How do you tour without a spare wheel ????

[tel]

Hi, I have never had a vehicle before without a spare wheel including cars a couple of vans and four previous motorhomes/campers. Is this normal in modern motorhomes? Do you carry a spare tyre and even an inner tube? I guess the breakdown insurance section will attend a puncture but surely if the tyre is bad, can or will they be able to pick the van up and take it to a garage? I have heard of "Fix & Go repair kits" recently and I think there maybe others to help matters. Sorry to sound so naive but you may have guessed I have a gap (except one recent panel van camper) since my previous camping days.

Cheers

 

[Spanner]

Is there a space behind the rear axle to fit a spare wheel on your van ?
If you're unsure have a look under another similar van to see where a spare wheel is fitted.

 

[andy63]

Normal enough on a new van for it to be supplied without a spare these days im afraid...
Some buy one and the necessary gear to do a roadside change others rely on their breakdown cover ..but its worth asking what service they would actually provide if they were called to sort out a flat if you dont carry a spare..
You takes your pick...
Andy

 

[pappajohn]

Some have a spare, some don't.
Don't forget, a spare is quite heavy and will eat into your payload......or that's the way the converter sees it, they can't see the inconvenience it causes not providing one.
You may be able to fit a carrier under the van depending on the layout of water tanks etc.
If your vann has a garage or large locker you might get one in there.
Even a spare tyre is better than nothing, breakdown co will always take you and the wheel to a garage to have fitted or call a mobile tyre fitter, and in my mind 100 times better than a can of sealer and a pump....as much use as a bag of crisps if you have a blowout.

 

[Lenny HB]

Would never consider travelling without a spare as if you have a puncture on a heavy vehicle the tyre is normally ruined before you can pull up safely. Also if you need a new tyre in France or Spain and they can't get one the same as your exsisting ones you will have to buy two so they are the same type on the axle.

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[Pete5996]

The reality is that, if you have a puncture on the move, it will almost certainly damage the tyre way beyond the capabilities of a can of sealer.

Something else to consider is that, if you're travelling in France and destroy a tyre, unless the mechanic can source an identical make and spec of tyre, there's a good chance you'll have to buy a pair. Motoring law there requires that tyres on the same axle must be identical in make and spec.

Whoops - Lenny beat me to it!

 

[mikebeaches]

To answer to the OP's question:

How do you tour without a spare wheel ????

Answer: With your fingers tightly crossed!

We did it around the continent for five years without incident with our previous van, but it was nerve-wracking...

Thankfully, current van has a spare wheel as standard - it became an essential requirement from my perspective.

We did however get a Tyrepal tyre pressure monitoring kit so we'd know very quickly if any of the tyres were losing pressure or overheating, which eased the stress very slightly (but not a lot).

 

[Barclaybasher]

Worry if you must .............but..............

When did you last have a puncture?

Can't remember mine.......about as likely as a camshaft failure.... (never had one).....

Touch wood...............for both

 

[SpeedyDux]

I wouldn't buy a PVC without a spare wheel as standard. It would be like not having breakdown insurance.

I've had more punctures than breakdowns, including a blowout on a French motorway while returning from a holiday trip in my previous van so I don't think the risk is worth taking.

 

[Richard n Ann]

We had a MINI with no spare. After a blowout on the M6 on a Sunday night we got recovered to a garage where a fitter came back to work and replaced the tyre, If it was any later I don't know what we'd have done. Won't happen again.

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[Minxy]

Wouldn't ever have a MH/camper without a spare wheel, we've had vehicles in the past that didn't come with one so bought our own as we travel to remote places and don't fancy being stuck there whilst waiting for recovery. I note you've got a Chausson but can't tell which model - we had a Chausson Flash 04 and I mounted the spare in the garage.

We came close to having to use the spare last year in Italy as the roads were so bad they damaged one of the front tyres but fortunately it was still okay to use but if not we'd have put our spare on, we replaced it when we got home anyway.

You can never predict if you'll have a puncture so never having one previously doesn't mean it won't happen - its not worth the worry IMV so carrying a spare is essential.

 

[WillH]

Don't have one.

 

[two]

Manufacturers remove the spare to reduce weight (maybe save money) and improve the payload.

If you fret about this you will fret about other things and may end up with no remaining payload. For peace of mind, you could carry a matching tyre. At least that will weigh less and you can then pack other stuff in within it like spare belts, pump, regulator, … but where will it stop?

It surprises me that, if it’s a requirement to carry a spare bulb-set, new vehicles are not even supplied with one of those.

 

[sdc77]

Don't have a spare wheel but have got a spare tyre. (Trailer has a spare wheel)
I am very confident that should we have a puncture adac will sort it.

 

[Rockcrawler]

I must admit it does worry me not having a spare but I don't have anywhere I can put it, not even sure it would physically fit in the garage and there's no room under the vehicle

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[Pia]

....we have the tyre checker gadget that sits on the dash keeping us informed re the condition of the tyres as we travel similar to @mikebeaches ...... our tyres are 1 year old and top of the range...we have no spare but even if we did my OH would not be happy about undertaking the task on such a large heavy vehicle.

 

[SpeedyDux]

It surprises me that, if it’s a requirement to carry a spare bulb-set, new vehicles are not even supplied with one of those.

My local Tesco sells a universal spare bulb kit for £4.99. Includes H4, H7 and H1 bulbs.

 

[makems]

Worry if you must .............but..............
When did you last have a puncture?
Can't remember mine.......about as likely as a camshaft failure.... (never had one).....
Touch wood...............for both

I post this,picture every time this topic comes up.
We had a blowout on a Spanish motorway and this was the result - the side wall just evaporated!
A can of gunk is not going to fix this. And the chances of The nearest garage having a tyre in stock suitable for a motorhome is?

 

[tonyidle]

I wouldn't buy a PVC without a spare wheel as standard. It would be like not having breakdown insurance.

I've had more punctures than breakdowns, including a blowout on a French motorway while returning from a holiday trip in my previous van so I don't think the risk is worth taking.

I've never had breakdown insurance in the UK. I've only had one breakdown (that I couldn't fix) in 50+ years of motoring (a stripped camshaft drive gear on a Reliant Scimitar). I can count the number of on-the-road (as opposed to on the drive) tyre deflations on the fingers of one hand.

 

[BreweryDave]

Whilst I do have a spare, I will be fitting this to all of my tyres at the next opportunity.
Prevention is better than cure.

http://www.tyre-sealant.com/

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[SpeedyDux]

I've never had breakdown insurance in the UK. I've only had one breakdown (that I couldn't fix) in 50+ years of motoring (a stripped camshaft drive gear on a Reliant Scimitar). I can count the number of on-the-road (as opposed to on the drive) tyre deflations on the fingers of one hand.

Each to his own choice and I respect your skills. I have done my own spannering including clutches back in the days when cars were half timbered, although I was defeated when a half shaft snapped and the car had to be recovered. The modern electronics and emissions control gubbins are way beyond my competence so pan-European breakdown cover gives peace of mind. I see quite a few newer BMWs on the hard shoulder and Mercs especially crawling along in limp mode, which raises my doubts.

 

[two]

The best way to avoid a puncture is to take a spare with you.

If you avoid travelling at night, or in really adverse weather, that should help more…

 

[tonyidle]

Each to his own choice and I respect your skills. I have done my own spannering including clutches back in the days when cars were half timbered, although I was defeated when a half shaft snapped and the car had to be recovered. The modern electronics and emissions control gubbins are way beyond my competence so pan-European breakdown cover gives peace of mind. I see quite a few newer BMWs on the hard shoulder and Mercs especially crawling along in limp mode, which raises my doubts.

I have always had breakdown cover abroad. And I am, now I've passed the C barrier, thinking seriously about it for the UK .

 

[tel]

Wouldn't ever have a MH/camper without a spare wheel, we've had vehicles in the past that didn't come with one so bought our own as we travel to remote places and don't fancy being stuck there whilst waiting for recovery. I note you've got a Chausson but can't tell which model - we had a Chausson Flash 04 and I mounted the spare in the garage.

We came close to having to use the spare last year in Italy as the roads were so bad they damaged one of the front tyres but fortunately it was still okay to use but if not we'd have put our spare on, we replaced it when we got home anyway.

You can never predict if you'll have a puncture so never having one previously doesn't mean it won't happen - its not worth the worry IMV so carrying a spare is essential.

Hi, the van is a Chausson Maxi Sweet. Thanks for your reply. Do you wait for the breakdown service to change it then or do you carry a trolley jack onboard too? Just curious

 

[tel]

Many thanks for all your replies, much appreciated. But as I replied to Minxy Girl I wonder if you carry a spare wheel with a tyre, can you change it yourself with a trolley jack or other means (as I guess no jacking points) or let the breakdown service take care of it.

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[Podney]

Whilst I do have a spare, I will be fitting this to all of my tyres at the next opportunity.
Prevention is better than cure.

http://www.tyre-sealant.com/

I’ve heard of this stuff but never used it. I assume that it would only cope with punctures caused by nails and the like? Obviously it wouldn’t prevent those where the wall of the tyre is ripped........and that’s the only sort of puncture I’ve ever had.
But I do see that it could be useful,especially for those without a spare or a good pump to get you to the nearest garage.
Do you know if there is any independent research available on this stuff?

 

[Hymie]

Wouldn't leave home without a spare wheel, can't see the sense in it.

I have a jack and would fit it myself under normal circumstances, would call ADAC in extraordinary circumstances and shouldn't need towing somewhere for possibly days, and won't need to shell out a bundle for two tyres.

Hymie

 

[TerryL]

Although I've never (yet!) had a puncture on the road I would never have a vehicle without a spare. I'm perfectly capable of changing a wheel myself, got a proper jack and wheelbrace and have re-torqued all the wheelnuts so I can get them undone. However in a dodgy situation I'd still call my breakdown service, that's what I pay them for!

 

[BreweryDave]

I’ve heard of this stuff but never used it. I assume that it would only cope with punctures caused by nails and the like? Obviously it wouldn’t prevent those where the wall of the tyre is ripped........and that’s the only sort of puncture I’ve ever had.
But I do see that it could be useful,especially for those without a spare or a good pump to get you to the nearest garage.
Do you know if there is any independent research available on this stuff?

No idea, but I do remember a company doing it at one of the shows a few years ago. Gottabe worth doing imho.

 

[Larrynwin]

No idea, but I do remember a company doing it at one of the shows a few years ago. Gottabe worth doing imho.

Dave I had considered this to avoid carrying a spare as weight is an issue for me, will you carry a spare when it’s done ?