Check you spare wheel

[normanandsue]

Our mh is 2014 model and comes with a spare wheel which is mounted beneath our mh. It has never been used so I decided to have it checked. Took it to a local tyre company who found the wheel was padlocked with a rusted padlock which the key would turn so it had to be cut off. Glad to say spare tyre was brand new and fine, but had I not checked it I would have been stuck as there was no way I could have cut it free and unlikely any breakdown van would have the gear.

Speaking to the chap who sorted it for me, he said sometimes these spare wheel fastners can be rusted solid, so I am glad I sorted mine before we set off for Spain.
So a lesson learned to have it checked at least once a year

 

[Lenny HB]

Keep mine nice and warm in the garage.

 

[Puddleduck]

Good advice.

Our second motorhome had an under slung spare wheel and we never thought to check it properly when we bought the van, just checked the tyre tread was okay.

When we did need it we found the wheel was no good and not the correct size for the van. At some point the correct wheel had been swapped for a cheap and buckled wheel.

 

[Louis]

Our mh is 2014 model and comes with a spare wheel which is mounted beneath our mh. It has never been used so I decided to have it checked. Took it to a local tyre company who found the wheel was padlocked with a rusted padlock which the key would turn so it had to be cut off. Glad to say spare tyre was brand new and fine, but had I not checked it I would have been stuck as there was no way I could have cut it free and unlikely any breakdown van would have the gear.

Speaking to the chap who sorted it for me, he said sometimes these spare wheel fastners can be rusted solid, so I am glad I sorted mine before we set off for Spain.
So a lesson learned to have it checked at least once a year

Sorry to ask, but, how come the spare is brand new and the padlock rusted so much that you cannot open it ?

 

[two]

Tyres age, whether you use them or not. More so if left in the sun. Maybe you should've been rotating them (if you know what I mean ).

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[Manic]

Keep mine nice and warm in the garage.

Luck you

 

[normanandsue]

Sorry to ask, but, how come the spare is brand new and the padlock rusted so much that you cannot open it ?

Because it had been there since 2014 when my was new.

 

[normanandsue]

Tyres age, whether you use them or not. More so if left in the sun. Maybe you should've been rotating them (if you know what I mean ).

Know what you mean but a bit late now.

 

[normanandsue]

Tyres age, whether you use them or not. More so if left in the sun. Maybe you should've been rotating them (if you know what I mean ).

Not in sun as it's under mh. Checked tyre walls for signs of cracks, nor any air leaks, so put it back for emergency use.

 

[Louis]

Because it had been there since 2014 when my was new.

I get it ?

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[DavidG58]

Good tip ?

ours is also in the garage and hadn’t been used in the age of the vehicle ?

Until Monday this week, got MH out for service, we have a flat ?

got spare out, looked, albeit 2006 manufacture, perfect , totally unused and no cracks, I had regularly checked the pressure by thumping with my hand It bounced nicely when hurled out of garage, but when fitted was obviously very soft

took old wheel for new tyre once we found a screw through the tread ?? too much pressure to be repaired I was told and was fairly happy with as thetyre was 2 years old and 15K miles on rear of RWD ?

then swapped wheels back over, turns out that although hard and bouncy the tyre only had 12psi ? could have driven to garage as we have twin rear wheels but it has taught me to be more thorough with my checks ?

I am now planning to swap the other tyre on same axle making the removed 2 year old tyre the new spare on the unused rim ?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Some vans have had their spares swapped at some garages by unscrupulous employees, at over £100 a spare they make good targets for thieves.

 

[Theonlysue]

If you have alloys and carry a spare, chances are, its steel, so different length bolts might be required.