Spare tire on Aluminum trailer

[Russ]

I have an extra tire or two now and want to mount a spare tire. Where/how do you guys mount your spare tire?

[mastreb]

http://www.harborfreight.com/trailer-sp ... 93341.html

[Crikey]

http://www.harborfreight.com/trailer-sp ... 93341.html

I'd like to see a picture of that particular mounting on your trailer. What I've seen so far, doesn't go so well with the alum trailer and the space between the winch and the nose of the boat is kinda tight. So far I've been carrying the stupid spare inside the rear of the car, which is great for cutting down on your beer allowance.
R.

[Dennis]

I successfully use this mounting system. Why? Because I need the added forward weight to offset the heavy Mercury 50hp Bigfoot hanging off the back. FYI: my tow vehicle is a heavy 1976 Oldsmobile modified to be equivalent to a modern HD PU truck. With a new trailer tire and rim there is a lot of weight on the tow vehicle ball. Depending upon your vehicle, you may need good heavy duty air shocks. From the outside tread to the trailer hitch is approx 8 inches. I have it set so there is approx. 3 inch clearance to the boarding ladder. The tire makes a convenient step platform. Also, the clearance makes using the hand crank possible. I have no trouble with tow vehicle turning clearance, but I can see where the tire might be an issue for someone. When towing at my normal travel speeds 55 - 60 with an occasional 65, the trailer is rock steady, absolutely no wiggle.

Dennis

[RobertB]

I am actually thinking of taking off my spare since I now have the 2nd axle. Since I have never travelled more than 70 miles from home, very reasonable to travel on three wheels (did this once and never knew the difference).

[Russ]

I am actually thinking of taking off my spare since I now have the 2nd axle. Since I have never travelled more than 70 miles from home, very reasonable to travel on three wheels (did this once and never knew the difference).

That's a good point. The only reason I'm adding the spare is because I bought 4 new wheels for my 2nd axle mod and have 2 that I need to find a use for. So one is spare and I have another one. My old tires were not wearing evenly and they are now 5 years old so I figured have 4 matching new tires.

Wheel Balancing:

BTW, I noticed that none of these trailer wheels seem to have any balancing weights like car wheels. Both the original Mac trailer wheels and none of the new wheels I bought seem to have weights on them. Why is that? I've never known a tire to be made perfect enough that it didn't need balancing. What happens to our trailers at high speeds? Is there a lot of vibration like there would be in a car?

--Russ

[Russ]

http://www.harborfreight.com/trailer-sp ... 93341.html

I ordered one. Seems like it will do fine. Thanks!

[BOAT]

Hi Russ,

I have the alum trailer with the factory spare. Here is a picture:

[Russ]

Hi Russ,

I have the alum trailer with the factory spare. Here is a picture:

Thanks. That helps.

[Tomfoolery]

I was going to fab my own 2-spare carrier, with one on each side, but it would be easier to just buy a pair of these HF units and sandwich the pole tongue with them.

I am, however, concerned about the build quality. Feedback indicates a number of weld failures. If I have to start reinforcing and/or repairing, I might as well just fab what I was going to fab, as it'll be much stronger. I have the pieces set aside already, but just don't have the time to play with the welder right now.

[BOAT]

Surprisingly the factory tire carrier is actually a pretty good build - it's all plated and there are no welds at the obvious fail point - instead they use an elbow which is superior to a welded joint. I suspect they bought it out - (at least I don't think they make it at the factory but I could be wrong now that I think about it because there is no tire carrier on the suppliers corner list). I understand they are using the same style on the jack too when they start production in Florida because it's superior to the welded jack they use now.
I think the spare tire carrier will last as long as the trailer and outlast the jack.

[Tomfoolery]

Looks pretty stout. There's also no reason two of them couldn't be place, one on each side, and share the hardware.

This is what I'm planning on fabbing. I have the steel put aside, but don't have the time right now. I want to carry spares, and have to try to make the time before the first road trip. I don't want a spare or two in the car - there's little enough room as it is, being a Highlander SUV.

The mounting spot for it looks to be about the same size and location as that in the pic above, except that the steel channels start there instead of the aluminium beams, and I layed it out using actual wheels on each side, sitting on jacks, to be sure it all fits.

Now I just need some time, and I have to finish some built-in cabinetry in the admiral's office before I can be seen putting significant time into boat stuff.

[BOAT]

Yeah, when Mike heard about all the places in North America we had towed the old boat he said: "You need a spare tire".

Don't mount the spare tires too high up in the air or they will interfere with the boat and make launching and retrievein a hassle.

[Tomfoolery]

That's why I physically put them in place using jacks and such, and took rough measurements from the trailer frame using those locations. I'll tack it up and test it in the driveway, as I can always cut the vertical tube shorter if I think it's too close to the hull, before I weld it up and paint it. That's a lousy time to find out I should have left more room.

[BOAT]

I wish I could weld - is it hard to learn?