[orton]

Suggest everyone practice removing the spare tire. I would hate to have to do it some rainy night without having practiced.

Lug wrench and jack handle are in compartment below passenger seat. The jack on cargo vans is under passenger seat. Pay attention how the lug wrench is stored. It is not obvious.

The spare tire is lowered with a cable using lug wrench to turn bolt under plastic flap in rear door threshold. Wheel lift plate that is attached to end of cable does not fit through the center wheel hole. You lift a plastic cap to disconnect the cable from the plate after wheel is on the ground. There is also a safety tether connected to the lift plate stud that must be unscrewed and disconnected.

Not difficult but would hate to try doing it for the first time at night.

 

[Longboard]

Does the lug wrench provided do the job? With the Sprinter guys had said not to even bother trying with the one that came with the van. I carried a long heavy duty breaker bar and socket following their advice, and of course never needed to use it. Maybe I'll do the rehearsal as you suggest.....that way I'll never end up having a flat!

 

[USMC Vet]

Anyone using a swing-away hitch mounted spare tire carrier?

Semper Fi

 

[alarmist]

Slime quick spare. Get a can. So much better than the other brands it's in a category of it's own. I don't even bother to plug tires I use it on. It's that good. After you use it, the next time that tire gets a puncture, you're already covered.

 

[orton]

Does the lug wrench provided do the job? With the Sprinter guys had said not to even bother trying with the one that came with the van. I carried a long heavy duty breaker bar and socket following their advice, and of course never needed to use it. Maybe I'll do the rehearsal as you suggest.....that way I'll never end up having a flat!

Do not know about the lug wrench on the wheel bolts. Flat end of lug wrench used to turn bolt under the plastic flap in rear door threshold. Will find out how lug wrench works on wheel bolts in 2500 miles at 7500 miles. I rotate all 5 tires. Does look more substantial than the Sprinter lug wrench that would bend before loosening the wheel nuts.

I needed to remove the spare to get access to a bolt above the spare. The bolt is one of two I drilled in the floor to anchor the centerline of my 80/20 floor frame to the Transit floor. Used two additional existing holes next to slider step and 7 of the D-ring tie down bolts on the perimeter of the 1/2" plywood floor.

 

[srwilson917]

I have tried to get my off several times during my build. I have yet to get it to come off. I guess I will just call a tow truck.

 

[orton]

I did not have a problem when I rotated tires at 7500 miles. The only trick is the safety restraint cable that needs to be disconnected.

 

[alarmist]

Carry some zip ties so you can just throw the flat in the back of the van and secure the retention and safety cables to whatever is handy. Or have some duct tape handy to secure the retention plate to the rim. Otherwise it's a lot more fun to get the cables connected.

 

[cargovanconversion]

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

[Budsky]

A few tips-
>1
The square drive that Ford wants you to stick the lug wrench in to lower the tire is a perfect fit for a 1/2" ratchet- much easier.

>2
Be sure you have pliers to release the thumbwheel holding the safety cable- mine was too tight to get loose with fingers- how'd you like to find that out in the dark and rain on the side of the road and you have no pliers?

>3
If you have a DRW like me carry a scrap of carpet to drop the spare on and drag it out- the protruding offset of the DRW rim is face down on the ground- you'll scratch it up good dragging it out without something for it to slide on.


Luckily I discovered all the above in my driveway doing a tire rotation and not on the side of the road in the dark and rain

 

[Sprinter_Owner]

I hear the spare tire is on a black rim, my 4 wheels are silver. Any one find a good rustoleum that is close in silver color, should this be the case? I would like to go with the 5 wheel rotation of my Vancos.

 

[orton]

All spare wheels are painted black. In 2015 the 64H option for $35.00 list gave you 4 black wheels on the ground with full plastic wheel covers. I traded the plastic wheel covers for the small black hubcaps. Now have black wheels and black hubcaps.

The spare has the same tire as the 4 on the ground but does not have a TPMS sending unit. Bought a Ford sending unit for the spare. The TPMS system now works when I rotate all 5 tires every 7500 miles.

 

[camp&ride]

Anyone using a swing-away hitch mounted spare tire carrier?

Semper Fi

I've got the Aluminess Rear bumper and swing-away tire carrier. It adds some bulk to the bumper area and sides behind the rear wheels, but is pretty functional. I used the spare tire space for a set of 4 6v agm batteries for camper. Nice & tidily tucked away.

 

[spider]

If you think it's a pain lowering the tire on a cargo van, you should try it on a cutaway, which is what I have. You have to crawl under the van and fit the end of the jack handle horizontally through a hole in the frame located less than a foot from the back of the rear tires. There's barely any clearance, so you end up giving it about a quarter turn before struggling to engage the end in the socket again. Total pain in the rear. I'll have to try out Budsky's suggestion and see if a 1/2" socket is any easier.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Sprinter_Owner]

All spare wheels are painted black. In 2015 the 64H option for $35.00 list gave you 4 black wheels on the ground with full plastic wheel covers. I traded the plastic wheel covers for the small black hubcaps. Now have black wheels and black hubcaps.

The spare has the same tire as the 4 on the ground but does not have a TPMS sending unit. Bought a Ford sending unit for the spare. The TPMS system now works when I rotate all 5 tires every 7500 miles.

I do not see any TPMS stems on my valves, just plain old rubber stems, which is a bonus to me. I guess I will have to find some silver paint, unless Ford makes it in spray cans?

 

[Sprinter_Owner]

Looks like this is the paint code
Color Code: M6389-W

Sparkle Silver.


http://www.paintscratch.com/touch_u...it-Sparkle-Silver-Effect-(Wheel)-M6389-W.html

 

[wilco_offroad]

Here's one other solution for carrying a spare tire that doesn't require a custom bumper.

 

[Bill_in_Tulsa]

Here's one other solution for carrying a spare tire that doesn't require a custom bumper.

Is the receiver still capable of towing a trailer?

 

[wilco_offroad]

Yes!

The Hitchgate Solo line is tow-rated at 7,500 lbs (max trailer weight) and 750 lbs (tongue weight), plenty for most people's needs.

Email [email protected]d.com for any questions, he is happy to help.

 

[Budsky]

All spare wheels are painted black.

The spare included with the DRW models is silver, just like the other 6. At least mine is.