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Here's the newbie again with a question (from Blue Springs State Park in Alabama). Do you all carry a spare tire even if you can't change them yourselves? I"d like to put a bike rack on my hitch, but my spare is in the way (because I put a spare carrier on my bumper because I thought the factory install through the back wall was the pits.) I found a rack on overstock specially made to mount over the spare tire, with supports on the square bumper, but couldn't install that because of the brackets for the Reese hitch. I'm tempted to ditch the spare and make AAA (Premier RV) put it on a tow truck and take it in if I get a flat. What do you all do? (And after living in Florida for over 40 years, I get to say "you all." )

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So, when I first glanced at this post's title, I thought you were talking about my mid-section...

I have NOWHERE near the experience as most women on here, but I can't see traveling without a spare. The tires can be weird sizes and you'd be in a pickle if it couldn't be replaced quickly. I took a lesson on how to change a spare before Alaska last year (knowledge, luckily, I never had to use).

Might I also recommend a road service. I swear by CoachNet and just renewed for a little more $$ over the POS offered by my new insurance carrier. They cover your car and RV. Several months ago, Vickie (the pesky one, not the nice one(s)) got stuck in my yard with her huge rig (through NO fault of my own) and CoachNet was there within like an hour and yanked 'em out (did I mention that they have a HUGE rig AND I live smack-dab in the middle of nowhere). Then a couple of weeks later, I had a flat on my little car in the garage. They were there and changed it in 45 minutes. I LOVE them.

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my fifth wheel has a spare and I can't imagine NOT having one, like Mitch said, if a flat can't be fixed, you'll need
another tire, and theres the size issue too.

And you will have to pay whatever the charge..... If you don't have your own tire. My rig didn't even come with a spare and I did okay for several years until I wanted to make the trip to Alaska. I bought new tires put one of the used ones on a new wheel and for $200 had it attached under the carriage of the rig. I have the tire and the folks from Coach Net can put it on for me!

So is Coach Net in addition to my AAA premier RV service or instead of and better? Good to know these things before renewal time. Nice to be warned that I can't believe everything I read on other sites, like about not bothering with a spare. A friend of a friend recommended I take two if possible, If I go to Alaska.
But if I have to put my bicycle inside, and the dog, too, if he ever finds me, I'll definitely need a tent for myself!
(Front bumper? Roof with a wench? No, not Vicki, Mitch, the other kind!)

If you have a flat without a spare you are at the mercy of the tow/tire company. I can tell you from experience that they will probably show up with a used tire at a new tire price. I had a blow out on a bridge one time and they wouldn't even tow me off the bridge. I didn't say it but thought it's your life if you want to change a tire with trucks passing a foot away. Anything you can do to speed up the process would be good unless you want to spend a half a day messing with tires. I wouldn't travel without a spare and I couldn't even pick up one of my tires to change it. I had a blowout in the country one time and a farmer changed the tire for me.

I swear by Coach-Net too. I have never talked to anyone that had the AAA RV Service so don't know how they are. I had the Good Sam service for years and finally got fed up with them.

Martha

I would not be without a spare tire. I had both my spare tire and a bike rack on the back, so that's doable also.

Coach net or good sams roadside service. AAA will claim they are a good, but do not believe them.

And you do not need two spares for Alaska.

Bethers wrote:I would not be without a spare tire. I had birth my spare tire and a bike each on the back, so that's doable also.
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You birthed a spare tire AND a bike in the back of your RV?

Darn, you corrected it, but I copied before you did!

VickieP wrote:

Bethers wrote:I would not be without a spare tire. I had birth my spare tire and a bike each on the back, so that's doable also.
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You birthed a spare tire AND a bike in the back of your RV?

Darn, you corrected it, but I copied before you did!

Haha, and you made sure everyone else will see it too. I love my phone typos.

VickieP wrote:

Bethers wrote:I would not be without a spare tire. I had birth my spare tire and a bike each on the back, so that's doable also.
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You birthed a spare tire AND a bike in the back of your RV? !

Which was a more difficult birth? I'm thinkin' the bike - 2 tires.

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Lopo wrote:So is Coach Net in addition to my AAA premier RV service or instead of and better? Good to know these things before renewal time. Nice to be warned that I can't believe everything I read on other sites, like about not bothering with a spare. A friend of a friend recommended I take two if possible, If I go to Alaska.
But if I have to put my bicycle inside, and the dog, too, if he ever finds me, I'll definitely need a tent for myself!
(Front bumper? Roof with a wench? No, not Vicki, Mitch, the other kind!)

Okay, back to serious - you need to compare the two policies to see which is the best deal for both your auto and RV.

But I certainly believe in carrying a spare. IF space/weight is not an issue, two to AK could never hurt. Two in the lower 48 might be overkill if all other tires are in good shape.

The spare tire is mounted on the back of our travel trailer. We had a hitch installed on the back of our trailer so we could use our Yakima bike rack. It is hitch mounted and curves out and away from the trailer with sufficient clearance for the spare tire (the rack does not lean or brace against the trailer). The nice part is that it's a swing away rack, making it easy to get to the spare tire without removing the bikes. Security is good because the rack is locked into the hitch and a chain secures the bikes to the rack and the trailer frame. The rack can be unlocked and moved to our tow vehicle once we unhitch in camp.

There is no reason you cannot keep your spare tire (which is a safety feature) and have a bike rack. This company has a variety styles, including one that mounts directly into the center of your spare tire.

Linda, which company has the rack that fits into the center of the spare? Soinds like what I need. The problem with the hitch racks is that I can't move my spare far enough to either side (ladder to the left and license plate to the right) to allow a hitch shank to protrude below the tire - by like an inch. Grrrr. I've tried every style except the rack that hangs fright onto the tire, and Ivr never seen the kind that would use the spare tire bolt. (And no way can I even lift one of the tires/wheels so I'll always require help if I get a flat.)

Beth, I've found AAA's Premier service to be very good.. You go to the head of the line with Premier. Even have a separate phone number.)

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Lopo, I just googled image searched RV BIKE RACKS - holy moly - lots of them.

I have no idea about the details you guys are discussing, but maybe looking at all those pictures will reveal something you might be able to use or have adapted to use?

Just thinking here over morning coffee. Back to your regular programming.

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