Aug 17,2023
There is nothing worse than getting stranded in the middle of nowhere with a flat tire and no spare. The situation becomes even more frustrating if you are a truck driver carrying cargo over a long distance.
Getting stuck with no spare tire not only delays you but also increases the risk of getting robbed or kidnapped if you are passing through an insecure route or carrying valuable cargo. So it is always to take necessary precautions and carry a spare tire.
When it comes to carrying a spare tire in your vehicle, a vital factor to consider is the space available. A spare tire occupies considerable space, and not all types of vehicles have the abundant space available to accommodate a spare tire in their cargo space.
This is especially true for trucks where the cargo space is mainly used for carrying cargo and carrying a spare tire means sacrificing valuable cargo space.
If you are confused about where to store your spare tire, then don't worry because, in this blog, we are going to discuss various spare tire mounts or racks, depending on your vehicle structure.
Whether you are driving an off-road truck, semi-truck, trailer, or car, you will find a variety of spare tire mounts that cater to each vehicle type.
A popular place for a spare tire mount for jeeps and SUVs is at the rear bumper. A bumper mount is attached to the bumper using U-bolts. Bumper spare mounts come in a variety of designs.
They are usually constructed from steel. A swing-out mount is one design type that securely bolts the spare tire to the rear of the SUV. Bumper mounts
There are upsides and downsides to placing the spare mount at the back of your jeep. The upside is that it is really convenient to detach the tire quickly compared to roof-type mounts or truck bed mounts.
Moreover, a wheel at the rear complements the style of the jeep and does not spoil the look of the jeep.
The downside is that a rear tire mount is not secure enough to prevent theft of the spare tire. Also, a rear tire mount means that your rear visibility from the inside of your jeep is partially blocked by the tire.
Your rear bumper or the rear door of the jeep to which the spare mount will be attached should be strong enough to tolerate the weight of the tire; otherwise, it is not a wise decision to go for a rear spare mount.
If you are looking for a convenient place to store your spare tire without compromising your cargo space, then installing a roof rack for a spare tire on your vehicle roof is an excellent option.
The positive thing about roof racks is that they can store even large tires without a problem. Another upside of roof rack is that it is inexpensive to install.
A spare roof rack is adaptable to any vehicle type. So installing a roof spare tire rack for semi truck, jeep, pick-up truck, and sedan is equally applicable and convenient.
A rooftop tire looks stylish on tops of jeeps and pajeros, although it is not visually appealing on car rooftops. A major factor to consider is that the roof needs to be thick enough to accommodate the roof rack.
This can be a negative aspect as modern truck roofs are not solid enough to bear the weight of a heavy tire. Another con to installing a roof rack is that the tire will be exposed to UV radiation.
And having a spare tire on the rooftop means that taking it down can become a hassle since a spare truck or Jeep tires are not exactly lightweight.
Truck owners have an additional alternative of storing spare tires in the truck bed. This is a common place for a spare mount. Since a truck bed has plenty of space, you have many choices to place the spare mount that does not obstruct your rear visibility.
Moreover, you can experiment with various mount designs, starting from a simple drilled hole to elaborate bolt mechanisms.
But truck owners need to think carefully about where to place the spare mount; otherwise, the truck bed space can become completely occupied by the tire, making the truck completely useless for carrying cargo.
For a trailer or semi-truck, where practicality is the main concern, a spare mount can be placed anywhere. This is not the case for jeeps and cars where installing a spare mount that is too visible can spoil the beauty of the jeep.
Tongue and frame mounts are a type of spare wheel carrier that is quite suitable for semi-trucks as they can be placed anywhere on the vehicle.
The mounting mechanism consists of an attachment to one side of the trailer beam and a couple of long pieces that poke from the other side.
Screwing bolts fixes the trailer beam between the bolts. Some versions also come with U-bolts that can be attached to the back or side of the semi-truck.
Size of the Spare
A crucial aspect of deciding on installing a mount is the size of the wheel.
Many off-road enthusiasts install larger tires than factory-fitted ones for tackling tough terrains. Many off-roaders are into off-road racing and install larger tires.
This essentially means that they would need larger spare mounts, and the built-in spare mount would not be suitable enough to hold the tire. Instead, they would need to attach a custom spare mount that can adequately store the large tire.
You also cannot overlook the fact that the spare tire's weight depends on its size, and out of all the factors, it could potentially have the most significant impact on where the spare tire can be placed. To begin with, larger tires are more difficult to lift and handle.
It's not uncommon for drivers to suffer from back injuries due to handling tires. If you attempt to lift a 37-inch Kevlar M/T R tire onto the roof of your jeep, you'll quickly realize the amount of stress it takes on your back. So you cannot neglect the weight of the tire while selecting a spare tire rack.
