1/2 ton owners...Have you checked your spare?

[V-Dub]

I ran over something and my TPMS notified me of a major air leak. Made it to a gas station and found I have a full size TEMP spare. I was pissed because I thought my 2011 Laramie Crew had every option except the roof and iTBC.

I let Ram know my displeasure with this and promptly had a friend in the salvage business get me a steel 17" wheel for $75 (since the 20" matching chrome are $$$). As fate would have it, Walmart had a BF sale on the 265/70/17 Wranglers for $119. Of course I snatched one up. So now I have a regular full size 17" wheel as a spare that I carry in the bed of my truck.

I just thought it appalling that with what these new 1/2 ton trucks can do, that any OEM would have the gall to put a TEMP of any kind on a full-size truck. On a Ranger or S-10, I could see it...but not on a full-size!

Thought I'd share my experience since I'd hate for someone to be out there towing and not know what they have as a backup.

One question: I haven't tried it yet since it's been so cold...but will the FS wheel/tire fit underneath the bed so I can replace the TEMP tire and leave that crap in my garage? I'm assuming it will but wanted to ask.

V-Dub

[Toby]

I can confirm that my Ford has a full sized spare. I've actually had to use it 3 or 4 times already in the two years I've had it. The tire sensors saved me each time. The last time on the coldest day of the year (what are the odds of that?). I was able to return back to the barn and get the tire fixed there instead of being stuck somewhere in the wind and cold in my dress clothes. Personally, a full sized spare would be a selling point for me.

[RhoZeta]

IMHO;
I would be careful with a spare that is not same O.D. as the other tires. Especially if you have 4WD or even a limited slip rear end if replacing a rear flat tire as any more than just a slow speed trip of a few miles to a tire shop can do serious damage to the clutches in the LS unit.

Again, IMHO & IMOE

[V-Dub]

Originally Posted by RhoZeta

IMHO;
I would be careful with a spare that is not same O.D. as the other tires. Especially if you have 4WD or even a limited slip rear end if replacing a rear flat tire as any more than just a slow speed trip of a few miles to a tire shop can do serious damage to the clutches in the LS unit.

Again, IMHO & IMOE

17" is the stock tire on other models. The Laramie comes with 20". Same OD from what I can tell. It's the same OD as the TEMP spare anyway...but a bonafide tire that can handle weight if I were loaded.

V-Dub

[Twisty]

Thanks for the heads up.
My F150 and F350 both have/had steel spare wheels with tires that match the ones on the road.

[RhoZeta]

Originally Posted by V-Dub

17" is the stock tire on other models. The Laramie comes with 20". Same OD from what I can tell. It's the same OD as the TEMP spare anyway...but a bonafide tire that can handle weight if I were loaded.

V-Dub

The important thing is that it is the same O.D. (outside diameter) as the tires on your truck.

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by V-Dub

Thought I'd share my experience since I'd hate for someone to be out there towing and not know what they have as a backup.


V-Dub

if you do a pre insp of tire pressures including the spare before you go camping then you would of known it is not a FS. better to know it needs air at home then on the road

[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by jevanb

if you do a pre insp of tire pressures including the spare before you go camping then you would of known it is not a FS. better to know it needs air at home then on the road

I double that. It is easier with the Jeep, as the spare is right there. But, I also do 5 tire rotations AND buy 5 at a time. When I purchase a truck, one of the first things will be 5 black rims, 5 good LT tires, and find a place to mount the spare if it doesn't fit underneath.

[checca]

Toyota has full size spare with the same rim as other ri s

[V-Dub]

I'm new to this fellas. I didn't even think to ask about the spare when I bought it. I just glanced under there and saw a FS but didn't notice it was a TEMP until it was being mounted on the truck.

The OD on the 17", 20", and TEMP appear to be the same.

V-Dub

[RedDragon]

Thanks OP I went and checked mine. Full size here.

[jdadoug]

It's starting to sound like you shoulda bought a Blue Oval
F-150 Super Crew XLT
jdadoug

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by jdadoug

It's starting to sound like you shoulda bought a Blue Oval
F-150 Super Crew XLT
jdadoug

He got one just one notch above a blue oval, he needs to step up one more notch to a GM.

[dcheatwood]

I have the same Michelin 18" underneath ax on the ground. On a regular steel wheel tho. Came on 2008 tundra.

[Old Bones]

I was disappointed when I found out our 2010 Ram 1500 Laramie had a full size temp tire for a spare. Our 2006 Ram 1500 Sport had a 20" steel wheel and regular tire for a spare.

[V-Dub]

It sounds like it's Chrysler just being cheap about this. Honestly, when I called corporate, they acted as if they didn't give a crap. I'm not saying I won't buy another Ram but I'll definitely be keeping this in mind the next time I spend $50k.

For those of you verifying your spare, I hope you're actually looking at the writing on the tire. At a glance, I looked golden...until I saw the words TEMPORARY on the sidewall. You can imagine my jaw dropping! Lol

V-Dub

[V-Dub]

Originally Posted by jdadoug

It's starting to sound like you shoulda bought a Blue Oval
F-150 Super Crew XLT
jdadoug

I was actually coming out of a '06 Navigator Ultimate. So when I went truck shopping I went with the thought that the truck I bought would have to earn my business...no blind loyalty.

In '11 I gotta tell you, RAM flat out earned it. Followed by the 6 liter 150 Platinum Limited, Tundra, and then the Sierra. The Nissan didn't even rate to me. I think the Hemi, overall room, rambox, ergos, and the storage cubbies earned it for RAM.

Although...I can't really think of a "bad" truck out there. It's all preference.

V-Dub

[MillerTime]

I believe the smaller spare came to be when ram changed frames to have coil springs. The ram 1500 frames seem alot different and have a crossmember taking up space under there.
A couple months ago I posted with pictures about the install of a b&w turn over hitch on here. The turn over ball is stubier and the companion requires a different post to accomadate the ram 1500 coil frame trucks. ( this was on a neighbors truck).
At work I have seen a few of the newer rams with full size spares. ... but they were all caried in the bed, (or on the vehicle since it had been wrecked)