Moved Spare Tire
I was asked about this mod, sorry I didn't take pics durring build.
I should start with, I have done an axle flip so my camper is 5 inches higher than stock. I say this because there is a space issue and I have more space/height than most. As long as you keep the tire and tie-down brackets above the axle it should be fine.
Also, welding onto the frame will probably give you problems with warranty.
Materials: tubing 1x3x3/16, all-thread ¾, bar 1¼x¼ , steel rod coupling nut ¾, heavy washer ¾, pin
Assembly: Cut a 1x3x3/16 tubing to fit between frame.
Drilled ¾ inch hole through tubing @ the radius of the tire plus 2 inches, centered
Drilled 3/16 hole in all-thread for safety pin, located just above where the nut will be
Welded ¾ inch all-thread to back side of tubing and then placed a ¾ inch washer on front side and welded all together. Washer is for some extra area/strength to make sure the all-thread would not pull through the 3/16 tubing.
Before welding in cross member I put some heat shielding on both sides of frame to protect camper’s insolation. And welding upside down so some leathers and stay out of the way.
Weld in cross member. I went 5/8 down from top to help save the camper insolation
Fab up an A-frame to secure tire; bottom of A-frame fits through rim(3inch) and top must be some larger. I drilled a ¾ hole in 1 ½ long bar, welded on the nut, welded on 6inch long members at about 120 deg, added a cross member for structural.
All pieces were painted with a rustolium for protection.
Putting the tire up into position is not the easiest to do but it is do able. If I thought I might have to use my spare tire more than once every 5-10 years, hopefully never, I would have done something else(like steal the spare tire system off a junked truck) Don’t forget to install the tire with the air-stem down. And the pin goes through the all-thread hole to keep nut/A-frame from backing off.
I know this is a fairly crude system but sometimes simple is good. I only have 300ml but so far its still there.
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