Motorhome Mods: Fitting an underslung spare wheel carrier plus wheel and tyre
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- čas přidán 1. 03. 2023
- In Feb 2023 we travelled to Freckleton, which is just west of Preston, to have a tow bar fitted to our Mobilvetta motorhome by Mick Parkinson who is a specialist in this field.
Whilst there we were very lucky as the DPD man arrived with two spare wheel carriers for the Fiat Ducato, something we were planning to look at in the future. Mick very kindly allowed us to have one which he fitted there and then.
The carrier was from Halmerend Wheels & Tyres who are based in Stoke (see links below) and Mick recommended them for the spare wheel and tyre too. We ordered those after a measure up. Halmerend were excellent to deal with and advised us on the correct wheel and tyre.
Mick owns 'Motorhome Towbars' at ...
motorhometowbarslancashire.co.uk/
(m) 07887 997653
(W) 01772 634215
Halmerend Wheels and Tyres are at:
www.halmerendwheelsandtyres.com/
Halmerend Wheels and Tyres Ebay shop is at:
www.ebay.co.uk/str/halmerendw...
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Many thanks for this Bob, very helpful and informative, especially about the different PCDs. I would have preferred an alloy spare to save having to replace the repaired wheel back on the van, but you need a special adapter for the wheel carrier to take an alloy spare: not only are these quite expensive, but I could not find a complete 5 x 130 adapter anywhere - there are a few suppliers of the 5 x 118, though.
Many thanks indeed for that Philip and very glad it was useful. Yes I agree re the alloy - I also had a look but stuck with steel!! Thanks for watching 😁🚌👍
That was really useful information thanks guys for sharing getting are new Adria Sonic Supreme 700 DC in a couple weeks think it’s the same chassis as yours 🤞did you guys changed the front springs after fitting the airbags? and safe travels 😊
Many thanks for that Andre and very glad it helped, and your 700dc is a beautiful moho - bet you’re counting the sleeps and hours!! And yes very similar in a lot of ways to ours with the 4.4 Fiat. We haven’t changed the front springs yet as I wanted to give the VB Semi a good few miles to decide. I’m swaying towards NOT changing the front as the VB made a big difference to handling and I think I’m happy with it now. Tyre pressures might be the next thing to play with too before any front spring change as a lot of owners have experimented with different front pressures which has worked for them.
Thank you for your kind words can’t wait tyre pressures are very much overlooked just a couple PSI makes a great difference to the heading and feel of the vehicle I check my tyre’s on every other full tank of fuel it’s my golden rule.30yrs + using all types of leisure vehicles.keep it up guys you got a good channel there safe travels 😊
Nice, would it be worth getting a cover for the wheel to stop the dirt collection, also some grease on the moving parts.
Thanks Ian and Mick does a bit of white grease (like the towbar film) and I added a bit of WD when winding up :)
Not sure whether a cover would just shred as the wind gets it but it’s a possibility- we’ll see how 3 or 4 months go and re-evaluate when I’m underneath again :))
Having heard some horror stories highlighting the issues and delays if you don't have a puncture and no spare tyre, I went ahead and added one of these carriers. For the benefit of others, I'd already had a tow bar fitted and as Bob found, I had a couple of issues. The 1st one was that one of the brackets holding the winding mechanism to the chassis was fouling one of the strengthening plates added to the chassis for the tow bar. This was easily rectified by taking a small notch out. The other problem was that the plate also prevented me from inserting the wind down tool into the housing. The only way around this was to fix the bracket holding the winding mechanism with a single rather than 2 bolts which allowed it to pivot down just enough to insert the bar. While not ideal, the bracket is taking only the weight of the mechanism so very little in reality. It doesn't move when operating the winder so I'm comfortable it's secure enough.
Many thanks for that addition Gerard - some very useful additions to the film. We were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time when the wheel carriers arrived at Mick's place!! Even then it was a fiddly, but achievable, addition. We would all hope that we may never have to lower that spare tyre mechanism 'in anger' !! (But at least it is doable and I have tried, successfully, to practice it a couple of times - albeit a full EP levelling system would make it a LOT easier!!! - one day!!
Love you vids as you know, but when you put text on the screen can you fade it out from the top rather than the bottom. Im a slow reader and have to pause the video. By the way, have now purchased the spare wheel system from Halmer and in the process of upgrading to Truma iNet as a result of watching you. Many thanks for that and keep up the good work
Many thanks Kevin and really glad the films are useful :)) Yes I can lengthen the text time so will do :))
Good idea to carry a spare wheel but preferably in the garage. Think you'll struggle to remove the spare especially if you have a blowout on the o/s/r. Better calling breakdown recovery.
Many thanks for watching Mike :) It will indeed be a challenge if we have to use it 'in anger'. I'm hoping our piece of wheel bearing, that I showed in the other film, that gave us our only puncture to date will be my share for at least 5 years - does lightening strike twice?? ! :) I think I'll carry some sort of wooden ramp to lift one side of the van to make getting the wheel out easier rather than rely on the jack when I'm under there!!!
Dunna confuse people with the PCD measurements.
Light chassis 5 x 118
Heavy chassis 5 x 130
It’s as simple as that.
Morning Rob and thanks for watching. That's useful info too, but I was just adding to that - as some van owners that uprate their weights by adding air suspension and other mods to get their vans re-plated are sometimes in a grey area as to which to use or which wheel their chassis was originally fitted with hence I added the bit about PCD so they can be sure they choose the right one. Our thanks again for your addition :)
Is it that straight forward then Rob ? What constitutes light/heavy? Not so simples...
Another great vlog Bob…..Bob Vlog…..heck I’m a poet and I didn’t know it…….anyway enough of that I’ve mentioned to you before I too will not do without a full size spare but decided not to go down the underslung carrier route and decided instead to sacrifice some space in the garage and the wheel stands upright against the rear and secured in place.
Much easier to access stays clean and makes for a much quicker changeover in the event of a puncture.
But ultimately for me it was a safety reason didn’t particularly want to clamber about in the pouring rain and dark in the middle of nowhere underneath…..😂
You’ve mentioned payload and quite rightly so have you worked in addition to the spare wheel / tyre and carrier of this vlog the weight of all the air suspension parts …… the tow bar and its additional bar bracing….it as you know all really starts to mount up.
I’m guessing the trailer and bike don’t necessarily come under the payload considerations as such but it’s still a big addition to the available performance of the vehicle.
None of this is a criticism as I’ve mulled over doing all my self !
But once Mrs Rat had loaded ‘ Penelope’ Pilote with all her Hats …..coat……shoes…..Handbags……I had to dismiss the modifications 😂
Carry on the great work chap 👍
Morning P & T,
Another Dylan Thomas?
Yes I get the safety angle and did deliberate between the two options but now that I've messed about with it I was happy to keep the garage space!
Yes the additions to the van have added weight but we were lucky to have nearly 1100 kgs of Payload after going for the 4400 chassis.
VB : 17kgs Towbar and chassis upgrade : 40kgs Spare wheel and Carrier : 35kgs
So 92kgs added
You're right re the performance towing - it will affect the MPG which will be an interesting comparison on the next European trip.
The trailer scooter combination is around 280kgs so our gross train weight, when towing, is around 4.3 tons now with a limit of 6.4 overall.
We would never have managed with a 3650!! :)
Do you have a metal valve on your spare? It looks like a rubber one. If your tyre pressures are as high as most motorhomes - often 80psi on the rear- you should have metal valves.
Many thanks for that Brian and I will check - much appreciated and thanks for watching 😁🚌
Hello why is your rear brake disc so rusty? It looks as if the Caliper is seized
Many thanks for watching Stephen - as long as it works 100% it’ll hopefully be ok :))
I guess I just need to use the van a lot more - that’s a good excuse 😁
Doesn’t the steel wheel have different wheel nuts to the alloys, also I think you will find the steel wheel is not the same weight rating as the alloy, correct me if I am wrong.
Wheel bolts are the same for both.
Alloy is rated at 1250lg and steel is rated at 1350kg
Top man Rob and many thanks for that addition - I need to employ you :))
Yes there is a couple of kgs difference in weight between the wheels but @bobline it would be just to get me to the tyre garage for the repair so I can live with that for a short period of time.
Thanks to you both for commenting :))
Fiat confirms that the wheel nuts supplied for the alloys are suitable for the steel wheel.
100% would not be without a spare . Imagine a puncture in a remote place or on way to catch a booked ferry.
No breakdown service could sort quickly.. My problem was payload as my rear axle is always near its 2240 kg limit when we do europe .( Garage full of toys ) I put my wheel in the centre of the Fiat chassis therefore only putting a little extra on the rear axle as any weight behind axle add more that its weight to the axle. The other thing I did was fit a piece of plastic drainpipe under van .
I keep two bits of strong pvc sheet rolled up inside . Both full width of van by dia. of tyre and put then down under the wheel carrier,. Lower wheel and unclip, pull top one ...the wheel slides out.. Reverse to put back. I also fitted a long hose type valve to check pressure but you also need to release this as lowered. If anybody interested to see carrier in position
search Motorhome Facts Forum Got spare wheel under my Van LT Man
That’s some great mods Martin - like the pvc sheets!! 😁👍 Payload is always a challenge which was why we bought this one as it gave us nearly 1.1 tons payload!! Love your ideas 😁🚌
It’s not easy and practical..😢 0
Thanks for watching Karavan Ile Turlar :)
You're right it's not the easiest process but hopefully punctures needing a full wheel change are rare !!!
I think it’s a brilliant idea having a spare wheel. Just take a good pair of coveralls that you can put on to change the wheel. You never know when you’re going to get a puncture big style. I’ll send you a picture of a last van puncture.
Many thanks Wiggy and yes - that film we did of the bearing casing that went into our tyre made me decide to eventually do this upgrade. Yes to to the disposable coveralls in the garage!!