I have a Sterling Eccles caravan with a spare wheel in the
front storage compartment, question: do I remove it saving weight and a bit
more storage area, or leave it where it is?
Is there any point having it when
the AA are only a telephone call away?
You need to check the AA terms and conditions:
f) any additional charges resulting from Your failure to carry a legal and serviceable spare wheel(s) or tyre(s) (except where a spare wheel(s) or tyre(s) are not provided as manufacturers standard equipment). The AA will endeavour to arrange assistance from a third party on Your behalf, but will not pay for the cost of the call-out or any repair.
saxo1
A friend of mine used to travel with no spare.One Friday evening travelling on M4 heading for Cornwall holiday about 9 o'clock he had a blow out.Breakdown service came took wheel off, drove him to a tyre depot which he arranged to open up to fit a new tyre.Turned out a very expensive tyre with extra call out and labour costs.He has carried a spare ever since.
I'd leave where it is unless it's causing problems with excessive noseweight, which it shouldn't.
Read the small print on your breakdown policy, but I think any recovery service will only change a wheel if a suitable spare is available, if not they may send out a mobile tyre fitter whose prices you'd be committed to paying, or otherwise might take the van on a transporter to a tyre fitting shop?
I not be without a spare on a caravan. Even if you cannot change it yourself, the AA man can get you on your way in the time it takes to fit spare. No spare & a simple job turns into a nightmare. If spare is in the way then you can get a carrier to fit under chassis behind wheels. Your caravan service place can supply & fit this.
Wouldn't consider going anywhere without spare wheel for car,caravan or trailer.
I am still able to change a wheel on my own if required and can be on my way quickly.
I would imagine you could possibly have quite a wait for the A.A. or RAC etc at times.
------------- It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.
We use Red Pennant for our personal and breakdown cover when going to France. My previous car did not have a spare wheel (just the electric pump and tin of gunge). Red Pennant advised me that, if I had a puncture and required assistance, the absence of a serviceable spare wheel would incur a £100 surcharge. I would imagine this applies to the caravan as well as the car.
So I bought and carried a spare - when I changed the car, a properly stowed, full sized spare wheel in the spec was a condition of purchase.
Bertie.
Quote: Originally posted by trog100 on 10/1/2015
you could fit an under floor carrier.. it wont save weight but it will give you extra space in the front locker and take weight off the hitch..
trog
The Al-ko carrier is virtually useless. Depending where you have a flat, UK or Europe, you have the chance of either a grass verge/high pavement preventing extraction of the carrier, or risk of being killed if working in the roadway. Why haven't they thought of making the carrier so that it pulls out at the rear of the van?
Bertie.
I'd concur with Bertie. All the years I had an Alko carrier the spare lived in the car boot whilst in transit and in the shed whilst not. Virtually impossible to slide carrier out with a flat tyre on the near side and found I had to jack up the chassis before access was possible. This was on a Bailey Senator. Now have an Adria and the spare is under the bed accessible from either inside the van or from the outside via the side locker hatch. Keeps the wheel nice and clean and dry.............Mick
Imagine the scenario, it's Friday afternoon, you are on the way to a site for a weekend break, Puncture, AA man arrives and then rings around local tyre depots, yes we can get a tyre fitted.......on Monday morning.
Or
Dig the spare out of the locker, under the bed, Alko carrier and you are on your way in 10 minutes
Quote: Originally posted by Andy Higham on 10/1/2015
Imagine the scenario, it's Friday afternoon, you are on the way to a site for a weekend break, Puncture, AA man arrives and then rings around local tyre depots, yes we can get a tyre fitted.......on Monday morning.
Or
Dig the spare out of the locker, under the bed, Alko carrier and you are on your way in 10 minutes
Getting the spare off the Al-ko carrier in 10 minutes is an ambition in itself, never mind being 'on your way' in that time.
On our last van, I decided to use the spare wheel whilst renewing the main tyres, and this was (ha,ha) a straightforward operation on our driveway.
One difficulty was actually pulling out the carrier (which had been lubricated for the tubes to slide) - eventually having to remove the whole assembly prior to releasing the wheel.
The tubes were slightly bowed, and I can only think that this had happened over time due to the shock load of the wheel when less than smooth roads were encountered.
Bertie.
My caravan spare sits in the front locker and no noseweight issues. My caravan is designed to house the spare there.
I am obviously conscious of what else I put in the front locker but not really a problem.
------------- It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.
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Topic: Spare wheel or not a spare wheel
