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Onawayman · 06-25-2013, 08:03 PM

Here is my solution to carrying my spare. I had been strapping the spare in this location, but did not like the looks or accessibility. It was put together with scraps from my shop and my novice welding skills. It does add some weight to the tongue, but the effects have been negligible. Now all I need is a tire cover.

Sorry for the sideways thumbnail, click on it for correct viewing.

Onawayman · 06-25-2013, 08:05 PM

Here is an additional pic folded out. Looks like I need to clean my spare!

SteveSueMac · 06-25-2013, 08:17 PM

The creativity of AS owners always inspires me! Nice work!!

Protagonist · 06-26-2013, 05:26 AM

Jackson Center ought to take a lesson from you…

ROBERT CROSS · 06-26-2013, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onawayman

Here is my solution to carrying my spare. I had been strapping the spare in this location, but did not like the looks or accessibility. It was put together with scraps from my shop and my novice welding skills. It does add some weight to the tongue, but the effects have been negligible. Now all I need is a tire cover.

Sorry for the sideways thumbnail, click on it for correct viewing.

Great job!!!

Bob

cwf · 06-26-2013, 05:56 AM

Nice. Now cover it!

crispyboy · 06-26-2013, 05:56 AM

Very nice job!
Now you need to put a vinyl cover on the tire to protect it from the sun or if your possibly get some aluminum and fab up a cover to match.

louaxtjr · 06-26-2013, 06:02 AM

Nice design. Could be a viable product offering.

Onawayman · 06-26-2013, 07:30 AM

Thanks for the kind words. I had planned on putting it on the other side so you would be away from traffic, but the propane line and battery box were there and I didn't really feel like messing with them. I planned on making a vinyl cover but making one out of aluminum sounds like a cool idea! Luckily the pics don't show my lack of welding skills.

Skater · 06-26-2013, 08:00 AM

I like the idea, and the swing-arm is excellent, but I'd definitely want a cover, and using aluminum for the cover is a great idea - otherwise you have an ugly tire messing up the good looks of the Airstream. (I'm pretty happy with our spare tire holder underneath - it's out of the way, still accessible, and practically invisible.)

airdreamers · 01-20-2014, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onawayman

Here is an additional pic folded out. Looks like I need to clean my spare!

WOW, what an addition to an Airstream. I wish that there was blueprint that could be bought to reproduce what you have made. Coming soon?? Message me and I would be interested, as well as others I am sure. By the way, I have a tire cover, just need the carrier.

Skatiero · 01-20-2014, 08:20 AM

Nice!

dkottum · 01-20-2014, 10:35 AM

Why would the tire be moved to this position rather than in the carrier underneath? It would increase tongue weight, something we try to avoid.

m.hony · 01-20-2014, 10:52 AM

I don't know that it would increase tongue weight- in its position under the trailer it is still forward of the axles- seems like it would not alter the tongue weight at all, but maybe it would be more easily accessible, but maybe my thought process is incorrect-

dkottum · 01-20-2014, 11:18 AM

Anything that is moved farther from the axle(s) will increase weight in the other direction. Also to helps lower sway tendency, it is best to concentrate weight nearest the axles. Note that the Airstreams are designed with the heavy appliances over the axles and liquid storage tanks concentrated near them.

Of course we do things for convenience that work against this, but it's good to consider weight and balance changes.

m.hony · 01-20-2014, 11:21 AM

I guess that is correct thinking- further back would be on the trailer axles- further forward would be on the tongue-
Maybe he has a lot of wiggle room as far as tongue weight-
Say, for instance, 3/4 or 1 ton tow vehicle, less tongue weight per model of trailer anyway, Class V hitch, and so on and so on and scooby dooby doo...

Wazbro · 01-20-2014, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkottum

Why would the tire be moved to this position rather than in the carrier underneath? It would increase tongue weight, something we try to avoid.

Many of the older trailers did not come with the opening for the spare underneath.

**Kevin245** · 01-20-2014, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m.hony

I don't know that it would increase tongue weight- in its position under the trailer it is still forward of the axles- seems like it would not alter the tongue weight at all, but maybe it would be more easily accessible, but maybe my thought process is incorrect-

Any movement fore or aft of the original location will have an affect on trailer balance. I suspect the difference between a location just under the front belly versus on the tongue near the front skin would be minimal though and could be easily offset with some weight relocation within the the rig.

In reality we deal with fluctuating tongue weights all the time. Two 30 or 40 lb. LP tanks can make a 60 to 80 lb. swing when tanks are empty versus full.

For me the benefit of ease of access is a small trade off in this instance. This is a very clever design.

dkottum · 01-20-2014, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wazbro

Many of the older trailers did not come with the opening for the spare underneath.

Thanks Wazbro, that's what I was wondering. Couldn't understand moving it there from underneath.

m.hony · 01-20-2014, 11:32 AM

That trailer was basically gutted and turned into/is being turned into a bunk house.
I would think it would take transferring hundreds of pounds one way or the other to adversely affect the handling characteristics- not just 40-50 lbs.- but I really don't know-
The basic design of kitchen, bathroom, wardrobe, holding tanks over the axles seems like a good idea-