mid bath spare tire February 06, 2001, 04:19:43 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1887I have read the earlier posts about the refrigerator being moved towards the rear in the mid bath model to increase leg room for the driver. Is the back wall of the motorhome moved rearward as well, in effect making a longer side wall? Does it still have the spare tire "bump" on the outside but no spare tire inside? I don't really understand what's been done. Would appreciate it if someone could describe it. Thanks Tom
mid bath spare tire Reply #1 – February 06, 2001, 07:20:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1891If my recollection is accurate, Tom's guess is exactly the case in the 26.5 MB (mine will be ready in the Spring, and then I'll be sure).The spare tire "bump" is present and opens from outside as always, but there is only a few inches of space within - too thin for a tire. The tire fits in the outside left-side locker.
mid bath spare tire Reply #2 – February 06, 2001, 10:22:29 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1894The spare sits in the curb side floor level storage space on my '00 26.5' MB, right under the couch.Yep, the "bump" on the outside rear wall is there and it opens but there's nothing inside.As soon as someone figures out how to put the spare back on the rear wall where it belongs, I'll be very interested.-Bob
mid bath spare tire Reply #3 – February 07, 2001, 11:01:47 am Yahoo Message Number: 1895Tom, think of the driver's side coach wall (refrigerator, kitchen counter, lavatory, rear bed/couch) as an entire, single unit. Everything was moved to the rear about 4 inches, to allow more space for the driver. The result was that the rear wall was pushed back, into the spare tire area, so the tire had to be moved to a side storage compartment. I have a '93 MB (pre wall-pushed-back model) and am a smidgen under 6' tall, so I j-u-s-t fit comfortably behind the wheel. I'm glad, because I prefer my design, using the well for the spare tire, to the new design. I don't like the idea of losing the exterior storage space, to the tire. But if you're over 6' 1", you would probably prefer the new model.Jerry
mid bath spare tire Reply #4 – February 07, 2001, 01:41:12 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1899I think Lazy Daze put the spare tire in the middle of the vehicle, low on the frame in an attempt to improve handling. A tire and rim are heavy. This kind of weight carried on the rear degrades handling. Go hang on motorcycle on your back bumper and see what it does to the ride. Reducing weight in the rear of most motorhomes is a good thing. LD has spent a lot of time thinking about their product and the improvements keep building on their previous efforts. This, I think, is one of them.
mid bath spare tire Reply #5 – February 07, 2001, 04:22:09 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1902Jerry,rear wall was pushed back, into the spare tire area, so the tire had to be moved to a side storage compartment.>>I'll be the one with the dumb question. Why didn't they also move the spare tire area back four inches to accommodate the spare? Maybe it takes an act of Congress to change the LD from 26' 6" to 26' 10", I dunno.-Bob
mid bath spare tire Reply #6 – February 08, 2001, 12:54:42 am Yahoo Message Number: 1909Bob:My guess is that any change to the exterior portion of the 26.5 MB (which would be required in order to "move the spare tire area back four inches") would require more extensive re-engineering than LD would care to invest. I think they can keep their prices low because they make very minor year-to-year changes to the models. Any change that requires adding four inches to the outside of the coach would affect too many pieces - interior cabinetry, bedding dimensions, etc. - not to mention the added weight behind the rear wheels. LD seems to be very sensitive to the issue of proper weight distribution, as they should be. Remember, they have the only five star rating for Class C's in the RV Consumer Guide. They got it for a reason!Jerry
mid bath spare tire Reply #7 – February 11, 2001, 05:59:30 am Yahoo Message Number: 1969Does anyone know what year LD changed the mid-bath model, increasing driver legroom and removing the spare tire from the rear?
mid bath spare tire Reply #8 – February 11, 2001, 02:34:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1971Ours is a 95 and the spare tire is under the continental kit on the back, so sometime after that for certain.
mid bath spare tire Reply #9 – February 11, 2001, 04:42:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1972I believe they made the change in '99. Along with moving the entire inside of the coach back 4 inches, they also installed below-the-floorline storage compartments that make up for the spare tire being in the passenger side rear compartment. They also moved the microwave in 2000 to allow for easier access and redesigned the fluids and battery monitor panel/generator starter and info to be incorporated into the range hood. Pretty slick.Constant changes, with the customer in mind. Many changes are suggestions by customers.Rob 2000 26.5 MB