Mid Bath spare tire April 29, 2021, 09:24:49 am It's a shame that it takes up a storage bin. I was surprised they moved it off of the back wall. In my 11 years and 40,000 miles (including Alaska) with our TK I never had a flat. We never needed the spare. It's so tempting to go without it and open that space up but just when I do is when I'll get a flat.
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #1 – April 29, 2021, 09:59:16 am As I recall, sometime before 2002 a redesign of the MB to give the driver more space did not allow room in the rear to fit the spare.The only time we needed the spare was when we lost the inside passenger duelly on a remote section of the Alaska Highway. If roadside assistance could have been contacted it would have been a few hours away. We got the spare on and limped down to Watson Lake where we were able to find a used tire as a new spare. When we reached Fort Nelson and a major tire chain, we put 6 new tires on.Art 1 Likes
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #2 – April 29, 2021, 10:19:57 am Quote from: tedeboy - April 29, 2021, 09:24:49 amIt's a shame that it takes up a storage bin. I was surprised they moved it off of the back wall. In my 11 years and 40,000 miles (including Alaska) with our TK I never had a flat. We never needed the spare. It's so tempting to go without it and open that space up but just when I do is when I'll get a flat. I always swore I would never travel without a spare, and replaced the donut spare on my cars with a full sized spare when possible.Then I bought a car without a spare. I learned that > 1/3 of new cars don't come with spare tires. I have had a couple of slow leaks (nails) in the tires of that car, but I've never needed a spare or the questionable pump/sealant kit auto manufacturers include as a substitute. It occurs to me that there are lots of people driving around without spare tires and we don't see cars littering the shoulders of the highway or hear stories of disaster. Roadside services like AAA must be getting used to assisting people without spare tires when there is a catastrophic failure. In any case, I used to think it was nuts to travel without a spare, but I don't see it that way anymore. Unless my plans involve remote or off-road travel, I wouldn't think twice about traveling without one. Sure, there is some risk that I waste some time waiting for help, but I'll just head back to the rear of the coach, fix myself a sandwich, and read for a couple of hours or something. Many RVs no longer come with spare tires either.Rich 1 Likes
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #3 – April 29, 2021, 10:26:03 am Quote from: tedeboy - April 29, 2021, 09:24:49 amIt's a shame that it takes up a storage bin. I was surprised they moved it off of the back wall. In my 11 years and 40,000 miles (including Alaska) with our TK I never had a flat. We never needed the spare. It's so tempting to go without it and open that space up but just when I do is when I'll get a flat. Tedeboy (and Rich), I think Jimmy Buffett had you in mind when he wrote this song, ha, ha! Check out the second verse:Jimmy Buffett – Wonder Why We Ever Go Home Lyrics | Genius Lyrics 1 Likes
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #4 – April 29, 2021, 11:16:21 am Quote from: rich - April 29, 2021, 10:19:57 amI always swore I would never travel without a spare, and replaced the donut spare on my cars with a full sized spare when possible.Then I bought a car without a spare. I learned that > 1/3 of new cars don't come with spare tires. I have had a couple of slow leaks (nails) in the tires of that car, but I've never needed a spare or the questionable pump/sealant kit auto manufacturers include as a substitute. It occurs to me that there are lots of people driving around without spare tires and we don't see cars littering the shoulders of the highway or hear stories of disaster. Roadside services like AAA must be getting used to assisting people without spare tires when there is a catastrophic failure. In any case, I used to think it was nuts to travel without a spare, but I don't see it that way anymore. Unless my plans involve remote or off-road travel, I wouldn't think twice about traveling without one. Sure, there is some risk that I waste some time waiting for help, but I'll just head back to the rear of the coach, fix myself a sandwich, and read for a couple of hours or something. Many RVs no longer come with spare tires either.RichI think a bigger problem arises with no spare. Service trucks they send don't have the ability to pull tires off of rims much less bring out a new one. I'm going to look into a hitch mount for the spare with throughput to still allow for towing.
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #5 – April 29, 2021, 11:20:29 am If you're towing a vehicle with enough cargo area, in the event of a flat, you could transport the wheel in the toad to get it repaired/replaced. 1 Likes
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #6 – April 29, 2021, 11:59:07 am While flats are not common, they do happen, we have had a blow out a few years ago.There are many places in the West where you could wait for hours for a service truck to arrive…if only there was a cell signa to call for help. Once assistance has been requested, you must hope they have the right replacement tire back at the shop, a single flat could cost you many days of waiting.To help other to more easily removed the spare out of a Mid-Bath, I have installed large, 1/8” thick sheets of UHMW plastic, bought from a local plastics store, to line the bottom of the compartmen the tire is stored in. The smooth plastic makes it easier to slide the tire in and out.A spare tire mounted above the tow bar is going to make access to the towbar more difficult and, IMO, looks weird or worse.Your new MB has much more storage capacity than your old T/K, even with the tire is stored in the rear compartment. You learned to deal with the limited storage of the T/K and should be hog heaven with all the exra sorage that you now have.We carry everything needed, and more, in our 23.5’ FLLarry 5 Likes
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #7 – April 29, 2021, 12:53:30 pm "I'm going to look into a hitch mount for the spare with throughput to still allow for towing."I've said this before, so I won't belabor the point: it makes a lot more sense to mount the spare in front. 2 Likes
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #8 – April 29, 2021, 04:02:11 pm Quote from: MeteorMick - April 29, 2021, 11:20:29 amIf you're towing a vehicle with enough cargo area, in the event of a flat, you could transport the wheel in the toad to get it repaired/replaced. Mine rides on top of my Jeep (the Jeep has its own attached underneath). 1 Likes
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #9 – April 29, 2021, 05:04:42 pm "Mine rides on top of my Jeep..."I sure hope that's frost on the hood of your Jeep, Deb... otherwise it's time for a new paint job! 1 Likes
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #10 – April 29, 2021, 05:09:53 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - April 29, 2021, 05:04:42 pm"Mine rides on top of my Jeep..."I sure hope that's frost on the hood of your Jeep, Deb... otherwise it's time for a new paint job! It was a frosty morning. :-)
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #11 – April 29, 2021, 05:59:21 pm Quote from: debinvenice - April 29, 2021, 04:02:11 pmMine rides on top of my Jeep (the Jeep has its own attached underneath). This is an excellent arrangement! /taking notes/ 1 Likes
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #12 – April 29, 2021, 06:10:12 pm Quote from: MeteorMick - April 29, 2021, 05:59:21 pmThis is an excellent arrangement! /taking notes/Since that photo was taken I have added a more reflective cover on the spare (silvery) the help prevent sun damage. 2 Likes
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #13 – April 29, 2021, 07:50:39 pm Quote from: Andy Baird - April 29, 2021, 12:53:30 pm"I'm going to look into a hitch mount for the spare with throughput to still allow for towing."I've said this before, so I won't belabor the point: it makes a lot more sense to mount the spare in front.Not sure if it would improve the looks or the aerodynamics of a new, $100,000+ LD to have a spare tire sitting in front of the grill and bumper, YMMVYou needed to move the tire to prevent over loading of the rear axle, as a full timer you carried a lot more cargo than most owners.To carry a spare tire on the front requires installing a frame-mount towing receiver to receive the new spare tire carrier.https://www.etrailer.com/Front-Receiver-Hitch/Ford/E-Series+Cutaway/2019/65053.htmlhttps://www.etrailer.com/Spare-Tire-Carrier/Draw-Tite/6715.htmlA rear bumper-mounted spare tire carrier will make using a tow bar more difficult and eliminate access to the storage compartment behind the fake “spare tire cover”, unless using a fold-down spare tire carrier (I couldn’t find any examples). I suggest Ted transfers the gear from his T/K into his new MB and then see how much more extra capacity the MB has, even with the spare tire in the side compartment. It’s a big difference.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #14 – April 29, 2021, 08:05:06 pm So why doesn’t the factory put the MB spare under the fake cover? If possible with proper blocking in the manufacturing process, I don’t see any other reason why it couldn’t be done.
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #15 – April 29, 2021, 08:29:39 pm Hi Greg. The tire 'bustle' would have to stick out a lot more. The tire (in a rig that has a tire) has a thicker back wall to account for another 3 1/2" of tire. Any intrusion into the passenger space would mess up the slide out 'gaucho' bed operation, and reduce the bed size. Ted is close to where I live, maybe I can talk him into letting me look and take pictures underneath. My welding expert will be visiting from Florida next week. Maybe I can have him with me. RonBedit Spare tire storage underneath
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #16 – April 29, 2021, 08:37:04 pm Quote from: RonB - April 29, 2021, 08:29:39 pmHi Greg. The tire 'bustle' would have to stick out a lot more. The tire (in a rig that has a tire) has a thicker back wall to account for another 3 1/2" of tire. Any intrusion into the passenger space would mess up the slide out 'gaucho' bed operation, and reduce the bed size. Ted is close to where I live, maybe I can talk him into letting me look and take pictures underneath. My welding expert will be visiting from Florida next week. Maybe I can have him with me. RonBedit Spare tire storage underneathI see. Yes, we were supposed to look under mine at Morro Bay but never got around to it. 😉
Re: Mid Bath spare tire Reply #17 – April 29, 2021, 10:48:46 pm Quote from: Larry W - April 29, 2021, 07:50:39 pm...I suggest Ted transfers the gear from his T/K into his new MB and then see how much more extra capacity the MB has, even with the spare tire in the side compartment. It’s a big difference.LarryWords of wisdom Larry.What I'm storing now compared to my TK is another universe. 1 Likes
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