Spare Tire Mount for Enclosed Trailer

[Boaring1961]

Lots of smart guys on here so I thought I'd ask the group.

I have 12x6' enclosed Pace cargo trailer that I use for hunting trips to tow my quad and to sleep in. Because trailer tires always seems to fail and the roads I drive are a bit rough, I carry 3 spares with me on a longer hunting trip. I've already got one on the tongue and I'm trying to find a way to carry 2 more spare tires without having to store them inside the trailer or any more on the tongue.

I was thinking of welding some square tubing to the underside of the frame (either forward or rearward of the tandem axles) and have it stick out about 3 inches. I would then weld a vertical piece of tubing onto this, hugging the siding, and then mounting the tire there. They would stand off the trailer as far as the main running tires and the bottom of the spare would hang down so that the bottom of the tire would be level with the trailer's siding. I'd do the same to the other side too.

The other option is to figure out a way to mount them to the top of the fenders. The fenders seem pretty strong and can support my 180 lbs quite easily. Not sure how I'd secure tires to them, but it is a thought.

Anyone have better ideas of storing two additional spares or concerns with what I'm proposing?

Thanks

 

[jgillott]

I have a similar Car-Mate brand 6x12 V-Nose for my atv. I haven't considered an additional mount on the outside since I just carry one spare in the bed of my truck and one on the floor of the trailer in the V area in front of the quad.

As long as the width isn't a concern, the proposed mounts on the side sound better to me than mounting on the fenders. Even though they can hold your weight, I would be a little leary of mounting a tire on them and then boucing down the road for miles. I would think that there would be metal fatigue eventually unless they are very well made.

 

[Boaring1961]

jgillot,

I agree with you on the fender issue. I may need to replace the fenders in the next couple of years and if I do I may add a spare mount to the top, but with some reinforcement.

I may try the side mount to see how it works and if it works I can do the other side.

 

[jgillott]

Totally off the subject, but I'm really pleased that I'm not the only one that uses their trailer this way. It's the perfect size for the quad, gear, sleeping bag, etc. for a day or two. Not exactly a luxury toy hauler, but a heck of a good base camp.

 

[jelag]

have you thought about just upgrading the tires to something that has a higher safety margin... I own several trailers and they all run light commercial tires... I only carry one spare for each... over the years... I've never had the need for the spare, as the light commercial tires do the job for me... . but if I had the problem I'd make a set of plates and bolt them to the body... I'm guessing 10x10 or 12x12 and to the outside plate I'd weld a used hub to... and than once it was installed I'd bolt the spare tire to that... if I thought the body wasn't heavy enough to support it... is have the extra weight of the tire touch the fender... maybe the front frame... something to support part of that weight...

 

[Boaring1961]

jgillot,

Thanks for that. My trailer actually has a fold down bunk that is quite wide and comfortable. Across from that there is a fold up counter for a make-shift kitchen. In front of the quad I built a huge shelf that goes from left to right and to the front of the trailer. It doubles as a storage area while traveling and a bunk once there. It's amazing how much stuff (crap) I manage to take on a hunt because I have the space.

jelag,

I'm not sure what you mean by light commercial tires. I run trailer grade 15" tires on the trailer, and even though I carry a bunch of spares I too have never had a flat or blow out. I guess I'm just paranoid of being stuck without the means to fix it. It's tandem axle, so I'd like to think I could make it 50 miles without a tire on one side.

 

[JR]

In the race car buis they hang 2 rows of vertical e track on each wall and then snap sections of unistrut in place to make a "cradle" for the tires to sit in to haul a spare set of tires for the car

 

[HHhuntitall]

As for a rack off the trailer frame, coming out to the side under the body, I've done it, using rectangular tubing and angle iron. The biggest draw back I found was vibration. The weight of the tire hanging out there would make it vibrate and bounce horizontally. Spacing it away from the trailer posed a problem as it would break the lower welding or brackets. I had to bolt the upper section of the mount to the trailer itself to properly secure it and keep it from vibrating. I'd imagine the fenders would work for support, but would need the same treatment, IMO. It's a good solution if you don't want the floor space taken up inside the trailer. Another option I built in a race car trailer was ceiling mounted tire racks. But it was a taller trailer. It made better use of the space, and the tires weren't easily accessible for theft.

 

[jhenderson]

By commercial tires he means a LT type tire in. load range D or better in your size. trailer tires are notorious for blow outs and throwing the tread. Trailer sales people tell you ST type tires are the only thing for your trailer. Don't believe it. ST tires are installed at the mfg because they are CHEAP. They are also not subject to the same federal scrutiny as vehicle tires.

 

[Boaring1961]

Good info JH, thanks!

 

[Boaring1961]

I looked around and don't see any LT tires for my trailer in size 205/75 R15. Anyone have any recommendations?

 

[jhenderson]

You may have to go to 16 inch wheels.

 

[HHhuntitall]

To stay in the 15" wheel size, move up to the 225/75R15 tire size. It gains roughly an inch in overall diameter, and . 5 inch in width... but there are many more options available in 8,10, and even 12ply trailer tires. There are very few light truck tires made that go over 6 ply in 15" wheel size, mostly just due to carrying capacity. Trailer tires are a different matter. The standard 205/75R15 is calculated at 27. 10 inches tall, while the 225/75R15 is 28. 20" tall, with the latter gaining a bit in width, usually from sidewall thickness. 205s are made to get your trailer home from the dealer. I don't know how many times I tell customers to upgrade to the latter size, and very few have had complaints, especially when we go to the 10 ply tires. Even in Chinese brands, the tires have a much better service life.