Spare Wheel- does everybody carry one?

[woobergoober]

Just wondering if everybody out there carries a spare wheel with them.

I have one that I keep in my box; fortunately, I have never gotten a load that took up all the space, so I did not have to find a different place for it. And that brings me to my first question:

I look at lots of Expediters, and never seem to be able to locate a spare wheel rack underneath the chassis, like a semi trailer has. Do most guys carry a spare inside the box, like myself?

Second of all, most people do not have the capabilities to run an impact gun on the road, so what kind of equipment to you use for breaking lug nuts loose. And also, how about a jack?

I have a spare which is fine and dandy, unfortunately, I do not have the jack and tools for the lug nuts. I am actively calling around trying to find some equipment. Alot of good that spare will do me if I have no means of changing it.

Scott

[Twmaster]

I recently bought a speare for Big B but have yet to find a place to stow it as it really is in the way inside the box. And like you I need to find a jack that will carry well and not be in the way.

My hat is off to both GM and Morgan for making the issue of a spare just a treat to deal with. <smirk>

[merkurfan]

In my D I do carry a spare wheel, but not tire. My mack has "special" wheels that most tire service centers would not have. So if I bend one. I would be screwed. Because it is just the wheel it fits most anywhere. it is tucked up under the truck between the frame rails. Can't even see it. I don't see a point in carrying the whole thing, it's heavy, the jack is heavy, and the lug nuts are so tight you need a pretty strong impact or long breaker bar. With so many tire service companies now it's easier to call them to deal with a flat.

In my B the spare is mounted where Ford put it. Under the floor of the van just in front of the rear bumper. Had to chase it down once, the cable that held it rusted and broke and off in to the beans my spare went. Man can those things cover some distance when they get rolling. figured I had better find it, it was a near new tire and I did not what some expensive piece of farm equiptment eating it.

[D_Green]

Delivering to the drilling rigs, most of which are off the beaten path, I learned to carry a full spare & tools. A flat on the rear is not so bad, but a flat on the steer can leave you sleeping with the coyotes. :)

A small 6 ton hydraulic jack, a piece of 12x12x2" oak board, & my homemade lug wrench take up very little space in my off-side tool box. I made the lug wrench by welding an impact socket in the end of a 2" pipe, & slotted the opposite end to accomodate my cheater for the chain binders. Only used it once, but was glad to have it.

The spare is in a rack beneath the truck.

[woobergoober]

Well, I cant tell you how many times I have been out in the boon docks, on a Sunday night, in the middle of the cold.

Can you guys imagine the service charge for having a truck come out and fix your wheel under those conditions.

My ole man (now you can believe about 50% of what he says) told me of his horror story tire blow out, and he pretty much convinced me that it is a necessity. Mind you, he does drive an 18 wheeler and pulls a flatbed, so the space for carrying a spare is not an issue like it is for us.

I think I am going to take my digital camera with me when I leave in the morning, and maybe snap a couple pics of how the semi trailers have their spare wheel rack mounted.

It could not be that hard or expensive (I dont think) to fabricate a rack out of steel, or pay to have it done.

Scott