Moving Spare Tire

[Shadrach]

Have any of you moved the spare tire to a different spot? The one under my truck is beat to pieces, the rim is rusty and the tire is trash. I have an aluminum spare as well and don't want it under the truck. I was thinking of using the spot behind the rear wheel well inside the box. I want to have a storage box up front and also want access to it when I have all my camping gear in the box. Shad

 

[NIsaacs]

I see no reason why not, if in box room is not an issue. In the 60's and 70's all pickups used the in box storage, usually in front of the wheel well but the mount could be moved. I had two mounted that way on my 1970 Ford, my boys said it was an old foggy thing and didn't like the look:-laf



Nick

 

[RDeFayette]

Have any of you moved the spare tire to a different spot? The one under my truck is beat to pieces, the rim is rusty and the tire is trash. I have an aluminum spare as well and don't want it under the truck. I was thinking of using the spot behind the rear wheel well inside the box. I want to have a storage box up front and also want access to it when I have all my camping gear in the box. Shad

You can make something like this for a couple of bucks.

http://www.m5p.com:8000/pickup/

I would highly suggest no matter how you mount it in the bed to put a lock on it.

It won't get stolen because it's a spare, it'll probably get stolen for the scrap value of the aluminum!

The u-channel strut can be picked up at Home Depot or Lowes, weld on some all-thread, weld some straight rod to a nut, make a plate for the wheel. Done. Have a cold one.

 

[Bob4x4]

You can make something like this for a couple of bucks.

http://www.m5p.com:8000/pickup/

I would highly suggest no matter how you mount it in the bed to put a lock on it.

It won't get stolen because it's a spare, it'll probably get stolen for the scrap value of the aluminum!

The u-channel strut can be picked up at Home Depot or Lowes, weld on some all-thread, weld some straight rod to a nut, make a plate for the wheel. Done. Have a cold one.

That design would destroy the bedside in minutes if driven off road.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have a plate mounted under the bed with a 1" nut welded to it and a corresponding hole through the bed floor. I can mount either 1 or 2 spares laying flat as required for what ever type trip is going on. It has survived thousands of off road miles with 37" tires. If the full bed is needed there is no intrusion into the bed with any brackets once the tires are removed.

Not for everybody design but very stout and simple.

On the old 94 I have a set up that utilizes the space behind the wheel houses on both sides of the bed (same location as in the link) but the bracket attaches to the floor of the bed and the side of the box (not the bed rail. That set up has held up since 95 with years of off road abuse.

 

[RDeFayette]

That design would destroy the bedside in minutes if driven off road.

Don't drive off road! That was hard to figure out.

Don't think he mentioned anything about Baja in his post.

So, if the bed is full and you take the spares out you have no spare?

That'll ruin a day off-roading if you get a flat.

 

[Shadrach]

I had my spare mounted in the left ft of the box in my 82 Club Cab and then moved it to the right rear of the box to allow room for a 24 x 60 propane tank up frt. As long as there is a tailgate on the truck it doesn't seem to do any damage. Without a tailgate the box side can flop around from the extra weight.

On my 03 I have a tailgate lock and a lockable canopy so theft is not a problem. I thought about mounting it on a slide out for easy access. To bad the spare doesn't fit the TT. When I used to pull my race care on a trailer with my old half ton one spare fit all three. Shad

 

[rbattelle]

I have my spare laying horizontally on the bed just in front of the driver side wheel well. I have a steel cable and large padlock to keep thieves at bay.

Been that way for 11 years now.

The only issue is when I need full bed capacity the spare stays home. I keep telling myself I'm going to make a vertical mount for it (anchored to my headache rack).

If you do it this way, I have a word of advice. Lay the tire with the outside of the wheel facing DOWN rather than up. Several winters ago I was in the bed standing on the tire brushing snow off the cab. My foot slipped off the tire and I snapped off the tire valve. (Is there any more helpless feeling than listening to air rush out of a snapped tire valve?)

-Ryan

 

[JMDancoe]

Look around in the auto parts stores and you should find several different designs of mounts for just aft of the wheel well. I have one I can't even tell you where it came from as it has been in there that long. Unlike the one in the posted link, mine mounts to both the rail and the floor and actually stiffens the bed side.

_______________________________________________________________________

86/92 Retro D-250, 5. 9 Cummins w/auto, 2wd - 254,000 / 96 Ram 1500 short bed, 318 w/auto, 4wd - 320,000 / 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 4. 0 w/auto, 4wd - 200,000 Dodge/Chrystler all the way

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

I don't even carry one in the '92 cause I already have two extras on the ground! :-laf

 

[RDeFayette]

I have my spare laying horizontally on the bed just in front of the driver side wheel well. I have a steel cable and large padlock to keep thieves at bay.



Been that way for 11 years now.



The only issue is when I need full bed capacity the spare stays home. I keep telling myself I'm going to make a vertical mount for it (anchored to my headache rack).



If you do it this way, I have a word of advice. Lay the tire with the outside of the wheel facing DOWN rather than up. Several winters ago I was in the bed standing on the tire brushing snow off the cab. My foot slipped off the tire and I snapped off the tire valve. (Is there any more helpless feeling than listening to air rush out of a snapped tire valve?)



-Ryan

1 that I can think of... ... when it's still on the truck! lol

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I know a lady who is a vegetable because of a spare tire.



A pickup rolled over in the oncoming lane that had a loose spare tire in the bed. It bounced, went through the windshield and smashed her face. She needs 24 hour medical care for the rest of her life.

 

[10-9jc]

I know a lady who is a vegetable because of a spare tire.

A pickup rolled over in the oncoming lane that had a loose spare tire in the bed. It bounced, went through the windshield and smashed her face. She needs 24 hour medical care for the rest of her life.

Is that a reason *not* to carry a spare in the bed?
Could have happened with just about anything *unsecured* in the bed of the truck that rolled.

~

Here's what should be a "secured" wheel and tire story:
I'm a retired firefighter. Went out on a call once on the (So. CA) 405 freeway.
Injuries to driver and front seat passenger in a *Southbound* vehicle hit in the windshield and roof by a bouncing wheel (with tire). Many drivers had seen the wheel/tire "bounding" through the lanes of traffic.

After treating & shipping the injured (not serious or life-threatening. Lucky!) - - we were wondering where the wheel/tire came from.

Yep - spotted the CHP about 1/4 mile back on the *Northbound* shoulder at a car that was missing the driver side front wheel. (No injuries reported there. )

Soooo - the wheel/tire was originally Northbound, wheel/tire somehow came off, Northbound wheel/tire jumped the divider into the Southbound lanes, hit the Southbound vehicle "head-on" causing the injuries in/at the vehicle where we were with big red.

OK - got all that sorted out . . . but now we're scratching our heads.

Where did the wheel/tire go ????

One of the guys gets big smile - - points "up".

About 150 feet in front of us the tire/wheel is lodged in the frame of one of the overhead freeway signs.
(yeah - I *do* have a pic of the sign with wheel/tire somewhere).

Stuff happens!
(Heading South, LOL!)

~

 

[Bill Stockard]

I have my spare laying horizontally on the bed just in front of the driver side wheel well. I have a steel cable and large padlock to keep thieves at bay.



Been that way for 11 years now.



The only issue is when I need full bed capacity the spare stays home. I keep telling myself I'm going to make a vertical mount for it (anchored to my headache rack).



If you do it this way, I have a word of advice. Lay the tire with the outside of the wheel facing DOWN rather than up. Several winters ago I was in the bed standing on the tire brushing snow off the cab. My foot slipped off the tire and I snapped off the tire valve. (Is there any more helpless feeling than listening to air rush out of a snapped tire valve?)



-Ryan

You must have had the rubber valve stems. Rubber valve stems are the first thing that goes when I purchase a new truck! I go to a real truck tire shop and have the rubber replaced with steel.



Bill

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Is that a reason *not* to carry a spare in the bed?

Could have happened with just about anything *unsecured* in the bed of the truck that rolled.



~



Here's what should be a "secured" wheel and tire story:

I'm a retired firefighter. Went out on a call once on the (So. CA) 405 freeway.

Injuries to driver and front seat passenger in a *Southbound* vehicle hit in the windshield and roof by a bouncing wheel (with tire). Many drivers had seen the wheel/tire "bounding" through the lanes of traffic.



After treating & shipping the injured (not serious or life-threatening. Lucky!) - - we were wondering where the wheel/tire came from.



Yep - spotted the CHP about 1/4 mile back on the *Northbound* shoulder at a car that was missing the driver side front wheel. (No injuries reported there. )



Soooo - the wheel/tire was originally Northbound, wheel/tire somehow came off, Northbound wheel/tire jumped the divider into the Southbound lanes, hit the Southbound vehicle "head-on" causing the injuries in/at the vehicle where we were with big red.



OK - got all that sorted out . . . but now we're scratching our heads.



Where did the wheel/tire go ????



One of the guys gets big smile - - points "up".



About 150 feet in front of us the tire/wheel is lodged in the frame of one of the overhead freeway signs.

(yeah - I *do* have a pic of the sign with wheel/tire somewhere).



Stuff happens!

(Heading South, LOL!)



~

I didn't say that. Anything in the bed or inside the cab that's not secured can become a projectile.

 

[SWithrow]

Other Carrier options

This looks like a good idea...

 

[WesJohnston]

Just remember that if you mount the spare upright and rear of the wheelwells that it will be in the way when you make a turn with a gooseneck or 5th wheel trailer. Just ask one of the guys that USED to work for me.

 

[Bob4x4]

Don't drive off road! That was hard to figure out.

Don't think he mentioned anything about Baja in his post.

So, if the bed is full and you take the spares out you have no spare?

That'll ruin a day off-roading if you get a flat.

:-laf:-laf Take it easy man... ... ... .

He has a 4x4 with on board air. doesnt sound like a mall crawler to me.

I still have my spare attatched with a quad and a dirt bike in it

 

[RDeFayette]

:-laf:-laf Take it easy man... ... ... .

He has a 4x4 with on board air. doesnt sound like a mall crawler to me.

I still have my spare attatched with a quad and a dirt bike in it

Not getting wound up.

We have enough posers around here with all the do dads on their trucks to run Baja if they wanted to. Closest they've ever been to off-roading is running off the edge of their driveway! What REALLY fries my $#S is when you're behind one of these lifted/big tired/chromed out/fair weather/almost trailer queen off-road wanna be's and they crawl over speed bumps! Give me a break!

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Not getting wound up.

We have enough posers around here with all the do dads on their trucks to run Baja if they wanted to. Closest they've ever been to off-roading is running off the edge of their driveway! What REALLY fries my $#S is when you're behind one of these lifted/big tired/chromed out/fair weather/almost trailer queen off-road wanna be's and they crawl over speed bumps! Give me a break!

How do you sleep at night?