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Old 02-08-2012, 01:57 PM   #1
RickR
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Question 2012 Cougar 327RES Spare Tire Issues?

Anyone out there have a similar rig w/ a pullout bike rack on the back end? The mfg. provided spare tire holder on mine has the 4" cross bar winged out and the single bolt holding the entire wheel/tire. First encounter was on the way up to Wisconsin Dells, WI. Pulled into the site, walked around the rig and here is the spare tire hanging by a single bolt. The 4" cross bar was winged out so it would not keep the tire snug to the verticle bar and where the single bolt was holding whole tire was bent. Tried 2x unsuccessfully with my dealer and talking directly to Keystone to get this covered under warranty. No can do. Supposedly, I either bottomed out the back bumper (which the tire can't hit the ground even if it happened) or I hit something with the tire (which if the case it would be winged backwards and not forwards to fall off. Anyone similar issue?
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Old 02-08-2012, 03:08 PM   #2
66ken
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I had the same problem on my 2010 327RES, I talked to Keystone and they had not heard of the problem. I rebuilt the holder with thicker steel and added another bolt, also installed gussets to reinforce it. I have been looking at Lipperts under body mount for the spare. I don't think the bumper is the place for the spare.
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Old 02-08-2012, 03:21 PM   #3
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Have not had a problem with my 327 but also am looking into getting the spare off the bumper and putting it under the belly. With all the horror stories about that bumper I don't want any suprises
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Old 02-08-2012, 03:55 PM   #4
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I just saw an older version of my trailer with the spare mounted under the front A frame. My lord, does that hang low! Now I’m having second thoughts about mounting it there. Maybe I’ll find some cross beam for the winch mount.
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Old 02-09-2012, 06:25 AM   #5
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I don't have the pull out. We have a 2012 cougar x-lite 26sab and the first trip out after about 400km. almost lost the whole rear bumper. From the vibration the welds all cracked where the rear bumper welds to the frame. Had to remove spare-took it back and the dealer reinforced and rewelded it. Seems ok now.
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Old 02-09-2012, 08:36 AM   #6
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We have a 2012 326MKS with the same pull out bike rack and rear tire mount. There have been no problems with the tire for us for the first camping season, but we have been wanting to get the tire off the rear. We recently purchased the Lippert underbody storage bin with tire mount.The DH has not installed it yet since it is still pretty cold here and the trailer is in storage. He is planning on posting pictures when he gets it installed. The tire mount looks slick and the extra storage boxes will be great for the wood blocks and power cord.
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Old 02-09-2012, 01:40 PM   #7
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hey there MSP I also am looking at that set up or just the winch my question about them is how big are the storage bins and are they lockable.
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Old 02-09-2012, 05:19 PM   #8
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Hi Milby,

My understorage unit is currently in storage. I do remember the drawers are not lockable. I went to the Lippert website and looked at the dimensions of the boxes and it looks like they are 28" long, 19.2" wide and 8.2 deep. I am looking forward to getting this installed on the trailer and moving that spare tire from the back.

Hope this helps.
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Old 02-10-2012, 02:00 AM   #9
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Thanks will check it out and maybe call them
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Old 02-10-2012, 07:13 AM   #10
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UnderChassisStorageFlyer.pdf
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Old 03-18-2012, 09:59 AM   #11
wire1946
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Thumbs down spare tire and bike rack

I have a res 327 . good unit .but almost lost my spare and bikes going to Fl. the 4x4 square bumper AL. AL.and cant hold the weight of bikes and tire .hitting the bumpers in the road caused the metal to rip at both braised points ,where it is attached .
Good luck to all
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Old 03-18-2012, 10:31 AM   #12
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spare tire/bumper

Our Cougar has the slide out bumper/bike rack with the spare wheel mounted in the center of the bumper.
While the bumper is made from light wall square tubing, it is gusseted where it attaches to the sliding frame with the top corner of the tubing even with the top of the frame preventing a lot of the vertical twisting and making for a stronger welded joint
The only problem we had was that the wheel was attached to the vertical post with a carriage bolt and the square shank portion of the carriage bolt is longer than the material through which it is mounted is thick. This prevented the lug nut from tightening up against the wheel and allowed the wheel to shake and wobble.
A large, thick washer was all that was needed as a spacer.
I don't know if I would leave the spare wheel on the mount if I were to travel with the bumper extended due to the "play" in the slide rails allowing for a grat deal of up and down movement with the expected dynamic loading placed on the sliding bumper.
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Old 03-18-2012, 03:23 PM   #13
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I have a MKS326 Cougar with slide out bike rack I put the spare tire in the
basement to could not tighten the spare didn't like it hanging off
the bumper with the bikes on to much weight.
Like the Lippert underbody storage bin with tire mount but lots
of money there but cool maybe some day.
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Old 03-18-2012, 07:22 PM   #14
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Our spare rack was rendered useless after the first few months as a weld failed... Ripped the mount off and put the spare in the basement... Saving for the Lippert
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Old 03-19-2012, 03:45 PM   #15
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I ordered the LCI under carriage storage and spare tire rack, as I needed more outdoor storage and wanted free up space on the bumper for a bike rack. The one I got came 99’ long, I don’t really know if they make different sizes, but it overhung the sidewalls by 3”on each side (can you imagine running into that in the dark). This one was definitely built for a toy hauler; even the mounting plates were 3” off. Needing to leave on a trip I had one of the guys (Jarod) that work for me cut it down, this meant cutting 3” off each rail, the tire carrier, weld it all back together including the latch pins and re-mount it again. It took a little more than 3 hours to complete, but he did a fantastic job, as usual. I really like the way it works and gets the weight in front of the axels.

The bike rack is: the bolt on Swagman platform rack. To help support it, I mounted a cargo tie down bar to the rear of the trailer with nylon cargo webbing straps to rack frame, its rock solid now. While Jarod had the welder in his hand, he re-enforced the bumper mounting. I was worried about how low it was mounted and that it might drag on steep driveways, however, it never hit. Jarod wants to put the receiver through the bumper and support it back on the frame, which will gain me 4” in height. I guess I’ll have him do it since he did so well with the other project.

BTW: we also had to re-route the gas line to the outside of the frame, no big deal for us since were in the HVAC business. If we didn’t, it would have meant ¾” spacers.
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Old 03-19-2012, 05:39 PM   #16
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Nice write up... And thought provoking on doing more research. Yes, 3" either side could be a pita! Now if I just had a welder...
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Old 03-20-2012, 03:28 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CampJKL View Post
Nice write up... And thought provoking on doing more research. Yes, 3" either side could be a pita! Now if I just had a welder...
I wasn't thinking about my a$$, but more my knees! Even with the rounded edges they would do a job on a bear leg. I like the under carriage system so much I'm thinking about getting another one. Maybe this one will be the right size or Jarod will get another job to do...
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Old 03-22-2012, 04:00 PM   #18
chuck5180
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Spare tire mount

I had the same issue 1st trip out, just doubled thickness to cure problem. My dealer Barton lake in Angola In. fixed all the other small issues . Really good dealer to work with. The 1st trip was about 2600 miles, tows very well and that air ride pin makes a huge difference. I pull with a 2008 Ford 250 sd, 6.4 diesel power. Happy trails to all.
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Old 04-02-2012, 02:38 PM   #19
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So I have a 2012 330RBK with the rear storage slide out and spare mounted to it. I have not had anytime to play with it as our RV is parked in the yard in such a way I can not pull it out. SO is the key here, not to travel with the rear storage slide out and loaded with bikes and such? Maybe I should look at adding some more support bars or welds?
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Old 04-02-2012, 03:16 PM   #20
Tom and Kelley Crawford
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We have a 2010 327RES and if my memory is correct, they had a recall on the spare tire mount right after we got our Cougar. We took it to the dealership and when we got it back it was terrible. Tire was always loose and close to falling off and bent bar holding it on. I took it back and they said I must have hit something to bend the mounting (I had not) but they did fix it. It was no better and I had to jury rig it to keep it from falling off. Very poor design.
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