Best Spare Tire Location

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Now that I finally have a spare tire, I went out and bought the 10 dollar mounting bracket. but where the best place to put it (on a 2000 26X trailer) is not obvious. Since there is that diagonal bar between the horizontal and vertical structure, there is not enough room to clamp it horizontally on top of the frame. I'm concerned that if I mount it vertically on the side of the frame or horizontally below the frame, that it will hang too low and rub.

Where do you guys who have mounted your spare tire on the trailer put it? Anybody have any pictures of their setup? TIA

[Moe]

Our's is on the ladder:



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Moe

[Chip Hindes]

Looks like Moe's method works.

My suggestion would have been: Take the $10 bracket back where you got it and get your money back. Put that toward the Fulton "Hi-Mount" bracket; Fulton # STC1000101. West Marine, Model 389122, $25.

Don't have an easy way to post pictures, but mine is mounted right where you wanted to put yours; the mounted tire hangs about 2" below the frame rail.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Thanks for the quick responses and the pic. Sounds like those are the two best options. With the ladder position, I wonder if it compromises the ease of use of the ladder. I guess that would be obvious enough. My current bracket is one that is meant to go around the frame tube, so it is 3 or 4 inches wide at one side and then wide enough to go through the lugs of the wheel on the other side. Not sure if that type of bracket will work on the ladder mount position... Guess it will be a trial and error sort of thing.

[Max]

well, I just put mine in the cockpit as near as I can to the axle position on top of the deflated dinghy. Then when boat is launched, I padlock it anywhere on the trailer. Not much hassle lifting it in and out of the cockpit!
Max

[Max]

By the way, we keep getting the tail end of the hurricanes in Britain! That's bad enough - I can only imagine what it's like for you Florida folks. Good luck to you all. My parents-in-law are visiting their son who works in Philadelphia...and they're a bit worried up there!
Max

[Jack O'Brien]

I have one like Dimitri's - cheap and wide to go around the tongue. Only place to put it so tire would not drag on ground was on the ladder. Had to use a small piece of 2x4 wood as a shim as holder not threaded far enough. Tire sidewalls pulled against ladder side. Works ok. Can still use ladder.

[Tom Root]

For a mere 3 bucks, I bought a U-Bolt used for an axle and mounted it upright (vertical) right behind the ladder and few inches below the frame rail. It is very similar to Moe's pic, but lower. I matched it as close as I could with 2 of the holes and bent it out about 1/2" to match perfectly. The stiffener rod that attaches to the ladder is where I looped it around, and the tire faces the passenger side. (starboard). I applied alot of torgue and it stays put, no problems in over a year. It is about and inch forward of the bow when it is on the trailor. I suppose you could drill a hole and put a lock on it if needed. I put a heavy coat of black spray paint to the whole mess, and it looks good to this day!

Reverse the wheel, so that the outside of the wheel is facing the drivers side.(port) If you have it real tight it will not move at all. The studs are 8" long I believe, and they stick out a few inches. I suppose you could saw them off if you wanted to use a 4 way (star) lug wrench to remove and replace, but I will use a deepwell socket that I carry!