Trailer Tires

[HenryFan]

I operate four trailers (a jon boat trailer, an equipment trailer to transport tractors and implements and two utility trailers) and all have a spare tire mounted on the trailer. In addition to the trailer mounted spare, I carry a second spare when I take an extended trip. Since I only drive pickup trucks, I throw the second spare in the bed of the truck for the trip.

Do any of you folks carry a second trailer spare? Since most smaller trailer tires (8' thru 15') are currently chinese and of suspect quality, I carry the second spare as insurance.

On extended trips, I also carry a 1/2' drive impact wrench with an extension and the proper socket, a 1/2' drive ratchet with an extension and the proper socket and a scissors or a bottle jack (depending on the trailer).

Even with efforts to monitor tire pressure and grease hubs, things unforeseen can happen. It's lousy having to change a tire on the road side but I want to do it myself rather than calling a tow company or garage.

I think some may call it overkill but I would rather have it and not need it than the opposite.

[Sir Henry]

I only carry one spare tire but I also carry extra bearings and the tools to carry them.

[markiver54]

I only carry one spare and always have a small floor jack on the trailer.

[HenryFan]

I forgot to include that I also carry a new, greased hub. Just in case.

[BigAl52]

One spare on the trailer and the truck. A 20 ton jack with axle craddle and a Milwaukee M-18 3/8 impact to bust the nuts loose.

[dave77]

Not a trailer but my Miata doesn't even have one spare. It has a 12volt pump which would work for small leaks and I have a tire plug kit which will work if it's not a big blowout. There is enough room in the trunk for a emergency spare but would not be much room for anything else. Even my friends 2013 Dodge Dart has no spare although there is plenty of room for one. Don't know if it just didn't come with one or if it got misplaced before she bought it.

[Hatchdog]

I have two trailers that share a spare tire, I switch it out to the trailer I’m towing. (How’s that for cheap ) When towing my 10’ utility trailer I carry a small bottle hydraulic jack and a lug wrench. When towing my 18’ equipment trailer with the tractor on it I carry a 12 ton hydraulic bottle jack and a 1/2” breaker bar set up. I keep the jacks and accessories in separate plastic bins so I can just grab which one I need.

My boat trailer has a spare mounted on it and I carry the small jack kit.

When I had my last travel trailer first thing I did was replace the China Bomb tires with made in the USA Goodyear Endurance tires. I carried the 12 ton hydraulic jack and the breaker bar set up. Also carried a 1/2’ torque wrench to check my lugs on longer trips.

My current motorhome doesn’t have a spare tire so I guess I’ll just have to call roadside service if I have a problem. Not too fond of this idea. The Ford chassis does have the recess for a spare underneath but no hangers. Some day I may look into having a spare.

[BrokenolMarine]

The kayak trailer has a spare and a second complete set of wheels and tires. When we used to travel out of state for tournaments we would carry the extra set of wheels and tires along for insurance. We took the small floor jack and a tool bag with everything we needed to change the tires over.

We have two trailers on the farm now, and NO spares for those, but we only make intown runs in the general area and neither of us is up to the heavy job of changing tires on THOSE trailers. We'd call for roadside assistance. I'm guessing THAT would be easier if we had a spare on hand. We don't use the trailers that much anymore, we used them to haul the tractor, zero turn, and the UTV for maintenance / service. They only need to go about every twelve to eighteen months. It's better to have them and not need them than to not have them.

Guess I ought to see about buying spares for both and keep them in the barn until the next trip and toss one in the bed of the pickup when we haul the trailer.

[rickhem]

I have a small boat trailer, a Load Rite, that I've owned since 1987. Got a flat with that once about 30-40 minutes from home. Fastest solution was to just go buy another from a nearby Tractor Supply. But first I had to empty everything I didn't want to risk having stolen, and transfer it to my truck. That was a bigger pain than anything else. Ended up buying two tires and rims since the ones on the trailer were original and were shot. I got new tires for those rims, and now have two spares.
For the small cost of the spare, it's cheap insurance against a big alteration of your plans when towing.