Spare tire Axis/Vegas

Capeteacher · 11-08-2020, 04:16 PM

I am very surprised there is no spare tire on the Axis/Vegas. I would have thought they would have put one underneath like on cars. I have seen pics of a hitch carrier but I don’t want to lose hitch weight or tow capacity. Is there a spare tire holder devise to buy for under the rear of the Axis/Vegas?

taylorbob1 · 11-08-2020, 04:56 PM

Use SEARCH function
this has been discussed many times in the last 24mo

Here’s my solution (it doesn’t have a pulley system, but others have installed one):

Mr Sunshine · 11-09-2020, 01:06 AM

As was pointed out, this has been thoroughly discussed, starting with first of the Vegas/Axis. There have been several who couldn't imagine traveling without a spare wheel and tire, and countless more who have done just fine without.

The extra weight and the tools required to lift the coach and remove a flat are a concern. You might want to have some blocking, too. Yes, that will reduce your carrying and towing capacity.

A tire pressure monitoring system can go a long way toward preventing problems. Many pay for road service for an answer to tire problems. Some just carry a tire, thinking the wheel can be reused, but the tire might take a day or more to get.

My personal choice is to not carry a spare. I do take along a small 110v compressor that can pump up a coach or toad tire.

My previous larger Class A suffered two blowouts, and both were covered by road service. Each time it took about 4 hours and they brought matching tires at the same cost that I paid to replace the rest of the tires. (Those tires were about 5 years old with plenty of tread.)

Your choice here will depend in part on how and where you travel. It's a personal decision.

Capeteacher · 11-09-2020, 01:52 AM

I’ve read the posts were guys made a carrier, I was just wondering if there were already made carriers.
Now that’s a good point about the added weight and loss of storage weight. Didn’t think of that. I don’t have a tire pressure monitor, something to look into. For some reason I don’t think the road side assistance includes tires. I think that was separate. Again I will have to check.
I can’t imagine on this forum that there isn’t anything that hasn’t been covered but sometimes if you don’t use the right wording in the search somethings can be missed. It’s not a bad thing to ask questions. That’s how we learn.

Mr Sunshine · 11-09-2020, 02:31 AM

To clarify: road service didn't pay for the tires, they brought them to me and installed them but I paid for the tires. What I meant to point out was that the cost of those tires was the same as the cost at the tire shop where I replaced the rest. The general expectation is that those tire shops that handle road service will upcharge the tire due to our inability to shop around in an emergency situation.

You are right about search on this forum. That feature is not intuitive like web searches, it is literal so it only matches exactly the term(s) you ask for. Search first, then ask. Folks hereabouts are great resources.

There may be spare carriers that mount via the hitch. Not feasible if you tow a car like we do. The mounting bracket adds even more weight, which may or may not be a problem for you.

ducksface · 11-09-2020, 03:55 AM

A spare tire fits very nicely in the rear most drivers side hatch. You can store hoses and stuff on top of it. It's always clean and you can store the torn up tire there. The problem with the underslung tire is
'what will you do with the blowout that will not go back up there?'
Even if you talk the tow driver into dismounting the mangled spare and taking it with them, you'll have to store the bare wheel.
You'll have to put it, the carcasses and wheel or just the wheel, in the rv living area or you'll have to put it in that rear most drivers side hatch....
All in all I think the tire takes up only 3 cubic feet of space.

Or
Etrailer sells a hitch mount spare carrier for under $100. They also have front hitches that bolt on easily if you want.

I wouldn't worry about an 85lb ish tire throwing off hitch and towing weight suggestions.
They are guidelines, not rules of physics.

The good news is the tire size on the 24.1 is the same tire size as on newer jeeps. Almost every tire shop will have one. Then you'll just have a mismatched branded spare.

So...
This all makes carrying a spare a time saver and nothing much else.
If you didn't bend the rim, 80 percent of places can bring a tire to you.

I carry a spare and I carry a Torque multiplier in case the person they send to change my tire doesn't have an adequate tool for removal.

taylorbob1 · 11-09-2020, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducksface

..........,The problem with the underslung tire is
'what will you do with the blowout that will not go back up there?'
Even if you talk the tow driver into dismounting the mangled spare and taking it with them, you'll have to store the bare wheel.........

Ducksface is correct
In order to remove my spare I need to raise the rear with my hydraulic levelers,
Then crawl under with my cover-all’s on

I love to get my hands dirty
That’s why I own an RV

Capeteacher · 11-09-2020, 03:10 PM

Thanks. More options to think about. When you say front hitch do you mean a hitch that goes on the front of the MH by the engine?

sportcoupe · 03-20-2022, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taylorbob1

Use SEARCH function
this has been discussed many times in the last 24mo

Here’s my solution (it doesn’t have a pulley system, but others have installed one):

In your example you have to remove both bars to remove tire?

sportcoupe · 03-20-2022, 02:51 PM

I searched "underbody spare mount" for posts but came up no matches.

taylorbob1 · 03-20-2022, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportcoupe

In your example you have to remove both bars to remove tire?

Yes
But…I designed it so there’s plenty of room to remove the four nut/bolt
Then the tire can fall after gently persuading.

BTW, I am ready in the next 12mo to get 6 new tires
I’ll use one of my current 2016 dated ones as the spare
So, I’ll need to remove/replace spare which is 2013 dated

It’ll be my first (and hopefully only) test

taylorbob1 · 03-20-2022, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportcoupe

I searched "underbody spare mount" for posts but came up no matches.

Here’s a controversial one for a Vegas/Axis

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f2...ion-26288.html

taylorbob1 · 03-20-2022, 03:02 PM

And another very long thread

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f8...ire-28166.html

Capeteacher · 03-20-2022, 03:41 PM

When I put new tires on my Vegas I kept one of the old tires as a spare. Is that enough to carry or do I need to buy another rim?

DavidEM · 03-20-2022, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capeteacher

When I put new tires on my Vegas I kept one of the old tires as a spare. Is that enough to carry or do I need to buy another rim?

I think that carrying an unmounted spare tire covers about 90% of the problems that can occur. What it doesn't cover:

Blowouts that damage the rim.

Situations where road side assistance is a long way off and I can DIY with a mounted spare tire and tire changing tools.

David

You may also like: