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Having read the tales of woe on here recently, I decided to test out my 2009 Senator. Undid the bracket etc. and joy on joy wheel came out first time.

Joy was tempered a little when I saw that the spare is a pressed steel wheel not alloy. How much extra can an alloy be?  Now if I have a flat, I have to do the job twice, and if I am abroad, will probably have to pay to get the tyre transferred.

But then I tried to put carrier back. No chance.  Carrier refused to budge. Took wheel off, still no joy. Have to take whole assembly off. Can't get brackets out of opp side because there are 2 stupid plastic bungs which prevent the bracket coming out when split pins removed. Managed eventually to sort out the bungs, dropped out the carrier legs, and freed the jam up . Then noticed 4 wear marks on tyre where carrier has rubbed on side of tyre. Not insignificant after 6 months on the road. Not sure how that might be viewed by a tyre inspection.

So I made a packer to get the wheel off the carrier, freed up the jam, got the whole thing back together. Only took me 2 hrs all told. Would n't want to be doing that on a M way in the dark when it is raining.

Sad tale, and my advice would be to check before it becomes necessary.

FM

Don't put the alloy wheel back on the carrier - it will scratch the finish.

Mike

You probably need different wheel bolts or nuts for the steel wheel. Just can't imagine why they put alloy wheels on caravans.

• more chance of losing air than steel,
• need shock absorbers as the tyre is less absorbent,
• needs hammering to get the wheel off as alloy sticks
• need different bolts

Quote: Originally posted by navver on 13/10/2009

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You probably need different wheel bolts or nuts for the steel wheel. Just can't imagine why they put alloy wheels on caravans.

• more chance of losing air than steel,
• need shock absorbers as the tyre is less absorbent,
• needs hammering to get the wheel off as alloy sticks
• need different bolts

 

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Agree entirely - don't really see the need for alloys in the first place.  On the original note - I have the slide out wheel carrier and have not found it particulalry difficult to operate.  Maybe it's a perception of how easy it ought to be.

Quote: Originally posted by navver on 13/10/2009

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You probably need different wheel bolts or nuts for the steel wheel. Just can't imagine why they put alloy wheels on caravans.

• more chance of losing air than steel,
• need shock absorbers as the tyre is less absorbent,
• needs hammering to get the wheel off as alloy sticks
• need different bolts

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On the otherhand, they are:

• Lighter
• Better looking
• Don't need those horrible plastic trims
• Stronger than steel

• Lighter
• Better looking
• Don't need those horrible plastic trims
• Stronger than steel

On the otherhand, they are:

• Lighter
• Better looking
• Don't need those horrible plastic trims
• Stronger than steel

• I prefer the look of my steel with trims. New trims about 4 quid.
• My steel wheels havent broken. Don't know of any that have.

I should also have added "Cheaper"