Where do you stow your spare?

DKDarrow · 04-27-2008, 09:16 PM

I have an 89 Excella...........Recently, I experienced my second blow out in the eight years I have been doing the Airstream dream.........At any rate I learned a couple of things.............

It really doesn't matter about the tread remaining on the tire it is the sidewalls that truly matter. The tire tech on my latest blowout advised that the tire had been manufactured in the 12th week of 2000. He also advised that Goodyear had problems with a shelf life of 3 years. Hmmmmm wondering how you read the numbers on the side of the tire to get the date?...............
Both blown tires had decent tread left.......they were just old......NO THERE WERE NOT VISIBLE WEATHER CRACKS...........

What really matters to me now is the fact that I have learned that I MUST CARRY A SPARE...........It is just far to spooky, no matter what Airstream and folks say that it is OK to go a short distance on one wheel........

The question is where do most folks carry a spare..........???????..........Is there a way to mount it under the trailer?....In the TV???.........where......???

Thanks guys and yes I ask God to bless YOU for I KNOW that He rides with me........Dennis

bobfowler · 04-27-2008, 09:30 PM

I just bought 3 new wheels and a new tire (I needed a spare) for our Argosy. I had thought about welding up a spare tire holder on the A frame behind the LP tanks, but have decided to just carry it in the back of the Suburban instead.

cameront120 · 04-27-2008, 09:34 PM

My '72 Tradewind has a spare tire carrier under the trailer, just aft of the hitch. I think it was an option, but I'm not sure if it was available for your year of trailer.

FreshAir · 04-27-2008, 09:44 PM

How about here?
Neil

**azflycaster** · 04-27-2008, 09:46 PM

I went 2 years with out one and bought one last October. Needed it last month returning from Quartzite. Nothing is a short distance once you get out of the metro Phoenix area.

I carry mine in the bed of the truck.

SteveH · 04-27-2008, 10:02 PM

I've seen the spare carriers myself under the front of Airstreams and was wondering if they were available, and if so how much they cost....anyone know?

Yhottys · 04-27-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshAir

How about here?
Neil

Neil,

Thanks for posting the images!

We thought you came up with a great solution when we saw it at the NorCal Casini rally earlier this month.

The trailer looks great!

Gemma and Murray

FreshAir · 04-27-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yhottys

Neil,

Thanks for posting the images!

We thought you came up with a great solution when we saw it at the NorCal Casini rally earlier this month.

The trailer looks great!

Gemma and Murray

More 'images' here on Robert's thread.
Spare Tire holder

Garfield · 04-28-2008, 04:57 AM

Our new-to-us 2001 Safari 25SS didn't come with a spare, and after consulting the folks on this forum I decided it was prudent to have one. (No surprise really, as we had a spare with our former SOB and needed it once).

Anyway, we purchased the under-frame mount that Airstream sells as it was the only place available (no room inside our SUV, and besides I didn't want to have to remember to toss it in and take it out every trip). The bracket was fairly pricey (on the the order of $300 IIRC) and then you still need a tire and rim, but we felt it was the best solution. Our experience on the road is that although tire service centres are common, trailer tires to match your existing are not necessarily readily available.

**overlander63** · 04-28-2008, 06:40 AM

Our (now Bob's) Argosy 20 had a spare between the LP tanks and body, with a small chain and hook to keep it from bouncing out. I didn't care for the spot because the tire was wearing the paint. Our Overlander also had the spare mounted between tanks and body, and our Sovereign has the underbody bracket.

DKDarrow · 04-28-2008, 07:31 AM

Thanks for the inputs............I really do like the idea about under the trailer/tongue...........I worry about the ground clearance a bit........Currently, my fresh water tank has maybe 4 inches of clearance, is this what an under trailer spare tire has?............

Garfield · 04-28-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKDarrow

Thanks for the inputs............I really do like the idea about under the trailer/tongue...........I worry about the ground clearance a bit........Currently, my fresh water tank has maybe 4 inches of clearance, is this what an under trailer spare tire has?............

Sorry, but I've yet to take a close look -- my 2001 Safari has a resessed area underneath the front part of the trailer that accommmodates the spare. My impression is that the clearance is "adequate" for my Safari, but obviously it will depend on your trailers configuration.

FreshAir · 04-28-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKDarrow

Thanks for the inputs............I really do like the idea about under the trailer/tongue...........I worry about the ground clearance a bit........Currently, my fresh water tank has maybe 4 inches of clearance, is this what an under trailer spare tire has?............

I have had no close calls with the tire under the tongue. If anything my hitch (on the car) would hit the ground first. This was a desperation solution for me. I really did not want the tire behind the tanks. I have had both hips replaced so for the time being crawiling around under the trailer was a no-no. So as a temporary solution I place the tire where it is. There I can lower/raise it from above. Now that it is there I seldom notice it. So relocating to maybe into a recessed area is way down on my to-do list.
Neil.

ScottW · 04-28-2008, 02:10 PM

Ground clearance is not a problem with the factory tire storage rack for the tongue. I had one on an 06 Safari and now on an 07 Classic. My hitch would bottom out before the tire clearance became a problem.