Moving spare tire

Mags80 · March 28

2018 T@b 320s towed with 2018 Toyota Highlander with factory tow pkg. The spare is mounted under the t@b and low enough that it scrapes when I back into my driveway. My question is…if I can figure out how to mount the spare to sit across the trailer tongue (in front of custom cargo box) will the angle of the tongue change? Because now, both the tire and the hitch scrape on the drive incline. I dread that portion of any journey.
Thank you for any advice.

MuttonChops · March 28

For Future Posting:

yr-2018 TABs are not Dutchman or Vintage TAB
You'll get more responses posting questions in the Main Topics Sections.

As for the spare tire mounting.

Most folks mount the spare at the front Tongue Jack location.
It is easy to do:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/sm/d1fpy1wg1cb6.png

Here is a Forum Discussion Link that has additional links on moving the spare tire

Spare Tire Location

Welcome to the TAB Family.

Freespirit · March 28

@Mags80, we tow our 2020 TAB 320 with a 2020 highlander and did move our spare tire as @MuttonChops pictures show. We did not notice any difference in the angle of the tongue. However it only corrected one of your/our issue, the spare no longer scraper, but the tongue still scrapes a little given the slope of our driveway. Like you I dreaded backing the TAB down the driveway when leaving and as soon as that was done dreaded the reverse about 1 hour from home.

Our solution while not ideal has taken the dread out of leaving and returning. I repurposed some scrap 2X8’s(about 2 to 3 feet long) from lumber piles from houses being built around us. I now place them behind the highlander rear wheels and scraping is not an issue any more.

Slackers · March 30

We had the same issues backing our '19 CSS into our side yard. So we moved the spare as @MuttonChops described. We also place 2x8s as @Freespirit described. An added benefit is our Tab rides smoother with the weight of the tire moved forward.
What @MuttonChops shows in red (in our case) are a pair of muffler clamps.

B0atguy · March 30

When we had our 2019 320 , we were able to mount a "donut" spare tire from a car in the same spot as the original spare for more rear ground clearance . I forget the make of the car , will look back if you are interested (its been 6-7 years now) . The donut size was 155/90/16 mounted on a rim that fit the T@B lug spacing perfectly . It gave quite a bit of extra ground clearance in the rear .

Edit - just found that our "donut" car spare tire came from a 2007 Chevy Equinox . Was a direct bolt on to the T@B lug nut spacing , and it fit on the spare tire mount spot without too much trouble if I recall .

SLJ · March 30

Harbor Freight mount attached to the box.

Mags80 · March 31

My neighbor might help attach the spare to the cargo box; he pointed out that the tire would block the hasp and lock. So, onward with yet another project of relocating the lock. Tapping screws? Every day I hear something new-to-me.

ScottG · April 1

FWIW, mine's been attached to the tongue jack (see @MuttonChops post above) for almost a decade without incident. It's a simple bolt-on application with the right-sized muffler clamps. Completely removable. No drilling or tapping. No blocking access to the storage tub. YMMV!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/cz/jqytufv1leg7.jpg

dsfdogs · April 1

@Mags80 here is a link to the post I created when I moved the spare to the tongue of my 2018 320S (with lots of detail). I was towing with a 4Runner. You should still be towing level, but moving the tire will add more weight to your tongue. The 4Runner suspension was soft so it squatted, so I had Les Schwab Tire add Sumo Springs to help level. I would guess the Highlander suspension is stiffer.

My 320S was a non-boondock, so wheels/tires were 14".

I assume you don't have a foot plate or wheel attached to the jack post when towing/backing up to give more clearance?

I had to back into the driveway at an angle before straightening out to get the 320 into the garage. It was a standard 20' driveway which meant a lot of back and forth to get the trailer into position once I was over the hump. (I was parking on the right side of the garage but backing in from passenger side blind).

EBastow · April 1

@ScottG The muffler clamp that fits the Harbor Freight spare tire tongue mount from O'Reilly's is Nickson 2-1/2 Inch Steel Exhaust Clamp - 35337 https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/nickson/nickson-2-1-2-inch-steel-exhaust-clamp/nicb/35337

Harbor Freight spare tire mount: https://www.harborfreight.com/trailer-spare-tire-carrier-93341.html

Here's a photo of mine installed now:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/tc/21adwmjb7bvc.jpg

Mags80 · April 3

dsfdogs said:

@Mags80 here is a link to the post I created when I moved the spare to the tongue of my 2018 320S (with lots of detail). I was towing with a 4Runner. You should still be towing level, but moving the tire will add more weight to your tongue. The 4Runner suspension was soft so it squatted, so I had Les Schwab Tire add Sumo Springs to help level. I would guess the Highlander suspension is stiffer.

My 320S was a non-boondock, so wheels/tires were 14".

I assume you don't have a foot plate or wheel attached to the jack post when towing/backing up to give more clearance?

I had to back into the driveway at an angle before straightening out to get the 320 into the garage. It was a standard 20' driveway which meant a lot of back and forth to get the trailer into position once I was over the hump. (I was parking on the right side of the garage but backing in from passenger side blind).

Mags80 · April 3

My 2018 isn’t a boondock so the tires are 14”. I laughed at your question about a footplate or wheel because once, and only once, I didn’t raise the jack post after removing the wheel when towing, bending the wheel post in the jack post. Much sweating and swearing as I took hammer to the innocent wheel.

Our backing situations are similar, coming in from the passenger and eventually getting to the driver side of the driveway. My neighbors come sit on their porches to watch the show, shaking or nodding their heads as I catch their eye in the side view mirrors.

My dread has been the scraping of the spare tire and jack post as I leave or return in the driveway; it has a significant incline at the apron before the driveway levels. I’m going to try the suggestion of putting some short lengths of 2”x8” boards across the driveway, behind the TV tires, to reduce that pitch. Fingers crossed.

I will check with my auto repair shop about the added 50 lbs of tire on the suspension/tongue weight. And I be sure to hook up and check to make sure all is level.

Thank you for the question and suggestion. Weather here in San Antonio has been great for April, May, and June journeys. (In January, I had a liquid drain down the driver wheel and have been worried about not finding the source and getting stuck on the road. All tanks are holding water and Alde 3020 tank is okay as are hoses I can see so all is good.)

dsfdogs · April 3

@Mags80 ... "innocent wheel"... too funny. Your neighbors are probably impressed at what you are doing!

Regarding the weight, the good news is I think the spare is closer to 40# and since it will sit further back than the coupler, it will have even less impact on the hitch weight. To help balance the load, I used to load heavier gear in my 4Runner in front of the back wheel (anything behind the back wheels adds to the hitch weight). I also loaded heavier gear in the Tab directly over the axle, for example, a cooler.

Good luck and happy camping!

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