spare tire cover on back January 09, 2019, 03:33:29 pm We are curious as to why the spare tire isn't located in the spare tire cover on the back of the rig. We where told it doesn't fit anymore.I was looking thru the LD Pocket Guide (awesome bit of info, BTW) and came across this blurb for the 2000 model year:---* Midbath models had the coach body moved back about 2.5 inches to let taller owners run the driver's seat all the way back. The spare had to be moved from under the rear "continental" tire cover to the rearmost passenger side outside storage bin. This change occurred at the end of 1999.---I'm trying to wrap my head around why this would impact the spare tire. Did they shrink the space available in the holder in the rear, or did they loose some support because they had to shift the body back?I'd love to get the tire back in that housing on the rear of the rig to free the space in the compartment. Is this pipe dreaming on my part?ThanksSean
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #1 – January 09, 2019, 03:44:53 pm If the cover is the same size and the plastic under is the same size it seems plausible it could be removed and framing similar to what you see be built to support the tire. Unless potentially the spare tire “box” runs directly up against the interior wall but even then it seems that could be reinforced to hold the tire.
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #2 – January 09, 2019, 03:48:24 pm Can you post a pic behind your spare tire cover?
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #3 – January 09, 2019, 03:51:22 pm Is this is how yours is framed out then it’s certanly not an option, my rear bath has a significant indention for the spare tire.
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #4 – January 09, 2019, 03:55:04 pm Quote from: Cor2man - January 09, 2019, 03:51:22 pmIs this is how yours is framed out then it’s certanly not an option, my rear bath has a significant indention for the spare tire. Now that's an awesome picture! Where'd you manage to find it?I'll try to take a picture of what's behind ours in the next day or two.
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #5 – January 09, 2019, 04:00:53 pm There’s pics of rigs during construction in the media files here on the forum
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #6 – January 09, 2019, 04:28:04 pm Certain models do not have the spare tire mounted on the rear in an attempt to provide more interior room.In these models, the spare tire is stored in the rear, driver's side exterior storage compartment . The spare tire cover is still installed, to maintain the same look over the entire fleet. In these models, shelves can be built behind the cover to store small items, such a 1-lb propane cans.Cor2man, your LD is a 23.5' Front Lounge, not a Rear Bath, that designation is used by the 27' Rear Bath floorpan.Lazy Daze - Floor PlansLarry
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #7 – January 09, 2019, 06:58:58 pm Hi Cor2man; In my '99 TK the back wall is about 7" thick, and has room for drink holders in the space between the window and the fold up table. In the 2000 and newer mid bath, the back wall is only about 3" thick, so that the drink holders are mounted on the wall and fold out, next to the optional fold up table. That difference in thickness allows for the extra depth required to fit the spare tire into the tire cover space. Moving the drivers seat back, moved everything on that side of the motorhome backward. I was working on a friends 2001 MB, and I replaced his decrepit spare with a new tire, and the difficulty putting a clean tire in the storage compartment was high. I can't imagine putting a dirty dead tire in a relatively clean area. I put the new tire in a trash bag, so the bag could be used to put a dirty tire away. Hopefully the tire would be flat and easier to clear the opening. The space between the frame rails is about 2" too narrow for the tire itself, but with a little bracing, a lift hoist would fit, and store the tire up and out of the way just aft of the gas tank. The offset wheel would fit into that frame space with the hoist. Amazon.com: JSD Spare tire Hoist for Ford f-250 Spare Tire Winch for Ford... Think how much more room you would have in the storage compartment. A flexible drive extension cable with drill motor to raise and lower it, and an extension air hose to check the pressure more easily. RonB As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #8 – January 09, 2019, 07:47:44 pm Larry, my Ld is a 26.5 RB, not sure what model the construction pic I posted was but it certainly was not built to house a spare time in the rear, I’m guessing the rear wall is too close for the spare tire cutout but I have no clue.On my 26.5 RB the rear wall is framed with an indention for the spare tire cavity, sadly very little insulation actually fits in the space between the spare cavity and the wall. I was simply making assumptions that if Lazy Daze could have fit the tire cavity in the rear wall they would have.
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #9 – January 09, 2019, 07:51:09 pm Rob, a tire hoist like ford uses on various models would be a cool mod if someone was that interested in freeing up the space. There’s always the option of putting a tire carrier on the bumper, it wouldn’t look perfect but a decent fabricator could likely make it clean. Speaking of bumpers, the LD bumper is ridiculously heavy.
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #10 – January 10, 2019, 01:39:39 am Quote from: Cor2man - January 09, 2019, 07:47:44 pmLarry, my Ld is a 26.5 RB, not sure what model the construction pic I posted was but it certainly was not built to house a spare time in the rear, I’m guessing the rear wall is too close for the spare tire cutout but I have no clue.On my 26.5 RB the rear wall is framed with an indention for the spare tire cavity, sadly very little insulation actually fits in the space between the spare cavity and the wall. I was simply making assumptions that if Lazy Daze could have fit the tire cavity in the rear wall they would have.I was wrong about the floorpan, I incorrectly assumed that, looking at the rear wall, it was a 23.5' Front Lounge, it has the same rear layout and wall construction as our Front Lounge.The framing photo you posted is a 27' Mid-bath, a model that doesn't have a rear mounted spare tire. Larry
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #11 – January 10, 2019, 02:07:35 am A few thoughts on hoisting the spare up between the frame rail.The floor isn't designed to carry the weight of the tire in that location, a metal crossmember should be installed, between the frame rails, that would support the winch and spare tire and transfer the weight to the frame rails.When dropping the spare with winch, it is necessary to get under the rig and disconnect the winch cable's attachment from the center of the wheel. Dropping the spare could also require crawling under the rig to access the crank on the winch.Crawling under and to the middle of rig is something many are not capable of doing, its' a tight fit.It is necessary to disconnect the winch before driving forward to uncover the spare. If the rig cannot be moved, the extremely difficult task of manually pulling the spare out from under the rig must be done, a chore for a weight lifter.To ease removing the spare from an exterior compartment, I have removed the carpet and installed 1/8" sheets of heavy plastic, which allows the spare to slide much more easily, to the point where tie downs were needed.Yes, storing the spare in an exterior compartment is a pain to use, how often do you expect to need it?We have had one flat in 24 years and 175,000 miles of LDing. YMMVLarry
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #12 – January 10, 2019, 04:39:08 am Hi Larry, yes absolutely a steel cross member across the frame rails in the back. My TK has the spare under the bustle, but my friends MB was pretty empty back there. Actually it had an added reinforcing bar forward from the receiver to a cross bar on those skid bars. (previous owner towed a Jeep) That would all have to be redone, but the factory would be the best ones to change this design. I have a good friend who was a professional welder, and still has some of his equipment. Moving and altering steel, easy enough. A simple hole in the bumper with a plug. OEM uses a plastic tube to direct the drive handle crank into the hoist. Sort of like an awning crank handle. Ford evidently has a lock similar to a 'puzzle' tire lug nut at the hoist. Some problems with the steel cable breaking, and some with it just unwinding on its own volition. Some reviewers put in additional supports to hold the tire securely. I could see having chains with padlocks. I didn't see any that mentioned how long the cable is, but I'm sure that after the tire hit the ground, that it could be dragged far enough to get it out from under the back of the motorhome. Maybe the service guy from CoachNet would be the one having to crawl underneath. I've had to replace one tire on my truck, it has the hoist. Wasn't all that bad. Easier than taking off the wheel simulator, loosening the lug nuts and jacking it up. At least with a motor home, you can put on a coverall, put a tarp under you as you crawl underneath, and wash up when you are done. Also you'd have an outdoor location to put a destroyed tire. Those torn steel belts are terrible to handle, I recommend heavy gloves. Sounds like a bit of fun to construct a better tire holder. RonB
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #13 – January 10, 2019, 01:46:53 pm What about fabricating an extension ring which would bring the fake spare cover out enough to cover the spare in the back.? Although the back wall may have to strengthened to carry the spare? Our 98 ~ MB has the space in back behind the cover, so we have not had to deal with it in the storage compartment. Now we would like to buy a newer MB model over the next couple of years which will have the spare in the storage compartment. We use all of that space now in our 98 ~ MB, I would hate to loose it to a spare tire which may only be used sparingly! Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinA
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #14 – January 10, 2019, 02:14:06 pm RonEver use a spare tire winch?The pickup spare tire winches only have a couple feet of cable, so you must crawl under the rig to disconnect the cable, before driving forward or physically pulling the tire out. Not too hard to do in a pickup but a lot more difficult when you need to crawl 5' under the rig just to get to where you disconnect the wheel from the winch .The winch is operated with a long crank that connects to the winch. In a pickup, the crank is normally a foot or two long and usually enters through a hole under the tailgate. Mounted in a MB, the crank is going to 6-8 feet long and will require constructed guide to allow the crank to connect at a distance, either that or you will need to crawl under the rig again to engage the crank.Not so sure the Coach Net driver will be pleased or willing to engage in these extra activities.."Those torn steel belts are terrible to handle, I recommend heavy gloves.Sounds like a bit of fun to do actually. "After changing a rear blowout two summers ago, I can say it isn't much fun and the steel belts are very sharp. The tire disintegrated so badly, there wasn't much to gather, with dozens of pieces scattered across a 1/4 mile of highway.It was hard enough getting the spare tire off the back of the rig, getting one out from under the rig would have doubled the effort.Larry
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #15 – January 10, 2019, 11:02:36 pm Quote from: Larry W - January 10, 2019, 01:39:39 amI was wrong about the floorpan, I incorrectly assumed that, looking at the rear wall, it was a 23.5' Front Lounge, it has the same rear layout and wall construction as our Front Lounge.The framing photo you posted is a 27' Mid-bath, a model that doesn't have a rear mounted spare tire. LarryLarry, look at the photos in reply 71 in this thread. Hooray for rot repair!!
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #16 – January 11, 2019, 03:46:20 am Hi Karen and/or Liam, and NinA; I haven't looked under a newer MidBath, but from what I remember, a spare tire with winch could be located just forward of the receiver/bumper. The only modifications needed would be to the skid bar angles welded to the frame. Easy to change and could be incorporated in the redesign of the underneath. Like my pickup, the winch could be close enough to the rear bumper. (both have 16" radius tires). The 100 pounds would subtract from hitch weight. I've got a neighbor with a 2001 MB, so I'll take a look underneath when it isn't raining. My welder friend will be visiting tomorrow morning. If the MH is home we can take a look. Ron and Trudy, & 3 traveling cats, Mike, Max, and Lila. 2 Likes
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #17 – January 11, 2019, 06:36:49 am I've thought about the following device from time to time, but been too busy with other things to seriously follow-up.BAL 28216B Hide A Spare 68" to 75" Box Frame Underslung MountIt seems to have promise as does a front-end mounted tire as some have done with their LD.
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #18 – January 11, 2019, 01:52:38 pm Quote from: Ed & Margee - January 11, 2019, 06:36:49 amBAL 28216B Hide A Spare 68" to 75" Box Frame Underslung MountIt seems to have promise as does a front-end mounted tire as some have done with their LD.If a spare is going to be carried under the rig, it should be pulled up between the frame rails to provide adequate ground clearance . The Hide-A-Spare, the way the photos show, hangs too low. IMO If you were to snag the tire or frame on something, the results could get real interesting . I have two objection to carrying the spare on the front bumper. The spare sits in front of the radiator intake, blocking its air flow, it can't be good for engine cooling, especially when towing on a hot summer day.The second is that it sticks out and looks terrible and makes simple engine checks a lot more difficult.LDs are good looking rigs, why screw up the beauty and functionality with an ugly tire ?I have worked inside of many LD exterior storage compartments, a large portion of which were carrying way too much stuff, stored inefficiently. No matter how much room is available, people fill them up. It scares me how much stuff I have discovered in 31' models, no wonder so many of them are overloaded.A good portion of our close friends drive 23.5' or 24' LDs, which have significantly less storage than the longer models, and we all seem to carry everything we need, no one has accused me of being poorly prepared. Our rig is known as the rolling repair shop. Maybe it's because we came from backpacking backgrounds and learned to pack tight and to go light, our camping sub-group, in the LD Caravan Club, is known as the "Past Tents".If you can't get all your stuff into a 27' model, you may want to reconsider what you really need.The exception to this are full timers, who have the biggest problem, one of the reasons why so many have home bases somewhere where they can store their seasonal gear.Interestingly, in my 18 years on the site, the storing of the spare tire under the frame subject has come up a few times but, to my knowledge, no one has done it. Very few have gone with the front bumper mount route.At the March GTG, in Morro Bay, I would be happy to display how we load our 23.5' FL, during one of two morning open houses. You would be surprised how much it holds. We do not feel deprived.Larry
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #19 – January 11, 2019, 02:47:46 pm I’m up for doing an exterior compartment “show and tell” for a TK at Morro Bay. Everyone has different needs, of course, but it’s always interesting to share ideas! 😉
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #21 – January 11, 2019, 03:47:40 pm Hi Ed and Margee, That BAL tire carrier says it is not for motorhomes. Also a steel wheel and tire are getting close to 100 pounds. Maybe a re-design of the skid system, could slide the spare out of the back under the bumper, then winch it back up under the RV for storage. It would be protected by the skids. My friends MB, because of my angled driveway, dug two gouges in the street. (Hung up, I just gave it some more gas.) Skids survived, but I wanted to cut part of each angle off to mount a roller on each. For repeated use of my driveway, should I upgrade to a MB, that would save some 'wear and tear' on my street. I travel light Larry, because I have the Kwikee levelers, and a E350 chassis. Weighed with everything loaded (except me), MH was about 25 pounds over the 11,500 pounds. So over the limit, and now I travel with less than a full water tank. I don't have much storage space anyway in a TK. (Joan sure knows about that) RonB
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #22 – January 11, 2019, 04:05:28 pm Quote from: RonB - January 11, 2019, 03:47:40 pm I travel light Larry, because I have the Kwikee levelers, and a E350 chassis. Weighed with everything loaded (except me), MH was about 25 pounds over the 11,500 pounds. So over the limit, and now I travel with less than a full water tank. I don't have much storage space anyway in a TK. (Joan sure knows about that) Both the 24' T/K and FLs have about the same amount of storage, it's just distributed differently. The T/Ks have more exterior storage, the FL has less but does have one tall exterior compartment that allows larger items to be carried. With the E450 chassis, we are never overloaded, no matter what we take with us.Larry
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #23 – January 12, 2019, 12:11:13 am For many years I advised against front-mounted spares for the reasons Larry mentioned. Then a friend mounted a spare on the front of their E350 based motorhome, and after thousands of miles of driving and carefully watching temperatures, saw no thermal problems.So I followed suit. I drove for several years with this setup (see photo) and had no problems I could attribute to it. (I did eventually have a partially clogged radiator, but as far as I know that could not have been caused by the front-mounted spare.) I had a cover made from the same durable mesh used for windshield covers, and to my eye at least the result looked good.(By the way, this photo shows the front wheel after I ditched the shiny simulators and painted the wheels instead. There's a thread about that somewhere hereabouts, with more photos.)
Re: spare tire cover on back Reply #24 – January 12, 2019, 05:04:10 pm Two summers ago, I installed a front mount spare like Andy's setup. Using my UltraGauge, I compared engine temperatures with and without the tire up there. In cool weather, my engine went to 194 and stayed there. In hot weather on the flats, it tended to run around 196 to 200 without the tire and about 5 degrees higher with it, no concern. HOWEVER - on a long grade, with the tire up front, and the lower speeds plus higher demand on the engine, my engine would rapidly climb to 225, my "personal" red flag.So, now, when I am in an area for a while, I hang the spare on the front. If I am doing hours of travel, such as transitioning from New Mexico to Oregon, or Oregon to Wyoming, that spare rides in the back seat of my TOAD and the front of the rig has no air flow obstruction.Why do I not keep it in the outside storage compartment where LD placed it? Wrestling that big, heavy tire out or in that space, with a small fraction of an inch of clearance, became too much for me. My options were to get a narrower tire, to increase the height of the compartment opening, or to carry the spare elsewhere. Thus, with one practical option, I now carry the spare elsewhere.Ken F in NM
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