How big a liability is the spare tire holder - Montana Owners Club

Wrenchtraveller · 08-19-2006, 09:57 AM

How many of these Montana tire brackets have failed and I believe they can fail in two ways. The thought of a tire dropping down at highway speeds is a scary thought. The cable assembly could fail or the flimsey 1/8th by 1 1/2 angle iron could get metal fatigue and fail.

Look down that bracket and you will see the sag or deflection.
The two angle irons have a 6' span with the heavy tire and rim in the centre. The bracket that the tire is pulled up to does add strength to the angle iron but over all , still a pretty weak frame.

I just did a little experiment with a ratchet strap. I put one hook on one end of the angle iron and the other hook on the other opposite end and passed the strap under the centre of the tire . I then tightened up the strap . It does not take very much tightening to pull the sag out of this light angle iron and this also holds the tire up so the cable assembly has a back up.

I am going to use this as a lightweight safety back up system.

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

richfaa · 08-19-2006, 11:14 AM

That is a good observation and a good suggestion for additional safety. I will take a look in the AM and we just happen to have a ratchet strap two laying around.. Nice catch...

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
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Glenn and Lorraine · 08-19-2006, 11:29 AM

Never heard of any spare tire rack failures but if it concerns you I'd say better safe than sorry.

Glenn
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Ozz · 08-19-2006, 11:56 AM

I like it, I'm still pondering what different ways to do it, I do like your idea.
Glenn, my truck spare on my ford has a very large wing nut holding it up, I haven't lowered it yet, it may be cabled.
I would imagine the trucks system is way more robust than our Montana is.
Just too many ways the spare can fall; Cable, gears, etc.
Ozz

'07 3400RL 2nd RTU
2 Golf Cart batteries 3,000 watt inverter, automatic transfer switch
Honda 2000 Generator, Maytag's with 220 Dryer
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harleyrider · 08-19-2006, 01:13 PM

Its funny you should post this now.For what ever reason I deceided to check my spare tire.It was nice and snug with no play what so ever.I feel pretty confident its not going any where.

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Wrenchtraveller · 08-19-2006, 02:10 PM

I am probably concerned over nothing and damage to any vehicle can be repaired. I am more worried of an innocent person being hurt by a loose tire. My spare tire did stay tight on my recent 3000 mile trip but I rolled under there on my creeper and that frame moves up and down real easy.
With a ratchet strap just snugged up, it is much more solid so I think I will leave it on for safety's sake.

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

Wrenchtraveller · 08-19-2006, 03:20 PM

Here are 3 pics, bottom url, the strap in place, middle url the light duty little bracket holding the tire on, take note how the tire has moved off centre, the last top url pic is what a real cable bracket should look like.
This is my 05 Ford's bracket and you can see, the tire can't move off centre.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f7...tures10095.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f7...tures10096.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f7...tures10091.jpg

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

Ozz · 08-19-2006, 04:04 PM

Cool, I like it, thanks for taking the time to post the pictures.
Ozz

'07 3400RL 2nd RTU
2 Golf Cart batteries 3,000 watt inverter, automatic transfer switch
Honda 2000 Generator, Maytag's with 220 Dryer
Stationary domed Sat. dish, LCD 12 Volt Amp gauge, LCD Tank Monitor
3 added 120 volt outlets, On Board Air; 12 Volt Viair 450C compressor
2006 Ford PSD 4x4 Off Road Lariat, Hadley Air Horns, Truck inverter with 110 volts: laptop, Color Backup Camera, Awning lock

Wrenchtraveller · 08-19-2006, 04:23 PM

Ozz, thank you for all your pics and great advice. Don

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

sreigle · 08-19-2006, 04:47 PM

Good information, thanks. It appears on yours that bracket centering the rim and holding it in place is too small. Mine is a tighter fit and the rim has never moved. I'd be concerned, too, if mine were like yours. This will go on the list for our upcoming PDI. Thanks.

Looking more closely at the pictures... it appears the verticals on that bracket are bolted on and may have some adjustment. Is it possible to spread them to hold the wheel more securely? I haven't looked at ours in awhile but I'm pretty sure ours has four-sided tubes rather than the angle iron. But the new one will be like yours.

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Wrenchtraveller · 08-19-2006, 06:01 PM

Thanks Steve, I'll check that out. Take care, Don.

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

indy roadrunner · 08-20-2006, 01:06 AM

Thanks Don for this post and I am going to be checking mine as well. Those straps are not that expensive and looks like an easy fix. My question is this. If this is that big of a liability and if one ever came off I shudder to think what could happen, buy why hasn't Keystone put their engineers and lawyers together to send out a recall or a warning for inspection on this. One of these things come off and warranty or no warranty, Keystone would be in court along with trailer owner.

Phill & Gladys
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Wrenchtraveller · 08-20-2006, 03:15 AM

I am sure I have read somewhere of a tire coming off but for Keystone to be liable it would have to be proved that the owner had not neglected the maintenance or it could be argued that the bracket was damaged by the owner, etc.

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

richfaa · 08-20-2006, 03:51 AM

Went out a took a long look at the spare tire and how it is held in place on the 3400 ..(You guys are causing me to spend way to much time under that thing)But it is worth it.It is under there secure and could not get any movement but considering how the rear of a fiver bounces and compairing the camper setup with the spare tire set up on the 05 F-350. I thought welll I have the stuff laying around so I will do the strap thing, Can't hurt..Our previous campers were TT's and we always carried the camper spare in the bed of the truck which indicates that we never trusted the spare tire carrier arrangement on campers. The fiver hitch takes up room in the truck so we decided to trust the spare set up...till now..Good tip..

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

Wrenchtraveller · 08-20-2006, 04:36 AM

Thanks Rich and thanks to Steve who has an excellent eye for detail. It is difficult to look under the spare as it is only 10 inches or so off the ground . Yesterday I just held the camera under there but Steve was right on about the bottom plate having adjustable vertical brackets.
The brackets would capture the spare tire and hold it centred "IF" they were adjusted and the nuts tightened. Get this... my bracket was never adjusted properly. The nuts are wrench tight so this indicates the "old world" craftsman did not know or care what he was doing.

Thanks again Steve for your attention to detail. You are not just a pretty face.

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

CountryGuy · 08-20-2006, 04:59 AM

Be sure tire is correctly inflated, that will cause a bit of wiggle in the entire situation.

Trailer Trash 2 · 08-20-2006, 05:24 AM

I have checked mine every now and then, the 1/8" cable seems a little light,

and the other thing I see wrong with the tire rack is there make shift holders for the crank rod they could have put a little more thought in that area, and no way to lock it from another person that might want to barrow the spair.

Don, Georgia and Smokey.
AKA: Trailer Trash 2
FORD F-350 Turbo Diesel, Clydesdale, Banks Stinger, Prodigy Controler,
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Wrenchtraveller · 08-20-2006, 03:37 PM

I lowered my spare down today and adjusted the bottom bracket's vertical holders. They were wrench tight and adjusted for a very small tire. The bolts are good quality Grade 5 and the bracket and cable seem OK but the ratchet assembly is made in Mexico and consists of a plastic body sandwiched between two metal plates. As Don above mentioned, the crank linkage is real Mickey Mouse.

This ratchet assembly might be heavy enough for the spare on a Boler TT but is is plenty light for a 16" rim and a Load Range E tire. I put my strap back on and to test it I released the tension on the wire rope. The spare did not move so I am going to keep a strap on that spare tire just for safety's sake. If that cheap ratchet ever let go you would be dragging your spare and all kind of unpleasant things could happen.

If you want to lock your spare, you could thread a chain through the spare tire wheel and around the angle iron and put a padlock on it.

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

richfaa · 08-20-2006, 04:11 PM

We used two straps since we had them around, Criss crossed them between the beams..I feel better.

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

LonnieB · 08-20-2006, 04:48 PM

The vertical brackets on mine were also set and tightened for a smaller wheel. That's the only thing that was tight, the tire was just kinda hangin' there like a Christmas Tree ornament, and yes I have the same Mickey Mouse conduit bracket holding the tube for the ratchet. When I fix it I'll tell you what I did.

Lonnie

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