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jdleezer · 07-07-2003, 07:31 PM

I'm a new member and I also just purchased a 1969 Overlander which seems to be in very good condition.

After purchasing the trailer and driving the first 200 of the 950 mile trip back home, I realized there wasn't a spare tire on the trailer, and there isn't a location for a spare tire. I guess that is why I didn't realize it inititially. I got lucky and made it home without incident. But now after reviewing several photos of airstream trailers, I notice there normally isn't a spare tire on Airstream trailers, or is there and I'm just not seeing them?

Thanks

John

Chas · 07-07-2003, 07:38 PM

Welcome friend,

They mount under the floor directly behind the propane tanks. You should see a "well' where it fits. The spare tire and carrier was an option I believe and it can be added to yours. I don't have one on my Overlander either. I think you can actually pull the trailer (at low speed) with a flat tire? You may have to remove it though. Some advantage they tout of having the independent Duratorque axle. Maybe I need to read up on my manual?

Chas

Pahaska · 07-07-2003, 07:51 PM

You can remove the wheel with the flat and tow at low speed. However, like you, I live in Texas where it may be 100 miles to the nearest flat repair and 200 miles to the nearest replacement tire, For that reason, I installed a spare carrier and spare tire on my trailer. Chas is correct about the location.

jdleezer · 07-07-2003, 07:58 PM

Thanks,

I didn't notice a "well" but I'll check for it tomorrow morning. So I'm guessing you pull your trailer without a spare tire. I guess if I had a owner's manual the spare tire (or lack of one) would be discussed. Do you know where to get old Airstream manuals? In addition to the spare tire, or lack of one, there are several other things I like to know about my trailer. The previous owner went over most applications (I didn't take notes), but now that I'm home with it, I'm having a hard time recalling them.

John

BruceACampbell · 07-07-2003, 08:45 PM

My 70 Globetrotter came from PO w/o spare. Oasis RV in Tucson added the well just rear of the tanks by cutting out the underpan, raising the cutout to the bottom side of the floor plywood, sealing the whole thing with Vulcem. The tire carrier then bolted in and by jove it looks just like them fancy factory installations. A little pricy, but she's my baby...

**jcanavera** · 07-07-2003, 08:53 PM

On many Airstreams the "well" is not there. A spare tire was not a normal factory option on the 2001 Safari line. You will find no recess in that location. I made a special request for a spare at build time and the recess was built in at the factory.

Jack

InsideOut · 07-07-2003, 09:49 PM

A spare tire bracket was a $50 option in '64. And a 6-ply tire & wheel were another $56.25 or 8-ply was $62.50. Although we've not seen another one like it...it appears to be very original and an integral part of the tongue.

Tongue without the spare in place:

With the spare:

Shari

Chas · 07-08-2003, 05:59 AM

Good lookin' tire carrier Shari,

I guess I am lucky? I indeed do have the "well" for a spare and even the threaded bolt locations for the bracket. I also have a brand new spare tire and wheel that I kept when selling my Argosy so I guess a proper spare and location are not far off.

Anyone know if the bracket is still available?

Will the new brackets fit on my 74?

Chas

jdleezer · 07-08-2003, 06:25 AM

I don't have the "well" for the spare tire. I guess the easiest fix would be to add the spare tire bracket behind the propane tanks. I would have to move the propane tanks forward to make room. Thanks for the photos Shari.

John

InsideOut · 07-08-2003, 12:57 PM

Quote:

I think you can actually pull the trailer (at low speed) with a flat tire?

Only if it's a tandem axle...

Shari

**Stefrobrts** · 07-08-2003, 01:53 PM

I had the same problem, so a friend built me a mount to put it in front of the propane tanks. He welded it into place and it's solid as a rock. There's just enough room to turn the crank on the jack, and I think it looks pretty good there with the cover on it.

63flyingcloud · 07-08-2003, 02:35 PM

My spare is mounted directly to the front of the trailer. The factory mounted a large "hook," (like a picture frame hook, but about 5" wide) under the front window, and the tire sits on that. An aluminum cover covers the tire. I believe that this was part of the International package that year.

Another factory alternative was a rear bumper mounted spare, like a continental kit for a '56 T-bird. There is an example here:

www.vintageairstream.com/archives/61FC/61FC.html

overlander64 · 07-08-2003, 06:53 PM

The factory may have offered rear bumper mounted spare tires in the very early sixties, but the dealer installed unit on my '64 Overlander caused more than $1,750.00 in damage. After nearly forty years of that spare bouncing along on the rear bumper, the coach developed a case of rear end separation - - the cure was to remove the rear bumper mounted spare and install a set of suspenders or galluses that re-attached the rear frame to the body of the trailer.

I didn't believe the warnings about this feature as it had always been with the coach since it was new. In the end, I am paying a big price for not heeding the warnings about maintaining a spare mounted in that position.

I know that the preferred placement for the spare on my coach was on the tongue behind the propane tanks so that may be in the coach's future as having the spare rattling around in the back of my tow vehicle is getting VERY old.

Kevin

jdleezer · 07-08-2003, 08:21 PM

Thanks for all the responses. Sounds like if you have a tandem axle model Airstream, a spare tire isn't a necessity (you can drive short distances with a flat to get repairs). I'm glad I didn't get a flat between El Paso and Junction on I-35 towing the trailer home. I still think it is a good idea to have one, I'll just move that down on my to-do-list.

If one did have a flat and a spare, where are the jacking locations for a 1969 Overlander (under the axle of the flat tire?)? Boy, I wish I had a owners manual.

Thanks

John

Tikihut · 07-08-2003, 09:03 PM

I put a bumper mount on my Argosy

davidz71 · 07-08-2003, 09:08 PM

John,
The Dura-Torque Axle allows a four wheel trailer to be towed on 3 wheels for up to 100 miles at no more than 30 mph according to my manual. I experienced a blown rear curbside tire about 45 miles west of Amarillo, TX. with subsequent sheetmetal and outrigger damage. I towed at 40 mph but was careful of irregularities in the road like potholes so that my exposed disc rotor was not damaged.

InsideOut · 07-08-2003, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Boy, I wish I had a owners manual.

You can get photocopies of owners manual (1964+) and service manuals (1972-1986) from:

Helen Davis Secretarial Services
PO Box 484 Sidney, OH 45365
(937)492-8885

Prices are about $33 and $70 respectively.

Shari

Forrest · 07-09-2003, 09:11 PM

There is an owners manual for a 66 Overlander at the VAC web site. I know yours is a 69, but there may be useful information never-the-less. There are also a number of service bulletins you may be interested in too. Here is the url:

http://www.airstream.net/members/doc....html#tmanuals

Forrest

Silvertwinkie · 07-10-2003, 07:22 AM

I think it was John Irwin that also pointed out that the factory mounted spares under the front need some shims to stop the rattles so that weld failures don't happen. It could have been Jack that pointed that out too, but at any rate if you have the under front spare, you should look into bracing it a bit better to avoid movements.

Eric

74SovereignInt. · 07-10-2003, 07:38 AM

JDLeezer, you might want to view this previous thread. Several members were good enough to provide photos in response to my question. There are some good ones of the undermount type. I think that the bracket is available although one could certainly make one themselves without much trouble. Good Luck.

http://www.airforums.com/forum...&threadid=2615