Axis / Vegas - Show us your spare tire solutions

[gnach]

Originally Posted by taylorbob1

All done
Used “uni-strut” material to support the spare in position
Existing holes in frame, so no drilling required
I placed some foam between the rim and the floorboard to eliminate chafing and vibration
Then once in place, I added air to about 20# which tightened it up, no movement

I like your approach but I'd want a chain or strap for security.

[taylorbob1]

Originally Posted by gnach

I like your approach but I'd want a chain or strap for security.

Yes, you are correct. Maybe a cable with lock.

However, what about my 6 wheels and tires with standard lug nuts? Just jack-up, remove, and go!
Or, my outside TV locker? Ez to pry open and steal my gold plated, high tech Seiki TV
And then there’s my rear lockers where I store my really expensive tools & premium wines...

Where does it end?

I guess that’s why we have insurance, to protect us from those “deplorable’s”

[gnach]

Originally Posted by taylorbob1

Yes, you are correct. Maybe a cable with lock.

However, what about my 6 wheels and tires with standard lug nuts? Just jack-up, remove, and go!
Or, my outside TV locker? Ez to pry open and steal my gold plated, high tech Seiki TV
And then there’s my rear lockers where I store my really expensive tools & premium wines...

Where does it end?

I guess that’s why we have insurance, to protect us from those “deplorable’s”

Whoa there bud, my bad. By security I meant as in "secured" or anchored. Whew!

[Big-Foot]

I think he may have been speaking of security in terms of a backup to restrain the spare tire should one of the straps fail on a rough road...
Although security against theft might not be a bad idea either...
I had no idea someone had stolen the spare tire from under my 84 Ford F250 until I had a blow out and needed it. How long it had been missing was anyone’s guess. This was back in 86 so......
Insurance would have replaced it, but the deductible was more than the cost of the wheel and tire. So I was out the cash and glad I had AAA but had to hike to a pay phone...

[taylorbob1]

I don’t have any “backup “ security on my Nissan pick-up
Just a chain that cranks up

My Vegas install is more secure than my Nissan truck OEM spare holder

With two cross supports on this install, and air in the tire after the install to completely wedge it into place...
- it doesn’t move side to side, front to back, or up and down
- it’s not going anywhere unless the supports come down
- it just cannot slide out

So if I ever need to use it, the first thing I will need to do is let out some air so that it'll move around enough to remove the supports

[Big-Foot]

I wish I could put my spare where yours is Bob. But I’d have to remove the black tank to do it...

Crummy pic, but it’s in there...

[taylorbob1]

Ya
Who knew when you purchased your coach that part of the buying decision was looking under the rig to see if there’s room for a spare

I just saw a Class C who mounted it in front of the radiator
But that won’t work with a Vegas/Axis.
Although, some have stored a “no air” tire on rim in the rear storage locker
Easier to compress into tight spaces

[taylorbob1]

I’ve traveled over 400 miles since install
Spare tire has not moved
Wedged in there nicely, not going anywhere

[TimmyB]

Originally Posted by taylorbob1

I’ve traveled over 400 miles since install
Spare tire has not moved
Wedged in there nicely, not going anywhere

I'm disappointed, Bob. I figured by now, you'd have a motorized, remote-controlled elevator system to get this thing in and out!!!

Nice work, man. I've got to come up with something, but I'm not sure I want to tackle it the way you did. (Although, you DID do all the learning for us!)

[ducksface]

I'm going to try, based on the slight jab at Bob about motorized:
A harbor freight winch
Eyebolts/sailing type pulleys on the hitch and frame
A cable strung in such a way so as to mimic those two unistruts.
Self lowering, and even better, self raising.

I GENERALLY follow through on my plans at least to the point of obvious worthlessness.
This should be able to be completed by fall. It seems at first glance to be a very small and self realizing/dramatically failing project.(and a unistrut on large wingnuts[like used to be used to hold spares in trunks] as an added, one minute to remove, safeguard.

Edit: I just checked. I have everything to complete this. The 24.1 is in for a bit of warranty work or I'd have it all laid out on the ground. This can be done for under 100 bucks(plus the spare)

[TimmyB]

Originally Posted by ducksface

I'm going to try, based on the slight jab at Bob about motorized:
A harbor freight winch
Eyebolts/sailing type pulleys on the hitch and frame
A cable strung in such a way so as to mimic those two unistruts.
Self lowering, and even better, self raising.

I GENERALLY follow through on my plans at least to the point of obvious worthlessness.
This should be able to be completed by fall. It seems at first glance to be a very small and self realizing/dramatically failing project.(and a unistrut on large wingnuts[like used to be used to hold spares in trunks] as an added, one minute to remove, safeguard.

My plan is to use one of those dual hitch receivers, with the spare on the top one and my 4 bike rack on the bottom. Shouldn't be TOO difficult, but I've spent so much in the past month just getting this rig on the road (and I'm not going anywhere in the next few months) so mine will be early fall, as well.

[Big-Foot]

EZ-Spare

Well, if I was to build and market it, that might be the name.
Not finding a solution that fit my needs within my budget, I decided to just take a bunch of scrap steel and a handful of hardware to build my own.

I still need to install Eye-Bolts on the motorhome to attach stabilizing straps to - but I think I have enough to show you what I made.
--
Last pic - We tow this Jeep most of the time so I can just plug the EZ-Spare into the Jeep! Getting into the back of the Jeep requires rotating the spare tire down and removing it. 2-3 mins at the most.

[Big-Foot]

I’ve put a few thousand miles on now with this spare tire carrier solution and am thinking about making and maybe marketing them...
Just thought I would check here to see what people would think to be a fair price for something like this...

[ducksface]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009YIE1O...v_ov_lig_dp_it
This is your competition price wise. Yours is better, but people aren't buying even these.

If someone didn't buy this(I still haven't), they won't buy yours. I'd buy yours, the model comparable to yours is $425 but I like to make life as comfortable as possible so I'd go for the expensive unit. Almost all rv owners haven't even gone for the $75ish(the price these are almost always available in Amazon warehouse) model, and they'll not convince.

The liability of selling one you've built yourself is mind boggling.
Take a look at the
'my golf cart has rights' thread
and modify it so he has backed into something and damaged a vehicle with your home built tire rack or put 1750lbs of some sort of footpounds inducing extension.

Punchline:
If you've the stomach for it all, I'm possibly in for $300 shipped just so I don't have to modify that linked unit.


I don't know what someone without the wherewithal to customize, not the want to spend the $75+- for the linked unit would do.
Personal inabilities and lack of roadside assistance are the need for the fold down part of the mount unless there is a rear compartment that needs access. I think very few rv's have an insurrmountable rear access problem.

Your market is limited to those with an access problem and those who can't lift a wheel from the mount but think they can change a flat themselves. Other than those folks, the linked unit would work just fine.

[gnach]

Big-Foot- I like your approach to the swing down. Clever way to work the pivot. I'd like a stop or maybe a tab on the swing arm to hold it in place while setting the upper bolt. A tab could be thru bolted so the arm could swing to the most convenient side. And a cheater bar would be good.

[Big-Foot]

Great feedback guys! I had thought about a “stop” on the arm itself, but it seemed to work fine without it. I’ll take another look later today.
I need to source materials and see about what that would take.
I would likely not use a hitch-shank as I used on the first one, but would make it out of .120 wall mild steel.
If I made / shipped it in kit form - where you’d need to bolt it together - I suppose then that could simplify packaging and perhaps minimize and sort of liability. IE - As delivered, it will do nothing. You put it together and use at your own risk.
Thanks again for the feedback and ideas!

[JoeDS]

Originally Posted by Muggs

I have a 24.1. I keep spare in compartment above generator and use it to hold cords. Sometimes if I need more storarge, I put it on racecar trailer.

Same here on my 24.1

[JoeDS]

Originally Posted by Big-Foot

I’ve put a few thousand miles on now with this spare tire carrier solution and am thinking about making and maybe marketing them...
Just thought I would check here to see what people would think to be a fair price for something like this...

Thats pretty neat ! Good job.