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Poll

How many times have you used your spare tire?

  • 0 times (per 10 years)
    13 (46.4%)
  • less than 1 time (but more than 0) per 10 years
    3 (10.7%)
  • 1-2 times (per ten years)
    8 (28.6%)
  • 2.1-3 times (per ten years)
    2 (7.1%)
  • 3.1 or more times (per ten years)
    2 (7.1%)

Total Members Voted: 27

Topic: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)? (Read 410 times) previous topic - next topic
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How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
I'm interested in how often we really use our spare tires.  Since this is hard to measure in a standardized way, I'm asking you to adjust your usage to 'how many times in a 10 year period?'

For example:  I've been RVing for 10 years and have used it once.  My answer would be 1 (per 10 years)

If I've used it once in 5 years, my scaled answer would be 2 in 10 years. 

If I've used it 3 times in 12 years, my answer would be between 2.1-3 in ten years. 

and so on....

If your answer in 0, please let us know how long you've been RVing. 

If you're not sure how to scale your answer, post the number of years and the number of times and we'll help.

If you're unsure about how to calculate your answer.  # of times used / years owned *10
For example.  3 times in 12 years would be:  3/12 *10 = 2.5 times per ten years.


Thanks!

Rich

P.S. - Yes, miles traveled matters.  I might run another poll based on miles instead of years if there is interest. 
2003 MB
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #1 –
I've used my spare tire once in 11 years and 60k miles.

I had a slow valve stem leak on a front tire.  Instead of adding air each day, I changed it out for the spare so I could continue on with my trip and worry about it once I was at home.   Even without a spare, I would have been OK.

Rich
2003 MB
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #2 –
We've never used the spare tire in the 3 1/2 years we have owned our LD. When we purchased it the spare was the original tire and it had never been used in the 10 years the original owners had it. One of the first things we did was to replace that tire.

Charles

Harvest Hosts + Boondockers Welcome #23975
Escapees SKP #138195
2007 23.5' Twin King
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #3 –
"How many times..."

Only once in seventeen years. About LD mid-life I experienced a blowout on the outside passenger dual. The tow truck driver worked up a sweat fishing the spare out to replace the damaged tire. Fortunately that was the only damage and I made it home before effecting repairs.  8)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #4 –
Not to sure of your system.
Selected #2 1-3 times in 10 years.  7 years 49K miles on the rig.  Two failures, 1 blowout, 1 tire separation in  3 years, 36K. None in the other 13K,  YET (knock on wood).
Hit a pothole in Big Bend NP, thought I'd knocked the alignment loose but it was a broken tread.  Found the problem when I took it in for an alignment in Las Cruces NM  :o .  Replaced the tire, didn't use the spare. Does that count?
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #5 –
Once in 14 years and that's a story.

We let the GPS route us from Angel Fire, NM to Las Vegas, NM. NM434 was the route. It turned into a 1.5 lane unmarked lane, with a lot of yoyos like us blindly following their GPS. I gave a half-inch too much room to an oncoming truck and punctured the sidewall on a sharp rock.

Was glad of the spare, as there was no phone service.
 
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #6 –
Being I just bought the LD,  I'll say 0.  I do have a spare and a tire iron but no way to jack it up.  Does the Ford chassis come with a jack?  If so, I haven't found it yet. 
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #8 –
Zero.

We did picked up a nail between the treads of the right outside dually while passing through Las Vegas.

TPMS warned of the slow leak. Rather than use the spare, I had Coach-Net fix the tire and spare the spare. That was year 3 of our ownership on our ‘15 RB.

We average 4500 miles a year.

Kent



 

2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #9 –
Greg,
I carry two hydraulic bottle jacks in the Lazy Daze, smaller one to lift the axle and larger for the frame, and two squares of 3/4 plywood for the jacks to sit on.  I also carry a big breaker bar to take off lug nuts and a torque wrench to torque them back to specs when finished.  Plus a Viair compressor.

We had a blow out dropping into Show Low AZ and the tow truck that AAA sent had to use my jacks, tools and compressor to change the tire because he was so poorly equipped to deal with a motorhome!

Harold
2014 27 MB
Towd: Either the Jeep Wrangler or trailer containing the BMW R1200GS and 2 E-bicycles
Happy wife=Happy life
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #10 –
2 times in 10 years with my 1990, one a blow out, one a valve failure. 

With my 2005, had 5 tires of a matched set of 6 go, limped into Flagstaff without a flat, but tires looked like piecrust.  4 times in ONE trip with the replacement tires.  I don't think my 2005 likes tires, although the latest tires have been great!   Going on the 10th year with this rig.
2005 RB
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #11 –
Previous non LD motorhome, twice used spare in 8 years, 45K miles. One a nail, slow leak, second threw a piece of tread, but tire was still inflated. I had a spare because I added a holder, wheel, and junk yard tire. That tire was only two years old, and looked like it had never been on the ground. $40! (smaller motorhome, 16.5" load range 'D')
This Lazy Daze, 21 years and I have never needed the spare. (now I've jinxed that).  My friend with his 2001 MB, that I bought for him in 2017. One time in three years a blowout, outside driverside rear dual. Chinese tire was not quite 4 years old, On the motorhome when I bought it,  with less than 8k miles. Some damage to skirt. Yes, he used the spare that I sent a picture of to Greg, earlier today.  My friend put the spare back in his compartment and bought 6 new Michelin tires a few days later.    RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #12 –
We had an rar, inside passenger-side blowout three summers ago, north of Mojave. It was about 10-AM and the shade was still on the passenger-side, so getting the tire changed quickly was in order.
Using a stack of Lynx blocks, a ramp was made to raise the good outside tire high enough to place the jacks and remove the wheels. The hinged wheel cover was duct-taped in the up position.
Once driven up to height, the other wheels to blocked to eliminate shifting, and then two 6-ton hydraulic jacks were set under the axle, sitting on 12" X 12" X 3/4" plywood squares. The plywood squares should be used anytime when lifting on dirt or unstable ground.
Using a 1/2" breaker bar, along with a long cheater, the lug nuts were broken loose and a battery-powered, 1/2" impact wrench was used to finish removing them.
Both rear wheels were then removed. The hardest part was lowering the spare from the rear of the LD and replacing it with the bad wheel. 80-lbs of wheel and tire is too much to pick up anymore. Earthroomer uses a spare tire crane on some of their bigger models.
After fighting to get both wheels back in place (it isn't the easier thing to do) with the valve extenders properly positioned, the lug nuts were replaced and tightened.
We got it done in 50 minutes, with the sun starting to peek over the top of the rig, it was good to get back on the road and out of the heat.
BTW, the TPMS alarmed immediately after the blowout, indicating a catastrophic failure rather than a slow leak, there were chunks of rubber scattered over 100 yards of the highway.

Lynx blocks and the battery impact wrench made the job simpler, along with a big breaker bar and cheater.
Lynx blocks can be similarly used when installing snow cables.
If the tire needed air, either the Jeep's CO2 tank or the LD's small compressor would be used. The Jeep also has a small compressor.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #13 –
"We had an rar, inside passenger-side blowout three summers ago..."

When my LD was young and I was spry and able I carried all the 'stuff', torque wrench, ½" sockets and ratchet, jack stands, etc.. But that was then... realizing that I would be using my cell phone to change a tire I placed all that 'stuff' in a silent auction at a joint GTG with Pete Reed's group held at Honey Bear RV on the Oregon coast. The guy that won the auction was happy as a cat to get it. Good riddance to all the weight!   ;)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #14 –
Thankfully, I have never had to use the spare in over 17 years on the LD, but there is no way that I would not carry it. I understand the hassles involved with the awkward and difficult-to-access location in an MB, but the TK (and other models) carries the spare tire and wheel under the cover on the rear of the LD. The original tire was replaced a few years ago and is kept inflated to 80 pounds.

Any tire changing will be left for the person who shows up in the Coach-Net truck; I am well aware that I am not able to loosen the lug nuts without an impact wrench, and removing the blown wheel/tire off the axle, then lifting the replacement off the rear and onto the axle would not be possible. If something goes south with a tire, I just hope for a safe place to get off the road and a strong cell signal!

YMMV, as ever.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #15 –
Twice - both times with our '83 FL. My wife drives the rig probably less than 5% of the time, but both times she was the driver for the blowouts.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #16 –
Quote from: Steve  - 
Twice - both times with our '83 FL. My wife drives the rig probably less than 5% of the time, but both times she was the driver for the blowouts.

It's her way of telling you to do the driving.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #17 –
Never
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #18 –
Adding mileage to the survey would add a lot more information.
In 26 years of LD ownership, and 185,000 miles, we have had only one tire failure and two slow leakers.
Well maintained, high-quality tires have few issues, assuming they are changed every five to six years.

Larry

Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #19 –
Twice. The second blowout was on the dually passenger side inner tire and just behind the coach door. The tire exploded and blew out part of the wheel well and shredded the left side panel inside as you enter the coach, the one on left side of kitchen sink. The blowout sent wood and rubber shrapnel all over inside the coach. Fortunately no one was injured by the flying debris.
To complicate things, this happened on a very busy, fast moving San Diego freeway.
SoCal-Gal  (Tracy)
1991 26.5 RB
Previous 1988 22’ LD Multi plan
Previous 1992 Six-pack Camper
Spare the sealant, spoil the job.
Travelers: Tracy, spouse Anthony, Coton de Tulear, Gabby and parrotlet, Indigo
 
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #20 –
SoCal Girl, I like your signature line “Spare the sealant, spoil the job.”  You don’t happen to work for Lazy Daze, do you?  😁
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #21 –
OK, adding mileage and rig age: 17+ years, 118,000 miles, no blowouts, tire damages, or use of spare.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #22 –
Quote from: HiLola  - 
SoCal Girl, I like your signature line “Spare the sealant, spoil the job.”  You don’t happen to work for Lazy Daze, do you?  😁
🤣😂🤣😂
Not yet.
SoCal-Gal  (Tracy)
1991 26.5 RB
Previous 1988 22’ LD Multi plan
Previous 1992 Six-pack Camper
Spare the sealant, spoil the job.
Travelers: Tracy, spouse Anthony, Coton de Tulear, Gabby and parrotlet, Indigo
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #23 –
Never on the LD in over 17 years and 130K+ miles. Once on the Jeep we almost always tow when I noticed a low tire in camp and checked the pressure.

When we went to Alaska in 2009 I read much advice about tires and decided to get all new ones for that trip, ten total. That seemed to pay off with no tire problems and reinforced my feeling that good quality tires with substantial remaining tread help.
Terry
2003 26.5'RB
Gardnerville, NV
Re: How many times have you used your spare tire (per ten years)?
Reply #24 –
Never on our LD in 10+ years and 50,000 miles.

I did have a outside rear dually blow on my old Toyota based mini. Luckily I was only about a mile to the nearest exit and limped there in the breakdown lane.  At the top of the ramp was a Sears auto repair that was just closing. A $20 was enough to persuade one of the mechanics to stay and put on the spare.  I bought all new tires right away.

George and JoAnn
99 MB
George & Jo Ann
2017 MB