BAL installed

Shasta Bob · 08-31-2021, 03:13 PM

Installed, and really like this.

wiredgeorge · 08-31-2021, 03:31 PM

Looks like a clean install but I prefer my spare on my back bumper. How are you going to check air pressure every time you go out and if it is raining a you are on the muddy side of the road, crawling under doesn't seem fun. Can you get the tire out without crawling around under your camper?

**sourdough** · 08-31-2021, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Looks like a clean install but I prefer my spare on my back bumper. How are you going to check air pressure every time you go out and if it is raining a you are on the muddy side of the road, crawling under doesn't seem fun. Can you get the tire out without crawling around under your camper?

You unscrew the winged retaining screw shown in the first picture, grab those hooped handles and pull the spare out from under the trailer. The support bracket under the tire telescopes so you can pull it out and then slide it back; pretty slick (it came on my trailer).

Shasta Bob · 08-31-2021, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Looks like a clean install but I prefer my spare on my back bumper. How are you going to check air pressure every time you go out and if it is raining a you are on the muddy side of the road, crawling under doesn't seem fun. Can you get the tire out without crawling around under your camper?

Yes comes out on passenger side , valve stem facing down, and how often do you use your spare?

Javi · 08-31-2021, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Looks like a clean install but I prefer my spare on my back bumper. How are you going to check air pressure every time you go out and if it is raining a you are on the muddy side of the road, crawling under doesn't seem fun. Can you get the tire out without crawling around under your camper?

I turn on my TPMS and read it

**JRTJH** · 08-31-2021, 05:37 PM

I've had my BAL spare rack installed for about 8 years now. The only suggestion I'd add to "get one, they're great" is to make sure you keep some grease on the threads of the retaining screw. It's actually a 9/16" bolt with that plastic knob molded to the head of the bolt. Over the years, mine "corroded tight" around the threads. I broke the plastic knob trying to get it free. Once the knob was fully removed, I used a crescent wrench to remove the bolt.

I cleaned it up with a wire brush and "dunked it in "Sticky red bearing grease". Now, it's easy to remove with a wrench, no corrosion on the threads and the locking pin still keeps it from vibrating out....

I keep thinking I ought to order a new retaining screw, but, so far, between forgetting to try to find one and using the wrench, I just haven't seen the "priority need to replace what works'....

Anyway, if you've got the BAL tire rack, take a look at your retaining screw. No need to remove it, just turn it a turn once in a while to keep the threads from getting "sticky"....

RickV · 09-01-2021, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

You unscrew the winged retaining screw shown in the first picture, grab those hooped handles and pull the spare out from under the trailer. The support bracket under the tire telescopes so you can pull it out and then slide it back; pretty slick (it came on my trailer).

Was Traveling from Lewis and Clark Caverns to Kalispell, Mt. TPMS showed left rear tire was at 76psi stopped at a truck stop and took it back up to 110psi got back on the interstate and DW checked and the tire was back at 76psi stopped at the first safe place to get off the interstate. My previous two 5ers had spare mounted on bumper. I was kinda dreading dealing with it being underneath. I was surprised how much easier it was then I thought it would be to get the spare out. Turned out that the tire had a screw in it and once the air pressure dropped to 76 it kinda sealed itself back up. An advantage to the tire being underneath it is not baking it the sun all day.

Brantel · 09-01-2021, 04:13 AM

Love mine as well!

foldbak · 09-01-2021, 08:06 AM

I have the same on my trailer. When I removed the spare I found a brand new tire that was completely unusable. Since it rests on the steel tubes it slowly wears through the sidewall.

I ended up splitting some 1.5 inch hose and and wrapping the tubing to prevent this from happening again.

**sourdough** · 09-01-2021, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foldbak

I have the same on my trailer. When I removed the spare I found a brand new tire that was completely unusable. Since it rests on the steel tubes it slowly wears through the sidewall.

I ended up splitting some 1.5 inch hose and and wrapping the tubing to prevent this from happening again.

Have you checked to see if the mod worked? Seems like it should help for sure. From what I've seen anything compressed against a metal frame/structure/tube develops "wear dents" that look like they deform the tire. Asked about it at a tire dealer and they said it was normal and nothing to worry about - but it does look bad. Between replacing tires every 3 years or so and considering I've had to use a spare tire (on anything) exactly once in the past 40 years, I'm just going to keep an eye on it.....I think.

**JRTJH** · 09-01-2021, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foldbak

I have the same on my trailer. When I removed the spare I found a brand new tire that was completely unusable. Since it rests on the steel tubes it slowly wears through the sidewall.

I ended up splitting some 1.5 inch hose and and wrapping the tubing to prevent this from happening again.

The spare tire on my truck does the same thing. It's from the pressure of the "tire hanger pushing against the rubber". Every truck I've had with an underslung spare tire rack has caused the same indentations. I've talked to several tire center "experts" and all of them have told me that it is not a serviceability issue, just a cosmetic issue.

Are you seeing actual "rubber sidewall wear" or "indentations in the sidewall" ???

jsb5717 · 09-01-2021, 10:31 AM

I have one as well and really like the idea of it. Mine came on the trailer.
However, never had a flat so have never used it. I did think recently that I really should check the spare to make sure it's ready.

foldbak · 09-01-2021, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

The spare tire on my truck does the same thing. It's from the pressure of the "tire hanger pushing against the rubber". Every truck I've had with an underslung spare tire rack has caused the same indentations. I've talked to several tire center "experts" and all of them have told me that it is not a serviceability issue, just a cosmetic issue.

Are you seeing actual "rubber sidewall wear" or "indentations in the sidewall" ???

Yes it wore through the sidewall. Cord was showing and the tire dude refused to install it. I've checked the mod and the tire does have slight indentations but no wear.

**JRTJH** · 09-01-2021, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foldbak

Yes it wore through the sidewall. Cord was showing and the tire dude refused to install it. I've checked the mod and the tire does have slight indentations but no wear.

Thanks for the update. Something else to add to the "pre-trip checklist"

RickV · 09-02-2021, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foldbak

Yes it wore through the sidewall. Cord was showing and the tire dude refused to install it. I've checked the mod and the tire does have slight indentations but no wear.

How long had the tire that showed the cord been on the underneath mount before you noticed the cord showing through?

Brantel · 09-02-2021, 03:58 AM

I think I am going to add a pool noodle to the tubes on mine to help prevent this.

foldbak · 09-02-2021, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickV

How long had the tire that showed the cord been on the underneath mount before you noticed the cord showing through?

I bought the trailer mid 2018 and discovered the problem April 2021

**JRTJH** · 09-02-2021, 06:41 AM

I went out and looked at my spare yesterday evening after foldbak posted his response. There is no "wear" on my spare, but there are indentions, just like my truck spare, where the tire sits on the steel tubes. My spare has been sitting there for a bit longer than a year and the spare is "tight against the mounts and doesn't move any.

I wonder if the wear was caused by the tire being loose on the mount and moving (scrubbing) against the carrier ??? I'm not trying to find a way to blame anyone for anything. Rather, I'm trying to find a reasonable explanation for why it might have happened, so we all can prevent it from happening again.

Javi · 09-02-2021, 06:52 AM

Makes me glad I have the other style of under carriage BAL

foldbak · 09-02-2021, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

I went out and looked at my spare yesterday evening after foldbak posted his response. There is no "wear" on my spare, but there are indentions, just like my truck spare, where the tire sits on the steel tubes. My spare has been sitting there for a bit longer than a year and the spare is "tight against the mounts and doesn't move any.

I wonder if the wear was caused by the tire being loose on the mount and moving (scrubbing) against the carrier ??? I'm not trying to find a way to blame anyone for anything. Rather, I'm trying to find a reasonable explanation for why it might have happened, so we all can prevent it from happening again.

I don't recall it being loose but I would have to assume that it may have lost air pressure allowing for more movement then when it was first installed.

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