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Storing on the A frame \ front locker is fine if you don't have noseweight issues, in my last van that was where it was meant to go but I stored underneath as couldn't get my noseweight to the target 75kg with the spare in the locker.

Why can't we have an internal storage in a floor cavity? It's been done before so designers must be able to overcome floor strength issues.

TonyC52

Why can't we have an internal storage in a floor cavity? It's been done before so designers must be able to overcome floor strength issues.

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Some models do have what you advocated , i dont know why the rest didnt follow it up

I thought i'd check my carrier was in working order , it was , but it was so difficult to get the wheel off, i've now stowed the wheel under the fixed bed and removed the carrier altogether . I'm glad i tried the carrier in the storage yard and not on the road after getting a flat .

atb

Wizard

Quote: Originally posted by Vic Wildish on 01/2/2011

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There seems to be quite a debate going on about the practicality of spare wheel carriers and in particular the Alko one.

My caravan has the BPW chassis and the spare wheel carrier for this is a rather crude welded steel cradle affair. The theory is that this just drops down and you slide the spare off it. In order to do this though the caravan has to be jacked up first, that's assuming of course that you can get the jack under the jacking point with the road wheel deflated, in the first place.

The next conundrum is how to get the wheel out of the carrier with the jack holding the caravan up. You can't 'cos the jack is fouling the spare wheel.

For me, there is one simple answer. Don't use your spare wheel carrier be it Alko or BPW. Carry your caravan spare in the boot of the car or in the caravan where it far more accessible in the event of a puncture.

Why can't caravan manufacturers come up with the same system for caravans as for 4 wheel drives and supply a strengthened mounting point at the rear of the caravan?

Some might argue that this would upset the weight distribution of the caravan. However I have two gas bottles in the front locker plus a heavy leisure battery in a specially designated locker just behind the nearside front corner, so something like the spare at the rear of the caravan would certainly help to balance things up.

Vic

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Vic

All the above is so true, we had a blow out down in Cornwall last summer (not to bad as twin axle, so controlled stop) my biggest problem was getting the spare from under the van at the side of the A30 with lorry's blowing the van from side to side, I now keep it in the car when travelling, if I get another puncture, the whole thing will be alot safer and quicker to do.

bazza

Hi,I have the AL-KO wheel carrier,and find it very difficult to get spare out,as it is just behind the wheel,and the mud flap has to be held up to underside of floor,with one hand and try to pull out carrier with the other,and that is on my driveway, how i would manage with a flat on road dose'nt bare thinking about, one sploution may be to adapt AL-KO carrier to single frame,or to get one of these carriers from towsure, £37 as it has a quick release, I could mount it to the front chassis slot of existing carrier,and fit to rear slot on near side, would be much better.