Second spare tire placement

[Presitla99]

I have a 2019 30' Classic and would like to add the BAL Hide-a-Spare carriage for a second spare tire. Has anyone done this? I am looking for a good mounting location. Thanks in advance.-mjr

[A W Warn]

There will be issues to deal with:

1) Ground clearance of the frame will be a lot lower than axles and tank covers. Not good! If anything is hit at highway speed the tanks could get damaged.

2) The propane pipe will have to be modified.

(I'm assuming mounting it in front of the axles because of proper weight distribution.)

Advice: put the spare spare in the tow vehicle. That's what I do when I'm on long trips. I carry a tire, not wheel and tire.

[Presitla99]

I was hoping there would be a cavity above the belly pan where the spare would fit, but apparently not.
I am intrigued that you carry a spare tire but not a spare. Can you amplify on this decision? It saves weight but not space but requires professional tools to remove the damaged tire from the rim and replace it with the spare. I had considered just carrying a tube, to save space, which can be used on tubeless tires unless the side wall is damaged. Again there are install issues with this idea. Thanks.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Presitla99

I am intrigued that you carry a spare tire but not a spare. Can you amplify on this decision? It saves weight but not space but requires professional tools to remove the damaged tire from the rim and replace it with the spare. I had considered just carrying a tube, to save space, which can be used on tubeless tires unless the side wall is damaged. Again there are install issues with this idea. Thanks.

Every time I experienced a blowout the rim was destroyed also.
A good inflator like the Viair doesn't have the volume to seat the bead on a tire even if you could get it on.
Lastly, a tube isn't made for tubeless tires as the heat buildup will cause problems. It might get you to the nearest service station though.
I think most of us count on a service provider like Good Sam or Coachnet.

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by Presitla99

I was hoping there would be a cavity above the belly pan where the spare would fit, but apparently not.
I am intrigued that you carry a spare tire but not a spare. Can you amplify on this decision? It saves weight but not space but requires professional tools to remove the damaged tire from the rim and replace it with the spare. I had considered just carrying a tube, to save space, which can be used on tubeless tires unless the side wall is damaged. Again there are install issues with this idea. Thanks.

I've only had one flat tire on a trailer in the 40+ years of towing travel trailers. (I started towing in my early 20's)

Carrying a tire is a $0 cost option. It is the best tire from the last change, usually the spare from underneath that was used little, if any. I change all tires, including the spare every 5 years. Odds of needing a second spare are extremely unlikely. But, if I would have a ruined tire, the tire would become my spare, so I could continue my trip with only a slight delay. Any tire shop can change a tire. There is a high probability they would not have a matching tire in their inventory.

ps:
I would not install this tire onto the wheel myself/on the road. As long as 2 of the 4 are still inflated. If need be, I can tow the trailer at a slow (really slow) pace.

[Adventure.AS]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

...
A good inflator like the Viair doesn't have the volume to seat the bead on a tire even if you could get it on.

Off roaders don't need air volume to seat a tire bead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myi-MxNCI4o

[prairieschooner]

Wondering why you need 2 spares. Save the $$$ from purchasing a 2nd spare and simply replace your tires every 5 years as is prudent. An additional savings will come from not needing to repair the trailer from a blowout.

Here is my solution to the spare on our '58 18' Traveler. Just had to do a little cutting and welding.

[JFRINALDI]

Can’t imagine the need for adding the weight and bulk of a second spare as the Classic’s 16” LT Michelin’s are readily available. Just completed a 13,000 mile circumnavigation of North America in our 2018 and the tires needed a “top-off”only once. Don’t worry be happy!

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by Presitla99

I have a 2019 30' Classic and would like to add the BAL Hide-a-Spare carriage for a second spare tire. Has anyone done this? I am looking for a good mounting location. Thanks in advance.-mjr

...you don’t need it....more extra junk....they sell tires everywhere...we do coast to coast never had a tire problem....never used our spare

[75Bob]

Listen to these people and forget about a extra tire. I was going to buy the Y swing arm that holds the spare because my trailer didn't have one. After learning that the swing arm was just an option and not necessary I wanted to know why someone would not carry a spare? This was after I had already purchased a new tire and rim. I learned that 2 axle trailers can go a short distance at low speed without both tires on one side. I still was weary, as my tires were between year 4 and 5, so I threw the spare in the back of the pick up giving it a 8,000 mile ride using valuable space and weight. After you own your trailer for a while you'll get better at what's really important and whats just extra stuff. Room is limited, pick your come alongs wisely.

[Olscot]

I'm too cheap to pay for road service and like to boondock. Don't want to ruin an aluminum wheel either so I carry a spare mounted on a steel wheel in TV in front of the bed to keep weight forward. Have not had to use it but probably will the first time I forget to load it. If weight is an issue with your TV leave it home. One of us would gladly lend a spare to get you to a tire shop.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, in 13 years, and many tens of thousands of miles, I have never used my spare tire. I replaced my original spare tire at tens years old. Why on Earth would anyone need two spares?

[21Airstream]

Because two is one and one is none. It is a philosophy some of us live by. YMMV

[suncoasteng]

I always a second spare, tyre only, and keep it on the floor of the TT until we arrive as destination, when it gets temp storage under the TT.

As others have mentioned it is usually an old tyre salvaged during previous replacement. Once you replace that damaged tyre, you a running bare so go easy until you can find a shop that will but the second spare on your blown tyre rim. There are still lots of places in this country where you cant buy a new tyre to match yours, especially on a Friday night or Sunday!

A few posts here state they have never used a spare because they have newer tyres. Great idea until you hit a massive pothole, nails from a roofing truck or piece of metal debris on the highway that pops up before you can swerve around it.

[Silverpuller]

Originally Posted by suncoasteng

I always a second spare, tyre only, and keep it on the floor of the TT until we arrive as destination, when it gets temp storage under the TT.



As others have mentioned it is usually an old tyre salvaged during previous replacement. Once you replace that damaged tyre, you a running bare so go easy until you can find a shop that will but the second spare on your blown tyre rim. There are still lots of places in this country where you cant buy a new tyre to match yours, especially on a Friday night or Sunday!



A few posts here state they have never used a spare because they have newer tyres. Great idea until you hit a massive pothole, nails from a roofing truck or piece of metal debris on the highway that pops up before you can swerve around it.

Box of spilled nails are what stopped us. Right rear TV tire: Flat. Both right side trailer tires: Flat. Happened 50 miles south of Ely, NV, on NV-318, during a Mormon Sunday...meaning there was no traffic. That’s almost as nowhere as you can find.
I consider a spare TV tire, and at least one spare trailer tire, to be absolutely essential, and would never, NEVER travel without.

[gregwall]

Originally Posted by Silverpuller

Box of spilled nails are what stopped us. Right rear TV tire: Flat. Both right side trailer tires: Flat. Happened 50 miles south of Ely, NV, on NV-318, during a Mormon Sunday...meaning there was no traffic. That’s almost as nowhere as you can find.
I consider a spare TV tire, and at least one spare trailer tire, to be absolutely essential, and would never, NEVER travel without.

On I64 in the middle of Charleston, WV in heavy traffic, 65mph, a bracket flew off a tractor trailer. I couldn't swerve. No time to even look in the mirror to see if I could move into the other lane. Hit the new, back right truck tire, which immediately blew. Pulling over, my wife yelled, "Do NOT get out! I have AAA on the line". I have now changed 5 trailer tires and three truck tires in 5 years, but I have gotten better at management with a tire monitoring system, maintaining air pressures with ViAir pump and buying new tires more regularly. Long trips on gravel roads with or without the trailer are hazardous........but I love going to the places they take me:} Always thankful for this forum for teaching me so many things.