Carrying a spare wheel.

[Andrew_5105555]

We are towing to Cornwall from lanc's in August for 3 weeks,we have done this before and never carried a spare wheel,this year i have been thinking what happens if we get a puncture,is it likely or is it best to carry a spare+jack etc.Are all caravan spare wheels the same size and stud size?ta Andrew.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi andrew

the short answer is no they are not all the same and it also depends on how old the van is.

I am sure some of our more technical subscribers will be along soon to give you a more detailed explanation.

so here's few tips to be going on with while you wait.

most vans use the ford/vauxhall type rim so once you have the size a trip to the breakers yard might be wothwhile.

you can find the size off the tyre ie, 185x13 and look if it is 4or5 stud rim, then you need a tape measure.

(assuming is it 4 stud) measure the distance between the wheel studs diagonally.

then mesure the size of the centre boss in the rim,

then take a straight edge and put it across the tyre and measure the distance of the offset (from the underside of the straight edge to the edge of the centre boss).

*** down to your local breakers armed with the measurements and measure some wheels.

dont forget to look at your cars spare first you never know??

and also there has been quite a few similar posts on this forum so trawl through the back posts you might find the answer your looking for.

good luck

colin

 

[RogerL]

DON'T use car wheels.

The pcd of caravan wheels might match the pcd of popular cars but the offset and spigot diameter may well be different.

Caravan wheels do vary according to age and chassis manufacturer.

Find out your current wheel size - you'll need to know the diameter 13" or 14", the rim width and profile eg 4.5 J, the offset eg ET 19 - all that information will be stamped on the wheel. You'll need to measure the centre hole accurately in mm.

Get down to your local caravan dealers, they usually sell used spare wheels and find one that matches - don't forget the tyre will have to match in size, ie width, profile, diameter, load rating.

If all that sounds too technical, go to a dealer for your make of caravan and order a spare wheel - that'll be considerably more expensive but should ensure you get the correct one.

Get a proper caravan jack, you may need to attach brackets to the chassis.

 

[Robert_374242026]

Hello Andrew, my mind boggles about going without a spare wheel,maybe we go a long time without having a puncture but the risk is still there , would i have no house insurance because i have (not up to this moment)not had it burnt down to the ground?.Getting back to the spare, unless you have a repair kit or do not mind waiting on a motorway hard shoulder on a Sunday night pouring with rain. I rest my case.

 

[Terry_5112949]

I have carried a spare wheel for years, and only had to use it once about 5 years ago. I remember caravanning in my early years in the mid 70`s towing from Durham to Weymouth, Durham to the New Forest and Durham to the I.O.W and with cross ply tyres and NO spare, what must I have been thinking of? would`nt dream about it now.

 

[vwman]

going back to what rogerl says car rims are designed to carry 1.5 tons on average over 4 wheels caravan wheels 1.5 tons on average over 2 wheels caravan rims are a lot stronger than car rims

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi all

sorry I don't agree a car rim will work perfectly well when used as a emergancy spare providing the measuments on the rim and tyre size are correct.

the difference in construction between the two is insignificant

and in fact the cavalier wheel I use is 0.25mm thicker (measured with a micrometer) than the standard wheel fitted to the bailey

you assume the ratio of 50% heavier for a van based on a two wheeler but what about a twin axel.

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Colin,

The main issue is with the alloy wheels fitted to new caravans - where there is a significant difference between the car and caravan models.

There is some thought that steel car and caravan wheels are very similar in overall strength, but you shouldn't assume that because you've made one measurement (like the thickness) that they are identical - different grades of steel and processing will have more effect than a 0.25mm difference.

Twin axle caravans use a smaller diameter wheels that individually, are ultimately are weaker than single axle caravan wheels.

Replacing steel for steel will probably be OK, but alloy for alloy will need investigation, and steel for alloy needs different shape / diameter wheel bolts.

Robert

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi robert

I have never had a van with alloy wheels so could not possibly comment on them it is the steel ones I was refering to.

ok so I hold my hands up, it's a old mans trick but it works?. it goes back to the days when caravan's did not have spare wheels, and there was no where to keep them exept in a plastic bag inside the van.

most caravans chassis were similar and based on ford/vauxhall hubs and brakes.

if you towed with a ford/vauxhall the chance was your car spare fit so it saved carring one at all, 3 of my vans and tow cars were matched in this way and in fact one a old 1967 sprite had hubs and wheels straight off a vauxhall viva even had the same nos stamped on them.

the question is surely what is a spare wheel for on the face of it that sounds silly but if as I do only require a spare to get me home or to the nearest garage,then a car rims is fine.