Hello our caravan did not come with a spare wheel so I would like to get one.
Being a techno numpty how do I know what to get? I know that the tyre on my wheels are 165R14 and they are steel wheels. does that tell me the wheel size, and where would I then get one from suitable for a caravan?
Do people carry a spare in the front locker if there isnt one.
Hello, you need to check how many studs the wheel has, 4 or 5 stud and the hub diameter. Often referred to as small or large.
Ebay or free ads on here is a good place to look
as well as gumtree.
Might be a stupid question but have you looked under the back of the caravan for the spare wheel? My caravan spare is secured under the back.
Do people carry a spare in the front locker if there isnt one.
Thanks
I used too but it's a pain. Get an under sling spare wheel carrier, make sure the tubes are well greased and it will always just be there for when you never need it. My van is twenty one years old, never used the spare, but would not be without it. Did once use a spare on a TT before the caravan though. Don't forget a jack and wheel wrench as well.
It might be difficult to source a secondhand wheel of correct size. The hole spacing(known as PCD)& offset(position of hub relative to rim)have to be correct. There should something like 4.5J ET 30 stamped on rim to guide you.
It will be a standard caravan size wheel, you are unlikely to find a car wheel of same size. Best place for s/h will be ebay etc, caravan breakers are worth a try but usually unhelpful. A new wheel of correct size will probably be stocked by any large caravan showroom cost £30 odd for rim without tyre.
I have a 4 studded steel rimmed wheel with plenty of tread but I have just checked the tyre size and it's a 165/80 x 13 otherwise I may have been able to help.
I am even more at a lost now. I dont mind buying a new one, when I google the tyre size though and look on ebay nothing comes up for the wheel. They all seem to be 165 R13 as mentioned by tango55 (thanks BTW)
I will check how many studs and writing on my actual wheels when I next go down
As far as I am aware, pressed steel rimmed wheels are normally 13" and they didn't increase the diameter to 14" until the wheels were manufactured from Aluminium alloy. Are you viewing the size of the existing tyre or measuring the diameter of the wheel? If you are checking the diameter of the wheel from rim to rim it will measure 14" but the size 13" is actually on the inside of the rim where the tyre seals.
14inch steel 4 or 5 stud is a normal caravan size wheel. Caravans with 14inch alloys have a steel spare. If the op does not understand wheel sizing, best idea would be to go to caravan shop with one of the existing wheels so they can match up for you.
Even if you do source a secondhand wheel, usually about £15 generally best you can hope for is correct sized wheel & wrong sized or perished tyre so maybe easier just to buy new rim.
If your caravan tyres are a few yrs old it might be good to replace them anyway so perhaps easiest for you to buy a new rim, fit new tyre & another new tyre to other rim then other old rim & tyre into spare.
I'm not sure 165x14 size is even obtainable now. If this size is on caravan they must be yrs old & should be replaced or they could fail on the road. The nearest size available is 165/70x14 which may have insufficient load rating for caravan depending on size of caravan.
If it is an old caravan fitted with 165x14 then you could probably go to 175/80R14C which would have sufficient load rating for most caravans.
The tyres on it were fitted brand new when we bought the van last year - and look new. I now realise I should of asked them to get a spare too but at the time I had so much to take in I didnt think about wheels.
Unfortunately the dealer is too far to go back to.
Post up the actual size as marked on tyre, is it literally just 165Rx14? if so it sounds like a very old tyre size. What year is caravan & what weight is it?
My caravan is a 2005 Elddis Firestorm 505, (a dealer special based on an Avante 505) its MIRO is 1149 and MTPLM 1350.
The actual writing on the side of the tyres on it is 165R14c
I have checked the technical spec and it refers to those tyres so they are the right one. I tried to work out how to put the link in but cant...ooo here we go
Ah! found some, e-tyres have the size, not all are sufficient load rating for you. 97 is what you want so 165/80R14 97C 8 ply. As I said, a caravan shop should stock correct rim so buy one & then get e-tyres to come round & fit tyre.
Total cost will be just under £100 but I'm guessing chances of sourcing secondhand are just about zero, until you have bought new wheel/tyre, then probably ebay will be full of them.
Thanks Tentz now to find the correct rim... we live in the middle of a field no dealers anywhere near. It would have to be a trip out and my hubby wouldnt fall for the "I just want to get a wheel I promise not to look at vans" I've been reading the forum long enough to suspect I'd end up coming back with a new van (one that has a spare wheel LOL)
The thought of changing a wheel makes me feel sick. There is no way I would do it or want my hubby to. TBH I am trying to suppress my nervous neris side to caravanning and towing. The more I think about wheels, tyre pressures nose weight etc the more I think about a seasonal pitch. It would alleviate most of my worries (apart from the cost)
If you go in a normal tyre supplier and explain what you need can they supply or did I read on here they have little clue about caravans?
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