Underframe spare tire carrier recommendations?

[brer_rabbit10]

When I picked up my Silverback the spare tire was in the cargo bay. Massive amount amount of room taken up. I've seen advertised some underframe carriers for spares for 5th wheels, but some of the purchasers complained that it turned out after receiving their carriers that the spares were too large and wouldn't fit.

One that I saw and seemed to be a reasonable design was a pair of rails that were mounted laterally and forward of the axels and the spare rode on top of them. When the spare was needed the carrier could be unlatched and pulled out.

I'm not thrilled with the idea of trying to mount the spare on the back bumper; it doesn't look sufficiently robust to handle it.

So. What's your recommendation as to how to carry the spare?

[elind]

My Wildcat had the spare tire under the 5er up by the front. It uses a cable winch like used in trucks to lift the tire up in the frame. The tire fits up against a couple of rails with the winch in the middle. This could be an easy mod to make.

[Iwannacamp]

BAL hide a spare makes a pretty neat kit. I searched Amazon till I found a winch for less than $25 and am going to make mine.


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[rana]

Originally Posted by elind

It uses a cable winch like used in trucks to lift the tire up in the frame. The tire fits up against a couple of rails with the winch in the middle. This could be an easy mod to make.

X2 And with parts available at just about any ol junk yard it's very economical. Don't forget to pick up the winch arm as well.

[youroo]

I mounted our spare up front with the (Chevy truck cable system) works like a charm! Youroo!!

[elind]

I had to move my tire back 6" because of a conflict with my JT Strong arms. Then I needed to add 1/4' plate to hold the winch to where there wasn't a place to attach it.

[geotex1]

Originally Posted by youroo

I mounted our spare up front with the (Chevy truck cable system) works like a charm! Youroo!!

Ditto!

[TURBS]

This.
http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...540550&alt=web

[youroo]

Originally Posted by TURBS

This.
http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...540550&alt=web

Heck NO! 5.00$ junkyard! Youroo!!

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by youroo

Heck NO! 5.00$ junkyard! Youroo!!

Hey old man I was just giving a visual here!

[youroo]

Originally Posted by TURBS

Hey old man I was just giving a visual here!

Yes but the Price gave Me a Heart Attack! Youroo!!

[TGR]

A spare tire setup with the cable winch concept used in pickup trucks is a good idea if there is sufficient room under the 5th wheel’s basement. Otherwise, it may be a problem.

My Wildcat 5th wheel uses a “drop frame” that means the basement is much lower, i.e., closer to the road, than it would be without this style frame. 5th wheels that don’t have a drop frame have plenty of room for a spare tire under the basement but I think your Silverback has a drop frame basement and it may not have adequate space to mount a spare tire underneath.

[SKnight]

Originally Posted by elind

My Wildcat had the spare tire under the 5er up by the front. It uses a cable winch like used in trucks to lift the tire up in the frame. The tire fits up against a couple of rails with the winch in the middle. This could be an easy mod to make.

That's how my Sierra is, just your run of the mill cable winch. You can find dozens of them from pickup trucks in any given junk yard. A sturdy bit of floor and a couple of lengths of square stock or heavy angle iron will hang it nicely.

Mine is hanging from the front bin.

[tedstr]

My dealer made this mod to my 2013 Wildcat for reasonable cost (Less than $75) time and materials. If mechanically inclined as others have stated, you could do it yourself. Make sure you are bolted safely to the frame.

[Jim in Halifax]

I just purchased a "Under frame spare tire carrier and installed it myself with self tapping steel screws.......You have to get the model for an "I" frame......Put it up front at first just in front of steps.....Would not work as propane pipe interfeers and tire would not go up all the way to lock in up position...That 3/4" is needed!!!!!.......Now it is installed behind back axle away from any piping....Works great and for $ 110.00 US I would highly recommend this unit......More room for "Man" stuff up front!!!!!!!!....J

[dustman_stx]

I have used the BAL undermount on my last 2 campers and highly recommend it. On my current rig, I actually have the spare tire mounted on one and my Barker 4 wheeler tote on the other- which also works great. I figured I'd have at least $50 in materials to make something myself and probably a few hours of labor- just wasn't worth it when I can get the BAL for ~$100. Another benefit of the BAL over the winch type is that you can slide the spare out from under the trailer using the mounts handles rather than have to crawl in under the camper and drag it out after letting it down.

[elind]

The Lippert frame has a boxed area frame under the basement in my Wildcat. The new drop frame cuts out the box frame area but the bottom is still the same height. The new design gives a larger basement area.

[Swift 2]

Has any one out had the end pull off the winch cable and drop the tire? Does the cable end need to be inspected occasionally. I installed a second cable winch from a ford pickup. It seems to be a lot heavier built than the FR one.

[SilverbackMel]

I like to keep my spare with the least exposure to elements, weather and road garbage kicking up. I rarely need the space, BUT, if I do, I just cable lock the spare in the truck bed.

[Blackhat6mike]

The Aviator Wright Flyer comes stock with an underbelly tire rack that will hold two spares. Although I only carry one of my two spares on it, and a fold up aluminum latter where the other spare would go, it's so much easier to just unlock the slide and pull it out to get to the tire than the hanging tire system I had on the last TT. Unless you know where to look, you can not see it.