I Dropped The Spare Yesterday

jake1530 · April 27, 2008

I saw a post few days ago about replacing the tire. It got me thinking; if and when I need it some parts might be rusted. So yesterday I dropped it, cleaned off all the sand, and made sure the pressure in the tire was good. I also put some white lithium grease on the rim where the holder meets it. I also sprayed the cable with a good lubricant, sprayed up into the winch part, and sprayed some in the opening on the bumper (the tube). All in all, no problems, I just hope I never have to do it while it is snowing or raining. Truck is three years old. Thought you might like to know how it went, take care Jake.

sulman · April 27, 2008

That's a really good idea. I think I'll do the same.

slimjim2525 · April 27, 2008

That's a really good idea. I think I'll do the same.

Yeah, me too. Maybe an annual maintenance thing?

Metro12 · April 27, 2008

Annual check and maintanence on the spare is a must do. Especially if you live in the NE, where we salt the winter roads, where there are dirt/gravel roads, or if you go off road. Rust, salt, dirt/dust, all are not going to be good when you need to drop that spare!!

unit731 · April 27, 2008

I guess it depends on where one drives or lives.

I took the spare off my 2008 and placed in storage.

I haven't had a flat in over 20 years with probably 11 different vehicles. I did have one slow leak (nail) in my 1990 Chevrolet 1500. And the spare tire - always on truck - looked rusted and aweful. Still might have worked as held air.

Yes, I could get a flat at 02:00AM night in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone access. Worse case, I sleep in back of truck til morning. But then again, I am never on road at 02:00 AM at night.

The last flat I did have, I just had car towed to nearest tire store. Got AAA. And this is before cell phones.

Then again, if you have grandma, mom, or kids constantly riding with you, I would leave spare tire on truck.

Zembonez · April 27, 2008

I took the spare off my 2008 and placed in storage.

HAHA! That's a gutsy move!

I don't go so far as to remove the spare, but I have literally never removed a spare from one of my trucks. I can only think of a couple of flats ever. Two that come to mind were flat in the driveway one morning so I aired them up and headed for the tire store. If I ever do have one on the road, I'll just call a tow truck... Safer than risking getting run over on the highway changing a flat!

Now hopefully this plan works out! I do keep a breaker bar and socket for my wheels in the truck. Just in case.

s-ten · April 27, 2008

My brother's 2000 had the spare rust up. Did everything possible to get it down and never did, he has to have it cut off.

Periodically checking them in salt states is a good idea, I have doubts that anywhere that does not have salt would ever have a problem.

unit731 · April 27, 2008

Opps!

I forgot one flat with my 1988 Mitsubishi 4 door sedan.

I had a cell phone.

I did get a flat on the interstate highway about 07:00 AM. Left side rear. I pulled over to breakdown lane.

Got jack out. And began to change tire.

Rush hour traffic. Speed limit 65 MPH. Well, these bastards would not slow down. I had people and tractor trailors wiz by me within inches as I attempted to change tire.

Forget it. All it takes is for one idiot to be half asleep and I'm dead!

I called AAA.

MS3DALE · April 27, 2008

I don't have to worry about dropping my spare if I ever need it,It sits in the bed!

Diabs · April 27, 2008

Mine is mounted winch style aswell. Need to check it out....looks pretty rusty...

I bought a tire kit with that punch and nylon worm string, for if you pull out a nail or screw. I used once on my Trailblazer, and it worked really well and took all of 5 min! Didn't even have to raise the truck!....come to think of it...

I was at the gas station when I did it...right beside the air hose!

I forgot to add I keep a small compressor also just for this reason.

dietz4ibanez · April 28, 2008

You must have been bored to check out the spare tire. I know that mine is good cause I get a free set of stock gm rims so I put a used BKG all terrain tire on one of those rims and put it in the spare tire spot on my truck and sold the extra rims on ebay!

BlackSilver · April 28, 2008

Depending on which wheel(s), I can run on two flats for a week or more if I have to!

jake1530 · April 28, 2008

Bored... no... preventative maintenance, yes.

pennzoil29 · April 28, 2008

I just call AAA. Knock on wood, I haven't had a flat in over 15 yrs.

mljenkins · April 28, 2008

Wish I could say the same about not having to use the spare. Was at work a couple weeks ago and the security guy comes and finds me and says my back tire was flat. Sure enough I ran over something somewhere that poked two holes in the tire. They patched it at the tire shop, but suggested not to drive on it as one of the stands on a belt was broken in the process. I just put it under the truck and am driving on the spare now.

A few months ago I had to drive on the spare after the Chevy dealer popped my tire pulling my truck up onto the ramps for routine maintenance.

Both times right before having to haul hay! UGH!

I need tires this winter so I am holding out until closer to fall and I will buy 4 new ones and then put my spare away, with 5K miles on it by that time.