No Spare Wheel!!

[Teuchter]

In the throes of purchasing a new Knaus Sky Ti 700 MEB Fiat motorhome I find that there is no spare wheel supplied and apparently that's the "norm" now!! Instead you get an emergency inflation kit containing some sort of sealant to "get you home"

Anyone actually used one or heard of one being used?

Anyway I definitely need a spare wheel and some method of carrying it!! - any ideas ?

I will put up with weight penalty

 

[Puddleduck]

Anyway I definitely need a spare wheel and some method of carrying it!! - any ideas ?

I will put up with weight penalty

That's what I thought ... and then thought "Well I couldn't change the wheel myself anyway" so got breakdown cover ... (there is also specialist tyre change insurance, leaflets in many dealers) might put a spare tyre in (sans wheel) if going way off the beaten track but as I would have to call someone out to change a wheel I don't see any point in carrying one. I also wouldn't use the gunk unless desperate.

 

[Teuchter]

Oh and yes I have read the other threads on the subject but would still like help

 

[trekkin]

Hi

It's not just the spare wheel you need and the weight penalty that goes with it, it's also the substantial mounting bracket along with jack, brace tools etc. which may eat considerably into your storage space and payload along with the act of having to change the wheel at the roadside

Why not consider carrying a spare tyre and call out the mobile fitters to fit it for you, less stress and maul, tyre can be stored and items packed around/inside,

Lot less weight

 

[keith]

The way the world is going, make something, leave a vital part off then let the unsuspecting buyer pay extra for it.

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[Teuchter]

That's what I thought ... and then thought "Well I couldn't change the wheel myself anyway" so got breakdown cover ... (there is also specialist tyre change insurance, leaflets in many dealers) might put a spare tyre in (sans wheel) if going way off the beaten track but as I would have to call someone out to change a wheel I don't see any point in carrying one. I also wouldn't use the gunk unless desperate.

My fear is having a puncture on some motorway or road home or abroad and being out of range of phone signal - I could change the wheel OK - but not if I don't have one

 

[Puddleduck]

Why not consider carrying a spare tyre and call out the mobile fitters to fit it for you, less stress and maul, tyre can be stored and items packed around/inside,

Lot less weight

Exactly. If you have to call your breakdown service and tell them it's a puncture, no spare wheel but a spare tyre they can either ensure they carry a mobile fitting unit with them or will take the flat away and come back to fit it
Our car has a "get you home" tyre and that is rubbish as well.

 

[Manic]

I would think most 'Breakdown cover ' would need you to supply a spare wheel/tyre.

 

[Puddleduck]

My fear is having a puncture on some motorway or road home or abroad and being out of range of phone signal - I could change the wheel OK - but not if I don't have one

Last puncture (but one) I got was on a remote rural road (in the car). The police were in attendance before the breakdown people, someone in a car going the other way had let them know even though I was in a field entry and off the road.

Breakdown service refused to fit the "get you home tyre" as he said they weren't safe in his opinion and recovered the car to a local garage. Off and away within 30 minutes with two new tyres on the back as the other tyre had been damaged as well (barbed wire on road following hedge cutting the garage said)

On a motorway there are emergency telephones if you need them.

Haven't done "foreign" in this van but previously we had a blow out and the breakdown service sent a mobile fitter to put a new tyre on.

 

[Teuchter]

Exactly. If you have to call your breakdown service and tell them it's a puncture, no spare wheel but a spare tyre they can either ensure they carry a mobile fitting unit with them or will take the flat away and come back to fit it
Our car has a "get you home" tyre and that is rubbish as well.

Good idea - however if I carried a spare tyre but no spare wheel I'm not sure that the average roadside recovery wagon - AA, RAC, Red Pennant etc has the facilities to remove the old tyre and fit the new one but I don't know for sure

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[rangi]

Took mine out from under put it in the locker/"garage" Try a wreckers, and I think ShiftZZ got one from Germany a fair while back now

 

[Deleted member 29692]

I'm not sure I would be comfortable lifting something that big on a jack small enough to sensibly carry.

 

[34127]

If you use these emergency inflator kits is there a problem in getting the tyre repaired. I know of one person who was told that since the tyre contained a contaminant ie the sealant, then it can't be repaired as any internal patch won't adhere to the tyre wall. Don't know if this a common problem or a garage trying it on to sell a new tyre but worth looking into.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

If you use these emergency inflator kits is there a problem in getting the tyre repaired. I know of one person who was told that since the tyre contained a contaminant ie the sealant, then it can't be repaired as any internal patch won't adhere to the tyre wall. Don't know if this a common problem or a garage trying it on to sell a new tyre but worth looking into.

That is what almost all tyre places will tell you. It's the same for cars and everything else, not just motorhomes.

How true it is I don't know but it doesn't really matter, if they've all decided they won't repair anything with sealant in it then thats the end of that. Nobody can force them to.

 

[Zains Pops]

My fear is having a puncture on some motorway or road home or abroad and being out of range of phone signal - I could change the wheel OK - but not if I don't have one

Be careful with the idea of roadside wheel changing. The supplied jacks are usually rubbish, and not fit to lift a fully loaded motorhome. The wheel nuts will be torqued up to 200nm and will take some loosening. Follow the HGV guys and use the specialists and keep the space and weight for beer.

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[Judge Mental]

[QUOTE="Teuchter, post: 14 some motorway or road home or abroad and being out of range of phone signal - I could change the wheel OK - but not if I don't have one[/QUOTE]


Good luck with that on a fully loaded van....with the small jack supplied

I have a spare, next van will just carry tyre only

 

[ALI G]

In the throes of purchasing a new Knaus Sky Ti 700 MEB Fiat motorhome I find that there is no spare wheel supplied and apparently that's the "norm" now!! Instead you get an emergency inflation kit containing some sort of sealant to "get you home"

Anyone actually used one or heard of one being used?

Anyway I definitely need a spare wheel and some method of carrying it!! - any ideas ?

I will put up with weight penalty

Would not be without mine. Check underneath just behind rear wheels if the space is clear a standard chassis cab wheel carrier will fit the threaded holes are all there. Just do a search on ebay for fiat ducato spare wheel carrier. and also for the spare wheel.

 

[Brian and Jo]

Having worked in the tyre industry for 42 yrs I have had a lot of first hand experience about how stressful and time consuming tyre related breakdowns are.i personally would not buy a motorhome without a spare wheel (just my preference) we are awaiting delivery of a new motorhome and we have ordered a spare wheel as an option,ok it is an extra expense but for me its peace of mind. we are in the RAC Arrivals breakdown scheme,and they insist on a spare wheel for tyre breakdowns.it doesn't take long to change a wheel but to be recovered to the nearest tyre dealer,and then you cannot be sure they would have the tyre you require in stock,could be very time consuming.just my views .
Brian & Jo

 

[scotjimland]

Would not be without mine.

likewise.. would not be without mine either, whether I could change or not, but as it happens I could ..
I carry a 5ton bottle jack, axle stands, spider and torque wrench

even when I had an RV with 22" rims , (think coach size) I carried a spare, and also spare valves.. and used it in France..

if you don't carry a spare wheel, carry a spare tyre..

 

[Puddleduck]

Good idea - however if I carried a spare tyre but no spare wheel I'm not sure that the average roadside recovery wagon - AA, RAC, Red Pennant etc has the facilities to remove the old tyre and fit the new one but I don't know for sure

They might not but can either recover you to someone who can or will take off the affected wheel and take it to be fitted with your tyre.

I know I would be unable to change the wheel so it's a bit academic for me anyway

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[pappajohn]

Things may have changed in the last 13 years but when i did breakdown recovery a stipulation by all the major b/d clubs was a servicable spare wheel must be available or no cover was offered for punctures etc.

In reality we would take the flat wheel, if no spare, to the nearest garage for repair at the drivers expense then return and fit....but we werent obliged to.

 

[Larrynwin]

If on a Sunday or bank holiday you could have a long wait to get a tyre fitted to a wheel.
I always carry a complete spare to be sure I'm on the move quickly.
The repair liquid is no good at all if a tyre has left the rim or shredded.

 

[Minxy]

I've got some new wheels and tyres for sale if you're interested:

• Steel wheels fitted with Bridgestone Duravis R630 215/70 R15C Tyres (Light Truck 109/107S - 65psi) - rated for MH use

We bought them from a place which removed them from a new Fiat Ducato based MH to fit a new set of alloy wheels/tyres so they have only had about 10 miles 'rotation' on them if that!

As we're changing our PVC we won't need them as our new one has 16" wheels!

Looking for £100 each.

 

[Peter A Forbes]

Spare tyres are like insurance, you rarely use them but they are really useful when you 'really' need them.

No quibbles, we carry a spare wheel, 10 ton jack and 2 pieces of 2" thick Oak planking for soft ground. If running into Europe we'll also carry an extra tyre only.

If you think your supplied jack is unsuitable, get a better one!

Peter

 

[cruiser]

I will stick with a proper spare wheel.

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[jockaneezer]

Got a bad puncture when tugging in Cornwall, fitted the spare and went to a local garage to get a replacement, "that'll be £110 Zurrr"
I waited till I got home and got one fitted and balanced for £55.
Always carry a spare

 

[Popeye]

I purchased a spare soon after I bought my old van and I ordered the new one with a spare, the tyre specialists I deal with at work won't repair a tyre that's been filled with "Goo".

If you're after a Ducatto 16", never been on the road, steel valve and balanced, I also want £100 for it.

I also purchased an 8 tonne hydraulic Bottle jack which is now for sale because of the poor quality of the jack that came with the Old van, and as the new MoHo is having Hydraulic levelers fitted on Tuesday.

 

[Chris]

We had a blow out in our last van without a spare.

It was a real hassle.

After I persuaded ( threatened) the AA to come to me I had to go for a drive with the AA chap to find a garage that was open. It was 5 pm on a Friday and everyone was closing. It worked out but if it hadn't I would have been waiting for hours for a mobile tyre fitter assuming that they had a tyre to fit.

Get a spare fitted.

 

[Mel]

I always insist on a spare wheel.
I made sure my two daughers bought cars with a spare wheel.
I would not leave home without one.

 

[Teuchter]

Thank you all for your replies (keep em coming!)

I have a 4 ton bottle jack and a "man sized" torque spanner so I am going to get a spare

I have not yet taken delivery of the van (next Wednesday) so I don't know the wheel size 15" or 16" or if there is provision foe a spare to be fitted however - watch this space!!

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