issues with removing spare

[Blue Hammer]

Does anyone know of any issues with removing your spare from under the truck and leaving it empty? I did this on my last F150 and other than maybe letting more dirt up there it didn't seem to be an issue.

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[crazywayne311]

Other than allowing dirt up there I can’t see any other issue other than having to roll all that extra cable up not having a wheel there

 

[Samson16]

I figured out how to remove the lockset all by myself!

 

[Graygoose2021]

Nope...my Ram had 35x12.50x20s and spare wouldn't fit...so put in the bed. Took spare down, and removed entire setup under there to keep from rattling noises.

 

[Blue Hammer]

less weight as well

 

[Eric12775]

What’s your plan for when you get a flat?

 

[Snakebitten]

What’s your plan for when you get a flat?

What's a flat?
Heard my grandpa mention something once. ??

 

[Pedaldude]

In some vehicles, the spare functions as part of the crumple zone in a collision. Though I don’t think that is the case with pickup trucks and SUVs with an underslung wheel hoist.

Depending on which springs are in your truck; the ride might feel harsher without the extra weight behind the rear axle.

The last two times I’ve had a flat; I needed two spare tires. Stray pointy rocks are already a hazard in the desert but there’s also no concern here about securing cargo. So there’s the opportunity for all kinds of road hazards here.

I have a whole spare wheelset ready to go at any time. It’s also pretty normal to need a new windshield here every year or two. A few years back the insurance companies tried to pass legislation that would have made a windshield exempt from insurance coverage and to treat it like any other consumable item. That’s how bad it is!

One of the things that I’ve always done when I get a flat or two, is driven on them to a safe location, or even a tire shop. Too many people have been killed changing out their spare in a dangerous location because they stopped immediately after losing air pressure.

You can drive a mile or two easily at low speed on a flat, even if it’s an off-road tire and even farther with low profile tires.

Even if I’m riding on the rim, I’d rather pay for a new wheel than get hit changing a tire by some clueless buffoon hugging the shoulder with their face buried in their cell phone.

 

[Snakebitten]

I'm taking a spare or two if I'm going to be leaving pavement and/or away from mainstream access to roadside assistance for emergencies.

But for commuting or towing, especially if Payload recovery of the weight of the spare is valuable, it's a risk assessment that I'd deem worthy.

 

[Blue Hammer]

What’s your plan for when you get a flat?

Putting a 35" spare on the top of my overland rack

 

[EricR]

What's a flat?
Heard my grandpa mention something once. ??

Hey wait a minute here, you ARE the grandpa!

 

[Snakebitten]

Busted!

I am indeed. ?
And I was a licensed driver before the end of the common-to-have-a-flat era. I had a few.

But my memories of standing in the grass on the side of the road and watching grandpa or my dad perform the roadside flat tire ritual?
I was a baby in the 50's and kid in the 60's and 70's. Bumper Jacks and spares in the trunk were not elective. You needed them.

Neither my Mazdarati (Miata) or Porsche came equipped with them. Really an amazing implication if you think about it.

 

[turbopilot]

I'm taking a spare or two if I'm going to be leaving pavement and/or away from mainstream access to roadside assistance for emergencies.

But for commuting or towing, especially if Payload recovery of the weight of the spare is valuable, it's a risk assessment that I'd deem worthy.

You have said you pull camper trailers all the time. When I am pulling my Airstream I am taking along two spare tires, the one in back of the PowerBoost and a 16" spare under the front of the Airstream. To save weight I have considered leaving one spare at home when pulling a trailer. Since the F-150 spare won't fit in the well of the Airstream, would the 16" spare on the Airstream keep the F-150 going until I could find a tire shop?

 

[Snakebitten]

I doubt the Airstream wheel fits the F150 bolt pattern?

Actually, I'm an RV full-timer who lives in one RV that is based at home on 11 acres.
I have 3 other RV's that I tow when/if I travel. None of which are heavy and range from tiny (teardrop) to a small toy hauler for motorcycles or a 50" SideXside.

I haven't been traveling/towing for some time. Mostly because I'm surrounded by babies (grandchildren) and so disappearing for 30-60 days at a time isn't nearly as enjoyable.

 

[RossRR]

What's a flat?
Heard my grandpa mention something once. ??

Had my first in at least 30 years last fall while driving past a rural land fill site. Picked up a wire washing machine type hose clamp off the road. It was cold and rain/snowing and down right miserable sitting there on a field approach putting that spare on. Probably could have called for roadside assistance but it just seemed wrong to let someone else change my tire!

Closest service was a small Ford dealer 12 miles away so I drove there to get the tire fixed and as I was returning to my travel route I had to go past the landfill again. Met an uncovered dump truck hauling a bunch of trash, including some appliances to the landfill. I was surprised because in the city and suburbs, all the appliances get sent to recycling centers. This site was a good hundred miles from any large metro area.

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