Spare Tire

[eZAK]

What is the consensus on rotating your wheels with the spare?

I my Titanium I bought a matching rim to replace the generic one on the spare.

Does anyone have a source for a rim on a 294RL HC, or should I just go through the dealer?

[dhuhn]

You can go to tredit.com they are the manufacture for rims on Montanas.

[Texan]

I doubt very many people rotate on account of the weight of these g-rated tires and the hassel of removing the spare and reinstalling. I check the air in my spare before each trip and the spare hopefully stays there till it ages out. It's not like any of us are going to actually wear out our tires and need another one in the rotation to prolong replacing them. 5 or 6 years and my tires get replaced no matter what the tread looks like.

[dieselguy]

Owning 5 fifth wheels and one TT over a span of @25 years ... never have I rotated tires on any of them. Unless you have a bent axle or gross misalignment issue, they'll almost never wear out as they are on neither a drive nor steer axle. Like mentioned, about 5-6 years and they get replaced due to age.

[DQDick]

Same here. Over 100,000 miles and never rotated a trailer tire.

[twindman]

I rotate every 10,000 miles or so. That way if the axles shift and I start getting wear, it spreads it around to several tires. That will keep the tires from completely going bad before it gets noticed.

[eZAK]

I guess I'm weird that way. Must be the gearhead in me.

Several benefits I get out of it are;
Familiarly with the spare tire carrier (just in case)
Opportunity to check the hubs, grease the wet bolts, and check the brakes.

After all, you or your service provider, are pulling the wheels off every year any way!
Or maybe not!

[dieselguy]

I'd guess a boatload of us have needed to use the spare tire once or twice in a 10 yr span. Some ... never. Also a boatload of us pop the wheels off or have them removed annually or every 2 years (mileage dependent) as part of regular maintenance. Until the Level Up systems came along (and not all of us have Level Up) it was a PITA to remove all 4 tires at once as you had to jack up the entire fiver. So ... I accept your points in favor of tire rotation, but like several that have and will respond ... we just don't personally see going thru the motions.

PS ... I've been a wrench spinner by trade for over 47 years. I'm guessing I'm a cousin to a gearhead.

[1retired06]

Have never rotated. I see no need as long as tires are wearing evenly. For most folks, age is the driver for new tires, not tread wear.

[twindman]

I have never aged out tires. I put on around 8-10,000 miles a year. I get 40-50,000 on my Michelins.

[KirkFess]

This spring I decided to drop my spare tire on my 2016 343rl and look it over. I found that I could not turn the plastic handle to loosen the bolt. Rust! Ended up twisting the weld nut loose from the bracket. This would have been very inconvenient on the side if the road, but was no big deal in my driveway. I recommend dropping the spare and applying anti seize to the bolt.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by eZAK

What is the consensus on rotating your wheels with the spare?

I my Titanium I bought a matching rim to replace the generic one on the spare.

Does anyone have a source for a rim on a 294RL HC, or should I just go through the dealer?

Good RV tires will age out long before they wear out so need to rotate unless you just tow constantly rather than camp somewhere for a while.

[eZAK]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all of your response's!

I will however continue to rotate my wheels with the spare in the mix!

I figure if I'm pulling the tire off any way...............

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by eZAK

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all of your response's!

I will however continue to rotate my wheels with the spare in the mix!

I figure if I'm pulling the tire off any way...............

Your pulling it off for what?

[RMcNeal]

Originally Posted by bcrvman

Your pulling it off for what?

I think he means pulling off the tire during bearing maintenance/brake inspection each year.
I usually only do one wheel at a time and use the level up to raise each side just enough to get the wheel off.
I guess if you rotate, what pattern would you use? Side to side and front to back? or just side to side, or just front to back?
On my truck, fronts go straight back and the rears go forward on the opposite side. I don't rotate with the spare because I have 20" tires and an 18" spare from Ford. (The spare is taller to account for the size difference). Just wondering what the plan is.
Back when I had more off road tires, I only rotated front to back, back to front and did not switch side/direction, since off road tires are more aggressive tread and louder road chatter.

[eZAK]

This is my fourth trailer in 20yrs.
My annual axle / suspension maintenance is;
1) Drop and remove the spare wheel
2) Jack up the rear curb side axle and remove wheel
3) Check; Brakes, Hub, suspension, air pressure. perform maintenance where necessary
4) Install [spare] wheel then move on to the front curb side.

From the front curb side to front street side to rear street side to Spare carrier.

I think it is pretty straight forward and simple.

[RMcNeal]

Originally Posted by eZAK

This is my fourth trailer in 20yrs.
My annual axle / suspension maintenance is;
1) Drop and remove the spare wheel
2) Jack up the rear curb side axle and remove wheel
3) Check; Brakes, Hub, suspension, air pressure. perform maintenance where necessary
4) Install [spare] wheel then move on to the front curb side.

From the front curb side to front street side to rear street side to Spare carrier.

I think it is pretty straight forward and simple.

So, if I understand, you put the spare in rotation and start by replacing the rear curbside (door side or right side?) with the spare, then move each tire/wheel counter clockwise from there? Is that correct?
Does your spare have the same wheel as the others?

[PSFORD99]

Originally Posted by eZAK

What is the consensus on rotating your wheels with the spare?

I my Titanium I bought a matching rim to replace the generic one on the spare.

Does anyone have a source for a rim on a 294RL HC, or should I just go through the dealer?

The only thing I do with the spare is replace it with a new one ,when I replace the other four .

[eZAK]

Yes, RMcNeal, That is what I do.
I'm in the process of acquiring a matching rim.

[Twopetes]

Don’t rotate, but a couple weeks back we were installing disc brakes so I swapped front and rear wheels to balance turning wear.