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Spare tire storage underneath

Hi Greg.  I worked on a 2001 MB, that I bought for a friend in 2017. With a little welding and modification to the hanging triangular skids, and time I didn't have then, I wanted to rig a holder for the spare underneath.   The tire is about 2" too big in diameter to fit between the frame rails. But there was room just behind the gas tank. The wheel itself, as Larry mentioned has an offset, to be half of a 'dual', and with a tire winch, could be pulled up to just stick out the thickness of the tire below the frame rails.
    A steel bar capable of supporting the wheel would need to be added. The triangular skids modified, etc. A flex extension added to the tire winch.   Amazon.com: Lippert 159056 RV Spare Tire Winch: Automotive and a video at etrailer.
    I would rig it to be able to operate it with a portable drill from the back bumper.  Your newer motorhome may have a different arrangement underneath.  Other manufacturers manage to mount the spare underneath. The E450 chassis can take the weight of the tire, and benefit from moving the weight forward. Modifying the structure underneath, such as having a hitch 'beefed up', could include this change.  A remotely located air hose could be run under the skirt, or near the hitch at the rear bumper, to keep tabs on tire inflation.
    Think of more useable volume in the storage bin.  I want to take some pictures of your rig underneath at Morro Bay. See you there.   RonB

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RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #1 –
Quote from: RonB  - 
Think of more useable volume in the storage bin.  I want to take some pictures of your rig underneath at Morro Bay. See you there. 

Absolutely!  We are probably not having official tours this year but we would be happy to show anyone the rig.  We'll just hold our breath!   :D
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #2 –
"Think of more useable volume in the storage bin."

Or you could do what I and others have done: mount the tire in front of the grille. No welding or fabrication required; just bolt on a front hitch receiver and slide in a tire holder. While there had been concerns about engine cooling, I didn't see any change in several years of use.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #3 –
I did what Andy did.  Then, using my UltraGauge, I tracked engine cooling.  On a hot day, and relatively flat road (30 miles between Riley OR and Burns OR), with no tire mounted, my engine temp ran about 196.  With the tire mounted in front of the engine, it ran about 208.  If I turned on the AC, the difference was greater, though I don't remember those numbers.

So, when I am in and about an area, no long trips, the spare rides in front.  On a long haul, such as from NM to OR, OR to WY, or WY to NM, the spare rides in the back seat of my Forester, which I am towing.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
Re: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #4 –
I like the trash bag idea.   I run a leash from a departed dog which makes it easier to drag out. Putting it back in is not-trivial.
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #5 –
Thanks for the hard data, Ken. So I stand corrected--it does make a difference. I'll just say that it was never a problem for me; I never saw overheating after mounting the spare up front, and neither has my friend with an other-brand class C similarly equipped.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #6 –
Andy, it didn't "overheat".  The dash temp indicator still read in the normal range, but the UltraGauge gave precise info.  When climbing long grades, tire in the TOAD, I have seen my engine temp climb to 225 and still read "normal".  I think the only time that having the tire in front might be a problem would be if it were a hot day, say high 90's, and I was climbing a long, steep grade.  That combination MIGHT be enough to take me above "normal".

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
Re: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #7 –
Quote from: Kenneth Fears  - 
I did what Andy did.  Then, using my UltraGauge, I tracked engine cooling.  On a hot day, and relatively flat road (30 miles between Riley OR and Burns OR), with no tire mounted, my engine temp ran about 196.  With the tire mounted in front of the engine, it ran about 208.  If I turned on the AC, the difference was greater, though I don't remember those numbers.

So, when I am in and about an area, no long trips, the spare rides in front.  On a long haul, such as from NM to OR, OR to WY, or WY to NM, the spare rides in the back seat of my Forester, which I am towing.

Ken F in NM
Did you test on the same day? Which did you do first? More details if you could please.
Steve and Jill, Steve posting
1999 26.5 Mid-Bath
Re: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #8 –
Steve, I was camping near Riley, OR in June, waiting for packages to arrive.  One was the front mount.  On a 90 degree day, I drove to Burns, 30 miles, to shop, and made a note of my engine temperature.  When the front mount arrived, I installed it, along with a Camco white vinyl tire cover which occluded the wheel's center hole.  Soon thereafter, again on a 90 degree day, I headed into Burns again, this time with the spare mounted in front.

So, different days, but temperature very close to 90 on both days.  The road was the same.  I was using cruise control, so accelerator usage should have been similar.  Speed was the same.  Grades were the same.  It was midday both times.  My recollection is that wind was not a factor, but I am not certain of that one. I had a recently installed UltraGauge, displaying digitally both engine coolant temperature and trans temperature, allowing me to track and record both. In short, it was as good a comparison as I could manage.

The motive behind my testing was that I had heard rumors that the tire compromised air flow for cooling, and that the Ford warranty would be voided by placing the tire there.  I had noted Andy's observation that the tire made little difference in engine cooling.  I wanted to do as good a test as I could manage to see for myself just what the issues were.  My conclusion was that, while there was an increase in operating temperature with the tire in place in front of the grill, the difference was minor.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
Re: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #9 –
I was just reading a thread elsewhere that people were talking about only carrying the tire, not the rim, and carrying it on the roof. The thinking being that they wouldn’t be able to change the tire on their own due to the size/weight of the rig, and that the emergency road service could take the rim from the failed tire and mount the “roof tire” on it. Makes sense to me, but possibly because I really want to have access to that extra storage space!!
Livin the dream, one nightmare at a time.....

2003 26.50MB, Blue
 
Re: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #10 –
Quote from: frayednot  - 
I was just reading a thread elsewhere that people were talking about only carrying the tire, not the rim, and carrying it on the roof. The thinking being that they wouldn’t be able to change the tire on their own due to the size/weight of the rig, and that the emergency road service could take the rim from the failed tire and mount the “roof tire” on it. Makes sense to me, but possibly because I really want to have access to that extra storage space!!

Several forum members have proposed doing this but I don’t remember ever seeing it done or a report from someone that did. It would require fabricating a crossmember and winch to raise and lower it.
An unmounted tire isn’t worth much when you have a flat and are a 100 miles from the nearest town.  Most tow truck drivers do not dismount and remount tires in the field unless it’s a HD truck tire repair truck, they are trained and equipped to perform field repairs and you will pay good price for the convenience.
BTW, most road services will not enter dirt roads, you need to be on the pavement.

No matter where it is stored, keep the spare tire mounted and aired up.
Even if you cannot change a flat, carrying the needed tools would enable a strong volunteer to help.

Many LD models have an large empty space under the lounge’s floor. it’s a temptation to fill it, nature hates a vacuum.
LD knows well the space is there but filling it would throw the weight balance and wheel loads off.
With the spare under the floor, its original location will be filled with more weight. Before filling the space, weighing each wheel and determining the weight of the added gear should be known to calculate if it will exceed the axle and tire loads limits.

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: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #11 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
An unmounted tire isn’t worth much when you have a flat and are a 100 miles from the nearest town.  Most tow truck drivers do not dismount and remount tires in the field unless it’s a HD truck tire repair truck, they are trained and equipped to perform field repairs and you will pay good price for the convenience.

The one time we needed a spare on our LD, we were glad to have the spare and needed tools on board.  We had a blowout of the PS inside dually on the Alaska Highway somewhere between Whitehorse and Watson Lake  (real middle of nowhere).  I doubt we even had cell coverage there.  We we traveling with another LD and were able to replace the failed tire with the spare ourselves.  I was glad I carried a long lug wrench and a length of pipe to slip onto the the end for lots of leverage.  I even had a torque wrench capable of proper lug tightening.  We carefully continued on to Watson Lake where a tire shop at least had a proper size used tire in fair shape that he sold and mounted as a new spare.  We continued south to Fort Nelson where a major Canadian Tire Store chain was able to get 6 new Michelin tires in a couple of days.

My $0.02,
Art

Art and Barbara
Settled in Atterdag Village of Solvang
2015-2022 fulltime in a 2016 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37AP
2002-2015 2002 LD MB
Art's blog
Re: Spare tire storage underneath
Reply #12 –
Regarding putting  atire on the roof...
1) As Larry said, you will need a mechanism to raise and lower it.
2) You will be putting weight high on the rig, adversely affecting handling.
3) You will need to fabricate some type of frame or brackets for storing it in place so it doesn't move and/or touch the aluminum roof.  Having a tire up there, on the aluminum, with a bit of sand between it and the roof and a bit of movement from traveling, and a hole will quickly be abraded in the aluminum roof.
4) That frame means more weight up there, and holes in the roof to fasten the frame down.

All in all, putting a spare on the roof is not something I would consider.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB