Spare Tire Mount on Casita SD

[Bob in Missouri]

Greetings, all
The spare tire on my 2014 Spirit Deluxe sits on the bumper. Looking around at other owners photos, it appears that most spares don't rest on the bumper. The solitary long bolt extending out of the rear body of my trailer for mounting the spare is currently (and I believe came this way from the factory), going through the hub of the wheel and then has the round fiberglass disc over it and the nut installed. I'm afraid to tighten the nut enough to hold the tire off of the bumper for fear of pulling that long shaft out of the body of the trailer. Should the tire be mounted that way?



I had thought of getting a bumper mounted tire carrier and getting the tire off of the body altogether, but have heard enough horror stories of that breaking the welds that hold the bumper tube onto the frame. I also considered adding the rear bumper support brackets and then using the bumper mounted carrier.


What are other members thoughts? should I just leave t and be good with it sitting on the bumper? The current mounting method makes foor an ugly tire cover as I can't tighten the nut and put the cover on afterwards as it won't go around the entire tire.


Thank you for your thoughts!

[jerrybob]

Leave it alone in my opinion.......it works fine as is. If you really want to change it out....look at the thread on the Casita Forum....lots of info there.

[Sammydog]

Hi I just remounted my spare. I used a long galvanized bolt(used for building a dock).Pull the carpet back to expose the bolt hole behind the dinette. Although it looked perfectly sound I was concerned about the strength of the fiberglass as my trailer is 2003(20years old!) I found a large washer about 3 inches to spread the force out. For the outside mount I cut half inch plywood in a circle sanded it and painted it grey. Looks great and yes the spare securely rests on the bumper but properly bolted through the trailer. I will try to send a picture

[Bob in Missouri]

I wondered if rather than put the long threaded rod through the center hub of the wheel, if i shouldn't be hanging the wheel by putting that long threaded rod through o bolt hole in the wheel, but thought that might break the rod through the body of the trailer. Mounting that way would make my spare look like the others I see out there.


I kind of like the idea on getting the spare off the body of the trailer, and wonder if I just need to get the receiver hitch and mount it on there. But, of course, now I'm getting more and more expensive! Which is totally me!

[Sammydog]

Mounting to both the trailer body(large through bolt) and spare resting on the bumper is the very best it gets! I tried to get a picture of mine. Mike

[Roland twodux]

[QUOTE=Bob in Missouri;854615]Greetings, all
The spare tire on my 2014 Spirit Deluxe sits on the bumper.

I thought about changing mine but for liability reasons decided to leave it alone.
The newer trailers have bigger heavier spares and it does give you something to think about.

[ShelbyM]

Originally Posted by Bob in Missouri

The current mounting method makes foor an ugly tire cover as I can't tighten the nut and put the cover on afterwards as it won't go around the entire tire.

Try putting the lower part of the cover on the tire, set it all on the bumper and secure with the nut. Then wrestle the rest of the cover over the tire. Still not easy but it won't go flying away on its own.