Failure of spare tire carrier

[tcandme]

I've seen that several people on this forum have had spare tire carrier failure. Mine has failed twice causing $4300 dollars worth of damage the second failure. Mine is manufactured by Lippert. If any of you have had this failure, NHTSA has been contacted and is checking for other complaints. Their phone is 888-327-4236.

[dieselguy]

I've always used a ratchet strap around the tire and frame crossmember in case the little gearbox decides to unspool. No issue in 18+ years.

[DQDick]

So far so good with ours after about 30,000 miles some of it very rough roads.

[1retired06]

Since 2002, no problems. However Murphy's Law I guess.

[Glenn the fifth]

This is also something I have thought about as I travel down some rough interstates now and then. I check mine for tightness often and have not had one fail in 10+ years of RVing, but I think I like the ratchet strap idea. I have some smaller, seldom used ratchet straps laying around the shop. -Glenn

[DarMar]

On our last three Montanas we have used the ratchet strap around the tire and of course a cross member, certainly gives us piece of mind.

[richfaa]

We strapped our down on the 06 3400 and this 13 3402.Cheap protection.

[TLightning]

I put mine in the bed of the truck. Figured if it was there, where it was very accessible, I would never need it. So far that plan has worked.

[Recumbent]

Bored a hole through the crank rod and through the strap holding the rod and placed a carter-pen through after placing tension on the rod with the provided handle. Have checked many times over several thousand miles and no issues.

[bshgto]

Never liked the idea of crawling part way under the trailer to get it out if needed, nor how flimzee the frame looked so I removed the frame and put the tire in the front storage compartment much much much much easier to check pressure before a trip but since I put on the Sailuns recently I know I`ll never need it anyway.

OK, before anyone gets excited that was a joke

[mazboy]

have had a 5th wheel for years, never heard of this issue.

[Mudchief]

A few have had this problem. Like stated above those of us concerned about this just use the ratchet strap.

[Artemus Gordon]

Can I ask how $4300 in damages happened? Mine failed but no damage, was fixed under warranty. We also had strap installed.

[tcandme]

To answer some of your questions. Inspected the tire before each trip to make sure it was tight. As for the damage, we were flagged over by a motorist that told us the tire was "flopping around, almost hitting the ground". As for the extensive damage the tire lowered almost completely allowing it to swing free. The tire carrier was bent up, belly pan was split open side to side, we think the loose tire hit something on the road which struck the fiberglass cap causing damage and also damaged the roof ladder. Now that the damage is done, we are using the ratcheting straps. Expensive lesson learned.

[bncinwv]

Never had a problem on our three rigs, but nonetheless, the wisdom and experience of the MOC has persuaded me. While prepping the rig for our morning departure, I crawled underneath and installed a ratchet strap. Another insurance policy that was cheap considering I had an extra strap in the garage! Onward to Florida!!
Bingo

[Overlord]

quote:Originally posted by TLightning

I put mine in the bed of the truck. Figured if it was there, where it was very accessible, I would never need it. So far that plan has worked.

Ditto!

Once I got my Montana home after I took delivery (~3,000 miles), I took one look at the carrier assembly and I removed the spare and put it in the bed of the truck. I didn't feel comfortable with the associated liability of a spare tire bouncing/rolling down the road and killing some innocent motorist or pedestrian, let alone any damage to the 5er.

Ever see a video of a truck tire that came off at speed? Not a pretty sight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGCH59iW7fo

https://youtu.be/aveoUfa-KmQ?t=6s
https://youtu.be/RR7wJEmKds0?t=10s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9pscmwW9w

This is one reason that I frequently check all of my lugnut torques myself, on the truck AND the 5er, especially if somebody else mounted the wheel.

Also, it is critical to do a strict schedule of lugnut torqueings in the proper pattern after you re-mount a wheel to the Montana as per their recommendations.

• Initial mounting:Torque to 30ft/lbs, again at 60ft/lbs, and then 110-120ft/lbs.
• Drive 10 miles, stop, and torque to 110-120ft/lbs.
• Drive 15 more miles, stop, and torque to 110-120ft/lbs.
• Drive 25 more miles, stop, and torque to 110-120ft/lbs.

It is surprising how loose they are after the first 10 mile interval, so much so, that it is scary to think about folks that don't have a clue about this procedure and are towing 5ers around!

[dieselguy]

Everyone has their ideas on where to put stuff. Having my spare RV tire rattling around in the bed of my truck just doesn't work for me. Being worried about a spare possibly falling off when tens of thousands of pickups have near the very same spare carrier under the bed seems ... well ... I just don't worry about it. In fact I know several SOB owners that the factory throws the spare in the front storage area make their own under frame carriers out of old pickup spare tire winches. Although I think it a bit bulky, here's an alternative carrier for your RV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsPze0XeHj8

[Overlord]

I would trust an auto makers spare tire cable winch system over the flimsy thing that Montana bolts under them with 2 small bolts and two self-tapping sheet metal screws any day of the week.

Bolted down to my pick-up bed, and covered from the elements by a tonneau cover for a majority of the time, it stays nice and clean and I also have easy access to check the air pressure. I don't want to be crawling under my 5er some rainy day (or night) on a busy highway to get to it if I need it, and then have to clean a couple years of stuck on sand, gravel, and road grime off of the wheel's mating surface.

To each his own.

[dieselguy]

If you do drop one from a small pickup in a salvage yard ... you'll find little difference in mounting and design.