Input for coach absent of Spare tire

[Mrrlyn]

Thanks for the feedback! I saw in the For Sale section a BF with the spare out front - martyshere2 posted https://gulfport.craigslist.org/rvs/5938447174.html, and I messaged him, but nothing yet. Yeah, It certainly looks like it would impede airflow, but I didn't know how much it would impact real-world cooling. Where we live (hilly/mountainous Northern California), the need for summer cooling efficiency would be something we wouldn't want to sacrifice much of, but it's certainly a tempting addition. Maybe if I can mount it low enough, it can work as an air ram INTO the radiator? or keep the spare out front in winter, and somewhere else in summer...

[cmeadows]

Justin,

You have a diesel engine and may not be in dire straits for weight on the on the front axle. Cooling for the transmission would be my biggest concern with the location of the front mounted spare. If you have a transmission temperature gauge, you can watch it and see how much the spare tire affects the airflow with and without the tire mounted in front. If there is no transmission temp gauge, you might want to measure the temperature of the transmission pan after pulling a hill with a handheld IR temp gauge.

If you go with the front mounted spare, I really like your idea of “spare out front in winter, and somewhere else in summer.”

Chuck

[Dallas Baillio]

There has been discussion before on the front mounted spare.

Here is one link:

http://www.bornfreervclub.org/bulletin_ ... ont#p22561

Quickly found this by using the "Search" function at the top of the page with "Front mounted spare" as the search topic. I encourage others to use the search function.

[Tahoe]

IMG_20170126_140549.jpg (80.71 KiB) Viewed 5187 times

IMG_20170126_140615.jpg (79.36 KiB) Viewed 5187 times

Here is our spare as done by the original owner. Access to the rear storage is still there and when lowering the rear you have a place to either carry spare items or use as a platform for whatever your needs at the campsite. It is home made but works perfectly. We have not needed the spare but it's there if needed.

[Mrrlyn]

Interesting setup, Tahoe! Reminds me of a jeep setup. I like it (except the weight off the back), since we are considering adding a second generator that can roll out of the rear storage and out away from the RV (dry camping noise-proofing), and we'd be adding some material to make a fold-down ramp off the back anyways. Maybe I can sling the extra house batteries up as close to the front axle as I can to help with weight loading...

[Tahoe]

Interesting setup, Tahoe! Reminds me of a jeep setup. I like it (except the weight off the back), since we are considering adding a second generator that can roll out of the rear storage and out away from the RV (dry camping noise-proofing), and we'd be adding some material to make a fold-down ramp off the back anyways. Maybe I can sling the extra house batteries up as close to the front axle as I can to help with weight loading...

Since this what we've always had I haven't noticed a weight problem. The spare is heavy that's for sure, but the rack isn't very heavy. I'm sure I would notice the difference if I removed it but so far it isn't an issue. Access to the rear storage is not an issue when the tire swings out, but you do have to reach a little. I carry a grill back there which isn't too heavy.