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adonh · 01-19-2009, 05:11 PM

Let me ask a question that I have posed before to others. How many times have you used the spare tire over the past 5 years since you started this thread. I have gone through several sets of tires on 2 Airstream's over the past 15 years and have yet to mount a spare tire. In fact every time I have changed tires and look at the spare it is usually flat.

Don
See you at the Texas Vintage Rally

1976 31' Sovereign

TomW · 01-19-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adonh

Let me ask a question ... How many times have you used the spare tire over the past 5 years since you started this thread. ...

Don,

Your question reminds me of a cost-cutting study done on Naval aviators' use of reserve parachutes. Very few people had actually used them but everyone seemed to want to keep them.

Tom

**Action** · 01-20-2009, 12:26 PM

I have used it once on my TV on a hwy to Mexico. And it came in handy. Zero times on my trailer. Given a spare with good tread and 8 to 10 years old is likely not a good spare any more.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

fltlevel510 · 01-20-2009, 12:35 PM

Don,

We rotate the spare tire on both our Airstream and tow vehicle giving us, in a perfect world, an additional 20% tire life as opposed to allowing the spare to rot in the spare tire rack. We have had to use the spare three times in the last five years.

Lumatic · 01-20-2009, 02:10 PM

I never have had a flat in any of my Airstreams starting in 2002.

Note my Ambassador from the 63 Round the World Caravan had 2 spares on the back bumper.

Tin Diesel · 01-20-2009, 02:55 PM

I'm fudging a bit when I say twice. First time was when we picked it up from the PO in Atlanta - got halfway home to Houston and had a tire begin shredding. Then another time the steel rim split (stress from non-functioning axels) and start leaking air. We made it home because we were close, but actually should have changed the tire, so I count that as the second time.

And twice on my 4x4 TV.

I like the reserve parachute analogy!

tbaugh · 01-20-2009, 04:42 PM

Once in the middle of nowhere WY, and mighty glad I had it. There was no cell phone coverage and we only saw two cars the entire time we were stopped. Glad we had the 12V air compressor as it needed air. It sure saved us.

clancy_boy · 01-20-2009, 05:00 PM

I use my spare tire every time I go on the road. It gives me the peace of mind of knowing it's there if I need it.

Pick · 01-20-2009, 05:35 PM

Never used one on my truck in 5 years, since I bought it, nor on the Airstream. Have had a flat on my 18' flatbed equipment trailer and 1 flat on my boat trailer this summer. Trailer spares do pay.

I just bought a new 7.00X15 LT spare for the Airstream prior to the Can Opener Rally. The old one was over 10 years old and the sidewalls were badly cracked.

**azflycaster** · 01-20-2009, 05:41 PM

The first 2 years I had my trailer I had no spare. In the 2 years since I bought the spare I have used it a couple of times. I also attach the dogs rope to the spare when we are camped, they usually don't travel too far with the spare.

BamCamper · 01-20-2009, 05:47 PM

Once.
But a big once.
Saved my life out in the middle of nowhere after a nasty blowout.
And my trailer was only 2 years old at the time.
Sure was glad to have it.

enduroryda · 01-20-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumatic

I never have had a flat in any of my Airstreams starting in 2002.

oops ...that's it, your done. Better knock on wood.

I for one will not answer this question due to the high possibilty of jinxing oneself.

SteveH · 01-20-2009, 06:02 PM

Knock on wood....I've never used a spare on a trailer. Been very luck the way I see it, but that doesn't mean I'll quit carrying one.

eubank · 01-20-2009, 06:05 PM

Never on the Airstream. And not really on the truck. And not really on either car.

Gosh, the last time we had a flat and had to use a spare was decades ago. And it was ugly: One flat tire, one flat spare, and nails in all three of the remaining tires. I got to hitchhike up the interstate.

Lynn

purman · 01-20-2009, 07:36 PM

I looked at my spare once.. I think it might be the original from 1968, but it still has air in it. It was holding up my water tank after the floor rotted out. Saw it when I replaced the floor.

Guess I should pull it off and take a good look at it this spring

wolverine · 01-20-2009, 07:37 PM

For those of you who have never used your spare you might want to try lowering it once and a while to make sure everything works. The one time we had to use our spare, we had a h--l of a time trying to get the spare to release from the underbelly of our 31 Classic at the side of the road.

overlander64 · 01-20-2009, 07:48 PM

In the past ten years, I have had to use the spare for my Suburban once -- when I was visiting Wisconsin and picked up a shard of welding rod in the right front tire. I have had to use the spare tire for the Overlander twice -- both time as the result of brake problems causing one wheel to lock randomly when driving in slow traffice -- once on the way home from Dayton, OH in 1999 following the International Rally and a second time when returning from the International Rally in Sioux Falls, SD -- in each instance the tire on the coach didn't go flat, rather the steel belts were exposed and I had a service shop switch the tire after repairing the brake problem. Thus far, I have never had to use the spare on the Minuet -- in fact it is still the original 1978 Spare and it appears to have never been on the ground (always covered and stored in the garage between trips).

I hope to never have a flat on my New Beetle Convertible, as the thought of having my motor club trying to jack up the car or use a tow truck to lift it is frightening due to its minimal ground clearance.

Kevin

Gene · 01-20-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolverine

For those of you who have never used your spare you might want to try lowering it once and a while to make sure everything works. The one time we had to use our spare, we had a h--l of a time trying to get the spare to release from the underbelly of our 31 Classic at the side of the road.

That's why I took it out of the spare tire holder and put it in the back of the pickup. It takes a little weight off the tongue and makes it easier to check the air in it and keep it at 65 lbs.

I would rotate the tires on the trailer if they all had the same wheels, but they don't. Neither does the pickup, and the pickup spare is a slightly different size tire than the other 4, though not a doughnut.

I have not had a flat on the road in a very long time with our trucks, but I have had an occasional slow leak while not traveling. All I had to do was either fill it up, drive to a tire repair shop or take it off, leave the vehicle on the jack and get it fixed. I used to plug them myself, but that's not the best repair, but a good thing to do in the back country while 4 wheeling. I do carry a kit to plug a tire (and compressor) should I get two flats and not be able to get them fixed.

Gene

goransons · 01-20-2009, 07:54 PM

I use my spare tire to hold my son up when I'm one-handed, to balance drinks, food... oh wait wrong kind. Well so far we've been lucky and not needed one but have one just in case!

Reganzo · 01-20-2009, 08:24 PM

Franny and me have been on the road since October and have logged just over 5,000 miles. This past Sunday I was packing up to move to our next location, and I got as far as hitching the trailer to the truck and putting Franny in the truck, when I realized we had a flat on the trailer.

No worry I dropped the spare which was inflated and in reasonable shape. However, the PO had a lug wrench that left a lot to be desired. I was unable to break the lugs, but I got lucky as a service tech was on site and he had the right wrench. The whole process took an hour and we were on our way. It only took 7 gas stations to find an air pump that worked as the spare was under inflated. Topped off the spare and hit the road to Sugarloaf Key KOA just shy of Key West. I got the tire patched where I had picked up a deck screw for ten bucks. I also picked up a better lug wrench. I intend to put the original tire back on as it matches all the others, and I feel it will be better for the balance. All in all I was very happy to have the spare...

Regards,

Reganzo