the rim held together with a cable tie, so Ed was not lying to you. My dealer didn't mount. It was under seating when I took delivery. I removed the entire underside mount on my T@b for clearance sake. I keep my spare in the TV bed of truck. I use a power driver instead of a lug wrench.....lug wrenches take too much time and energy.

Verna

Vagabonds said:

Thanks for posting this...now the question is when will the changes be put in place? Ours is on order.

It has been this way for a few years. This is nothing new. The lugs that the spare tire attaches to are a different size and thread than those found on your wheels. 

JandJ92010 said:

Wal-Mart sells a wrench that has two double sided sockets, 11/16"-17mm & 3/4"-19mm in one socket and 13/16"-21mm & 7/8"-22mm in the other socket, and they do fit in the alloy wheels. The handle can be inserted into either end of each socket and the 1/2" drive is in the middle. Both sockets needed to change a flat.

This is the same lug wrench I have and it works very well. The handle extends so it's like having an extendable breaker bar. And it stores in very little space. 

DurangoTaB

Boo...what kind of scissor jack did you get?  I see a lot of cheapies out there.  And what kind of tongue mount?  In the meantime I may just put the spare on the roof racks of mytruck cap...

DurangoTaB

I had to cut a 4" x 13" piece of wood to "jack up" the spare back into place.  Note the clearance in the back...the tongue is almost all the way to the ground.  I'm not sure I like how rusted the two mounting bolts are; I'll need to clean/spray them for winterizing.  According to Ed, the bolt diameter is the same as the mounted wheels, 1/2", but the O/D of the lug nuts are different (spare= 13/16, wheels= 3/4).  Thanks to all for the comments and tips!

gilbutler

I also found out in a non-emergency situation that the nuts are not interchangeable and require different sockets.  Durango TaB was more successful than I was at re-mounting the spare.  After I wasted far too much time trying, I moved the spare to a tongue mount.  Nice pictures Durango. :-)

Cyclonic

I used my four way to get the tire off at home more then a year ago, it has not been back up there since .  Never really thought about the lugs being a different size, good information to know.

Nomad

Mine never got mounted underneith - I could just visualize me laying on the pavement by the side of the road in the rain. First mod I did to my T@B was run to a marine dealer and get a tongue mount.
I actually never even thought about ground clearance, just the hassle factor. Don't think I've ever had a flat in nice weather.

Photomom

How much does the spare tire and rim weigh? Wondering if we could lift it up to the Yakima rack on an Outback if necessary. 

Verna

38 lbs, give or take a bit.  That's the shipping weight of one with the white rim.

DurangoTaB

FYI...response from LG (bless them for responding quickly!):

"I suppose we have been blessed that this has not been an issue for us.  That
said, we realized for quite some time that it is one that needed addressed.
While it didn't transpire as rapidly as we would have liked, we took steps
to work on a joint redesign of the frame to accommodate such a solution.
Because we had to change the design in order to fit on the system, I'm
afraid it is not something that can be retro-fitted.  

Our best piece of advice if someone wishes to get away from the undermount,
is to mount it on the tongue.  Obviously, you want to ensure the balance is
not thrown off so it still tows smoothly.  We are aware that there are a
number of people that prefer this solution to the current set up.

I'm sorry it isn't the answer you would prefer to have received, but I trust
it helps to answer your question."

Playc

JandJ92010 said:

Wal-Mart sells a wrench that has two double sided sockets, 11/16"-17mm & 3/4"-19mm in one socket and 13/16"-21mm & 7/8"-22mm in the other socket, and they do fit in the alloy wheels. The handle can be inserted into either end of each socket and the 1/2" drive is in the middle. Both sockets needed to change a flat.

Hi land92010 - would you please send the Walmart link or item name?  I have never changed a tire but at advise of dealer I bought a Sears Digital Torque wrench and sockets.  

Not sure whatelse I need to buy but like to learn from you experts.  TIA

Verna

Playc said:

JandJ92010 said:

Wal-Mart sells a wrench that has two double sided sockets, 11/16"-17mm & 3/4"-19mm in one socket and 13/16"-21mm & 7/8"-22mm in the other socket, and they do fit in the alloy wheels. The handle can be inserted into either end of each socket and the 1/2" drive is in the middle. Both sockets needed to change a flat.

Hi land92010 - would you please send the Walmart link or item name?  I have never changed a tire but at advise of dealer I bought a Sears Digital Torque wrench and sockets.  

Not sure whatelse I need to buy but like to learn from you experts.  TIA

http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-711-900-AutoGrade-Lug-Wrench/dp/B004SEXO3E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1440160175&sr=8-4&keywords=lug+wrench

Amazon has 3 or four different ones.  Make sure you get the one with the 3/4" and 11/16" sockets.

jkjenn

I ended up sticking my wrench in the end of a pipe for leverage. The spare now rides in the cargo area of my Jeep.

DurangoTaB

To be fair...I discovered the 3/4" 11/16" point is in fact in the (mostly flawed) LG operating instructions (that most of us didn't get from our dealers on delivery), just above "how to change a flat".