Spare tire relocation?

EWizard

I have seen some cool photos of a spare tire mount that goes in front of the tongue box.  
Photo:  http://bp0.blogger.com/_rGJlK1MgsbY/R_mYVfaARjI/AAAAAAAABzY/hE9tfNaYwYo/s1600/DSCN0127.jpg
Can anyone tell me where I can buy one of these?
Does anyone know if this seller is still manufacturing these mounts?

I have seen this contact info:
Tropos Manufacturing LLC
phone: (208) 948-9259
email: kaiser53georgia@hotmail.com

Is this someone on this site, or on the Yahoo group?

Verna

Try a search using the word "spare". There are a number of threads about how owners have relocated their spare tires. The search box is in the upper right corner of this page. 

ChanW

Yep, I ordered one, and it wouldn't fit between my tongue jack post and the box.
It was designed for the earlier Tab.
Had to return it. 

T@Buhura

EWizard said:

I have seen some cool photos of a spare tire mount that goes in front of the tongue box.  
Photo:  http://bp0.blogger.com/_rGJlK1MgsbY/R_mYVfaARjI/AAAAAAAABzY/hE9tfNaYwYo/s1600/DSCN0127.jpg
Can anyone tell me where I can buy one of these?
Does anyone know if this seller is still manufacturing these mounts?

I have seen this contact info:
Tropos Manufacturing LLC
phone: (208) 948-9259
email: kaiser53georgia@hotmail.com

Is this someone on this site, or on the Yahoo group?

I had called Jason a couple of weeks ago and he replied that he had stopped making them.

I've been looking for one comparable as well. Have others found something similar to this one? I currently have the standard side mount/boat trailer type of mount but don't like how it's sits to the side.

EWizard

I just got an email back from Jason as well.  Bummer.
The mount looked pretty elegant. 

Nomad

As Verna mentioned above, do a search, several threads with various solutions. Moving my spare was one of the first things I did. Bought my mount at a marine/boating store.

EWizard

This is one from a link in one of the threads.
Looks like it would work (and look) decent.
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

Nomad

Just make sure the verticle space between the bolts is big enough - The first one I bought was just a little shy.

T@Buhura

PXLated said:

Just make sure the verticle space between the bolts is big enough - The first one I bought was just a little shy.

Yeah I have a similar one that I also got from Amazon but it was for boat trailers that have heavier frames (thicker tongue front beams) and I had to modify the mount with exhaust pipe clamps which the company kindly provided and then buy new bolts from HD.

Definitely not as elegant as the front facing mount that secured to both beams that form the tongue. 

ChanW

I like the alternative to this that someone came up with, which clamps to the tongue jack tube, with the tire resting on the A frame.
I'm not sure if there's even enough room for that one though, on our newer tab (with surge brakes). 

EWizard

I thought my 2005 had surge brakes?

Mercator

I store my spare tire under the rear settee bench.  This keeps the weight behind the axle and the tongue weight (250 lbs target) is then easier to control with proper loading of the rest of the trailer.  Although the spare takes up some space, I don't find that I need if for anything else at all.

Verna

Ewizard, a lot of what you read here does not apply to a 2005 T@B that was manufactured by a different company. Yes, you have surge brakes on a 2005, and you probably won't have room for the spare tire mount on the tongue jack tube. If you mention you have a 2005, or compose a signature line with a description of your T@B, we can get you more appropriate information for your model. 

EWizard

Good point @Verna.  Will do.

T@Buhura

ChanW said:

I like the alternative to this that someone came up with, which clamps to the tongue jack tube, with the tire resting on the A frame.
I'm not sure if there's even enough room for that one though, on our newer tab (with surge brakes). 

  Is that laying flat on the tongue? Do you have a picture?

Nomad

It sits upright attached vertically to the jack - bottom of tire rests on the frame.
Search for "spare tire" in the search box (upper right) and you'll find several threads with various methods.

Cyclonic

ChanW said:

I like the alternative to this that someone came up with, which clamps to the tongue jack tube, with the tire resting on the A frame.
I'm not sure if there's even enough room for that one though, on our newer tab (with surge brakes). 

It will work on a LG with surge brakes.  I did that setup last year, until getting a diamond plate tongue box made it so there was not enough room (but I love the tongue box!).

ChanW

Good to know Cyclonic, thanks.

Did you simply rest the tire on the a-frame, or did you devise a cradle of some kind?
Cyclonic said:

ChanW said:

I like the alternative to this that someone came up with, which clamps to the tongue jack tube, with the tire resting on the A frame.
I'm not sure if there's even enough room for that one though, on our newer tab (with surge brakes). 

It will work on a LG with surge brakes.  I did that setup last year, until getting a diamond plate tongue box made it so there was not enough room (but I love the tongue box!).

T@Buhura

PXLated said:

It sits upright attached vertically to the jack - bottom of tire rests on the frame.
Search for "spare tire" in the search box (upper right) and you'll find several threads with various methods.

Ok, I see what you mean. That won't work on a Dutchman (original style Tabbert) T@B since the ALKO tongue jack stand has to be able to slide down before being jacked.

Ramrod

I just mounted my spare tire but it is only six inches from the ground!

Nomad

Ramrod - You need to resize your images to an 800 pixel width - That took forever to load.
My tire sits at 8" - I did it a long time ago but remember I had to play with which holes I lined it up with. Here's a pic of what it looks like - Sorry about the quality but it's getting dark...

Ramrod

I will try that. Thank you and sorry about the picture size.

Cyclonic

ChanW said:

Good to know Cyclonic, thanks.

Did you simply rest the tire on the a-frame, or did you devise a cradle of some kind?

I sat it right on the a-frame.  I held it on with a couple of tie down straps, and it didn't budge on the way to Tearstock last summer.  I think the next big trip it will have to go back on the roof of the TV.

Cyclonic

EWizard said:

I thought my 2005 had surge brakes?

There are basically three different frame types out there. 

Nearly all of the Dutchman T@B's, except for the very late models, have the European ALKO frame.  This one surge brakes, the parking brake, and the wheel on the tongue stays on.

Early Pleasant Valley T@B's have a BAL frame with surge brakes (this is what my 2012 has).

Pleasant Valley then switched to a BAL frame with electric brakes, sometime in 2013 I think.

dsatwork

Has anyone explored doing this mod with the spare tire?

The tire is mounted with two thick aluminum plates, one on the outside and one on the interior. There are 3 long stainless bolts. He took the spare tire mount off the undercarriage and bolted all of that together through the trailer. The gas cans are on with bungee cables. 



It looks like you could mount inside the center storage compartment.

rfuss928

I also used the mount from underneath in a similar way on the side of the tongue box.

dsatwork

I wondered if people were reusing the part other ways

rfuss928

In this picture you can see the plywood stiffener on the inside of the box. 

Something similar could probably be done with the new style diamond plate box.  If there is room directly in front of it, the tire could rest on the frame for added stability and take a lot of stress off the box wall.   Just brainstorming from afar............