Spare Tire Carrier

[gonzo628]

My 3124 Kb did not come with the spare tire carrier. Initially, I did not realize that. I ended up ordering one from TM and upon attempting to install it (yesterday), I realize that the mounting brackets on the street side of the camper are bent. These brackets are fairly substantial (thick) iron and I grossly over estimated my ability (paired with my frustration) to kick them back straight. Further, I grossly underestimated their strength and ended up smashing my finger while trying to use a hammer to knock them back straight.

The PO was an avid "roads less traveled" camper, and it looks as though he encountered an obstruction (rock or the like) while turning to the left. The brackets are bent toward the door side of the trailer (with the front one being bent more so than the back).

TLDR: Any ideas how I can bend the tire carrier mounting brackets back to their place so that my tire carrier's bolts will line up with the bracket on the door side of the trailer?

 

[Savage709]

why not the bumper?

OK....there should be a 1" hole in these brackets....if that is the case then try to fit a piece of pipe or a breaker bar in there so you might get some leverage to bend them straight...if you can't then you need a bigger hammer...or...you could send that carrier back and try to get a refund and then put that spare tire on the rear bumper like I did when I went to 16"tires. If you haven't seen my website ( http://www.trickmytrailmano.com ), check it out. There you can see what I did and read what it involved. Otherwise, go to red communist Chinese Horrible Fraught Tools and buy a small sledge hammer to knock them back into shape...or,put the spare in your TV.
Tom

 

[gonzo628]

Hi Tom,

Recall that I've been to your site a number of times (reached out to you via PM when I could not get any of the pictures larger than thumbnail size). I had not yet tried leverage (use it for so much else, can't believe I overlooked it). As for back bumper, I have the newer style (non-square tube) bumper... I shall rather try and bend it back (I know it will bend, it just needs to be "convinced"). Thanks for your help.

 

[TrailManorMan]

See if you can get someone with a set of torches, heated steel bends easy. Most muffler shops , automotive, will heat it for a nominal fee, then smack it with your hammer when hot.

 

[gonzo628]

So a little propane torch is probably not sufficient? (the kind used for plumbing).

 

[Craigrrr]

If you can use Mapp gas in your unit, that will get hot enough

 

[Bill]

I'm not sure that I totally understand your situation, but for bending sturdy metal plate, let me suggest the following. Bashing with a hammer seldom works. It just bounces. Instead, get an adjustable wrench. Open the jaws just a bit more than the thickness of the metal plate to be bent. Slip the jaws over the edge of the plate. Now push the handle of the wrench in the direction you want the bend to go. Slow steady pressure here will often bend plate, when hammer-bashing won't.

If the width of the plate to be bent is more than a couple inches, you might use a pair of adjustable wrenches, side-by-side, separated by a couple inches.

Bill

 

[commodor47]

gonzo628,

A few more options come to mind; try a local auto body shop, they may have the equipment to straighten the brackets; or try a vocational school auto body shop. Either one or both might also install the spare tire carrier once the brackets are reset.

Let us know how you make out.

Dick

 

[TrailManorMan]

So a little propane torch is probably not sufficient? (the kind used for plumbing).

Maybe, maybe not! Thickness of metal and width would be determing fact, won't hurt to try, propane tanks are inexpensive to try. Doesn't get as hot as Mapp gas or acetylene though.

 

[Savage709]

once again

Mr. Bill has the best solution. I forgot about using a big crescent wrench...I use a monster one to bend metal in a vice so if you get one long enough, that will work. As far as heating with a torch goes, I'd be wary.... there are all sorts of wires under there next to the frame...not to mention the trailer propane line for the fridge and water heater...just make sure the propane tanks are turned OFF if you decide to use heat! :new_evil:
And yes I do remember your PM about my website...thanks again for lighting a fire under me on expanding my photos...I value your input!
I forgot that you might have the new style rear bumper, so the spare wouldn't work back there...but one good thing about that new style bumper is you can plug in your trailer when it's all closed up....me I had to install another plug box on my trailer to be able to do that. :new_cussi
That was a good point about the vocational school class that might do your work for a small fee. Good idea!
OK....good luck!
Tom

 

[gonzo628]

I have a fair sized crescent wrench and will try this next. Thank you for all the suggestions thus far...

 

[gonzo628]

I attempted to bend it with the crescent wrench last night. While I was able to move it, it was only bending from the hole down (not moving the whole plate). As this is not the bend I want (need the whole plate reshaped), I opted to stop trying. I've reached out to a metal worker I know and he is fairly confident that he can get them straight in short order. So I am now just looking to sync up with his schedule. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[gonzo628]

I was able to sync up with the metal worker and he straightened them up right quick, and then would not let me pay him for doing it (though he had originally quoted $25 - 50 for the repair. So, I told him that I would probably be bringing the TM back to him to fit it with the plumbing protector and possibly a frame-mounted storage box...

As for the fix, it did a variation on both methods I tried. Basically, he put the crescent wrench at the bottom of the bar, then (while maintaining pressure on the wrench) smacked the bar with a 5lb sledge. A number of hits with that and the bars straitened up.

Worthy of note: He said that by holding the bar with the crescent wrench and maintaining pressure, he minimized / eliminated the bounce-back I was experiencing.

I've put the Spare on the carrier and check for fit... it fits great and does not seem to depress the sidewall of my 225 75R15 LRD tire. Now, for lubrication, should I use a dry-film lubricant? (I think WD-40 would attract road grime...)


TLDR: to bend the spare tire brackets, apply pressure to the end of the bracket with a crescent wrench and wack the bracket with a medium - heavy duty hammer.

 

[Savage709]

lubricant?

For the sliding rods on your spare tire carrier I assume. Yes I would, and do use a dry silicone spray to keep those rods sliding easily...the same that I use on my slide out. I love that stuff! I use it on everything....even pancakes! (just kidding)

Tom

 

[Savage709]

one more thing...

I'm glad you got your spare tire issue straightened out (no pun intended). You were a brave soul traveling without a spare tire....or did you just carry one in the back of your TV? I would have. Before I got on this forum I never knew that tires and blowouts were such an issue. I guess if you had a 3324 with dual axles it wouldn't be as bad a problem...but with a single axle (like all the rest of the TM's), it's critical! :SHOCKED: I am sure you are better prepared now and don't have to worry so much. Lucky me, I ended up with two spare 16" wheels and tires. When I bought my new wheels and tires I also bought the spare so I would have one. I also got the road hazard warranty from Discount Tires (whom I had got the tires from on line). So they were all covered.
Now when I had my new Timbren axles installed, the guy who did the work didn't allow for room with my 16" tires and by his mistake, the curb side tire rubbed on the outrigger behind the tire and it's tread got shredded. The company that did the work had to replace the tire and so they bought me a new Maxxis tire. I had it mounted but kept the old damaged tire. So I had all new tires again. Then I bought another rim and took the damaged tire back to Discount tire who gave me another new tire and mounted and balanced it. So now I have another spare that I can put in the back of my truck if I never need it.
My theory is: since I'm so prepared, I'll never have a flat or blowout.
I hope you never have one too! But if you do....you'll have a spare!
Tom

 

[gonzo628]

I did/do have a spare, which was in the rear storage compartment (part of why I pursued getting the carrier ... wanted that space back). As for discount, I will ALWAYS buy my tires there. We've taken 2 trips cross-country (one of them with our other camper which was a Damon Camplite 2408SLE -a tandem axle popup). Both trips were fraught with tire problems and both had Discount Tire "stepping up". I'll try to give the Reader's Digest version here (hijacking my own thread)...

Trip 1 (the one with the camper). I did not ensure everything was 100% before leaving. We're driving trough PA and have flat on the tow vehicle, on a Saturday. Luckily, we were within 10 miles of a tire shop that was open on a Saturday and were able to get back on the road. The camper and Tow Vehicle were packed full (3 week trip, 7 people) and so we did not have a place to carry the old tire. After visiting friends in NYC, we headed to Buffalo and were pulled over by State Police because our trailer did not have tags. (They must have "fallen" off ;-) ). Upon doing his inspection, he noticed that one of my tires on the camper was missing a fair size chunk of tread. Again, luckily we were very close to a tire shop that was willing to mount my spare and we were back on the road. The officer also noticed that the front tires on my TV were looking more like racing slicks (than passenger tires). There weren't but a few national retailers in Buffalo and the ones that were there did not have tires to fit my trailer, so I opted to try and make it to the closest Discount Tire in Hilliard, OH. I called them in advance and they said they would have the tires ready to go and would get us in and out as quick as possible. They also asked us to keep them apprised of our progress so that they could put us in the schedule based on when we would get there. I did and they did. They dedicated 5 technicians to the job and replaced 9 tires (4 on the van and 5 on the trailer -including the spare). We were in and out in 45 minutes. Plus, because I buy the certificates, they only charged me for 7 tires. The certificates covered the tire we purchased in PA (though I was not able to produce the original tire) and the trailer tire that was missing a chunk of the tread, even though the DOT stamp showed the tire was over 5 years old.

Trip 2. Same trip, no camper. We survived the whole trip (almost). On our way home, through New Mexico, we got a flat. I changed it and put the spare on, but, by that time (Saturday evening) there wasn't a tire shop open near by, so after weighing our options, we decided to press on through to our destination for the night. Wouldn't you know it... 40 miles east of Albuquerque, we had another flat. After getting insurance to send a truck and accepting a ride (for half our troop) from a good Samaritan (who only after we were already on the road admitted that he had just been released from prison for kidnapping!), we made it to alb. It turns out the Pep Boys that we dropped the truck off at was less than a mile from our existing hotel reservation. Pep Boys replaced the tires (they're open Sunday) and on Monday (at home), I had Discount put the correct tires (brand etc) on the van to replace the tires PB had installed. They refunded the purchase price of the PB tires and all I had to do was pay to put certs on my new tires.

Most recently, My daughter (who is a younger driver) hit the curb in that same van and blew out both passenger tires. I took them back to discount and they replaced them (only costing my the price of new certificates).

I will be a Discount Tire customer for life.