Spare tire moving up front - summary of options

[VicR]

As I slowly optimize my truck for camper use and mild off-roading, my next big project is to move the spare up front. I hope to accomplish 2 things - 1) make the spare easily accessible with the camper on. And 2), move a few pounds from behind the rear axle to up front to help with weight and balance. Some trips I may even take a 2nd spare.

You can see accessing the spare in any sort of off-pavement situation would be a hassle...and I haven't even figured out how to run the tire winch with the camper on...



I have already scored a spare matching OEM wheel so I'll have a matching wheel for the front

Options so far:
1.

Drawtite/Reese 65063 - about $140-$150 - mounts behind the tow hooks. I was worried about blocking air flow to the intercooler, but can't find any reported issues of problems. I also like the small amount of protection it gives the intercooler.

2.

Curt 31067 - about $190-$200 - mounts to bumper mounts and hangs below - I don't want to loose the ground clearance so this probably not...

3.

This was a custom job - picture I've had for a while from somewhere on the internet. I love this solution but not commercially available as far as I know. I wonder what a custom shop would charge to do this?

4.

Aluminess replacement bumper - probably in the $2750 range the way I'd want it - but a guy can dream, right? I know I could get a steel bumper with a 2" receiver cheaper, but I'm sensitive to the extra weight up front.


Any other options I missed?

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

I was worried about blocking air flow to the intercooler, but can't find any reported issues of problems.

I would think hanging a tire off the front will block a lot of air and adversely affect overall cooling.

 

[chet6.7]

View attachment 102276
Picture this without the bumper part,use you stock bumper,and without the headlight protectors.I had something like that made in the 70's,it had a place to mount the spare right on the middle bar and a padlock to keep the honest folks honest.I did not lose any ground clearance and I did not have any overheating issues.
I just found this,mine was very heavy duty,but this is what I was trying to describe.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I would think the benefit you're trying to achieve would be negated by the blockage of airflow to the engine and reduced front end aerodynamics.

 

[VicR]

Heat - is an interesting question. I keep hunting for someone that's done this to a 4th gen Ram to see. Its got to cut down on airflow, but how much? I don't tow with the camper on so I'm only going to be at 11,500 lbs and not working it too hard.

I should mention that, eventually, I like the ability to have a hitch mount winch, bike rack, or... on the front too.

My other consideration, after the receiver, is how to actually carry the tire. There are a number of different variations of this out there - between $75 and $150. While its just a solid chunk of metal, I'd love to come up with a 2 point mounting system to avoid teeter-totter movement bouncing up and down. Between this (20 lbs), the tire (50 lbs), and the wheel (~30?) I'm guessing that's a hundred pounds +.

 

[Jeff Knight]

This would help to keep if from bouncing.https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Anti-Rattle/Malone/MPG908.html

 

[GSchlegel]

Wild thought, would you be able to mount 2 small custom 1 1/4" (class 2) receivers just inside and under the tow hooks? Then make a mount that would connect to both receivers? That way you could keep the charge cooler intake clear most of the time, then have stability when you do mount it. The mount would be a little forward of the intake area allowing air to enter.

 

[NWatchel]

Might want to check your insurance too. Where I used to live the provincial insurance company would charge you for the damages in an accident for anything that protruded from the bumper. For example, if you were driving around with a receiver hitch and you were rear ended, if the hitch pierced a radiator, you got to pay for it even if you were not at fault...

 

[CMB]

I have the tow hook type front receiver and haven't noticed any cooling difference. Look how's much the aluminum bumper covers, a bunch. I'm on the east coast- mid Atlantic the desert may be a different story but I doubt it.



Just my 2 cents........

 

[Bob4x4]

On my last Chevy truck with a FWC (9ft) model I had the same issue there was no other place to mount a 40” tire except in front.It was spaced out from all the heat exchangers (custom bumper). I never experienced any temp problems and I was towing a self built toy box running on 35’s

 

[VicR]

So I'm finally ready to move forward on this - actually have some mild off-road trips (White Rim Trail) planned and need to get serious about the spare tire situation.

I was almost ready to pull the trigger on the drawtite/ pole mount option when I came across a set of very high quality tow hook replacement 2# receivers. They are actually a little more expensive than the drawtite mount, but I like the ability to go with option 3 above and see if I can get someone local to fab up the actual tire mount. Was thinking of keeping it simple and using 2 ball mounts, upside down, in those receivers and then a cross bar for the tire itself.

Thinking of a set of these

or maybe these - quite a bit cheaper, but no reinforcement

The reinforced set is about a Ben Franklin more, but I am thinking with the side reinforcement they might be useful in some other applications as well, such as a receiver mounted winch, etc.

Now off to find a suitable tire mount...

 

[seafish]

While I like the invisibility of the Drawtite front hitch mount when nothing is attached, I think that a single post mounted spare mounted attached to it would drive me crazy rattling around as I drove. Even with using an "anti rattle hitch pin", I think there is too much weight at then end of a long lever for that to help much at all. SO all that being said, I like your idea of using a custom made tire holder that is almost triangulated (built like the letter "A") down to the tow hook replacement receivers is a better way to go. I would definitely use the reinforced models if the reinforcement is of decent quality and not simply a tin plate.

In terms of aerodynamics and UV protection, I would try to get a spare tire cover that fits tightly over the spare....maybe even going so far as to stuff some sort of foam into the recessed center of the wheel, or insert a piece of 1/2" plywood cut into a circle, to keep the cover from flapping in the middle as you drive down the highway.

While obviously you should monitor driving temps for any changes, I am confident that due to the oversized cooling capacity of the oem radiator, well as the distance that the spare will be mounted in front of. it, you will likely notice minimal increased heat load.

just my two shiny pennies...LOL!!!

 

[Cummins12V98]

Spare on Camper roof. I personally would not block air flow.

 

[Wiredawg]

I recommend if you mount the tire on the front, don't use a cover if you find the matching wheel with what is on the truck. It will allow some airflow thru the rim... I would maximize airflow every where I could.

Cheers, Ron

 

[SnoKing]

On my 2001.5 I built my own front receiver out of a junk yard rear hitch for a kayak rack. To brace it from avoid teeter-totter and such I put braces to the tow hooks.