Jeep XJ mini spare tire.

[BIGdaddy]

Just a thought.

I had the mini spare in the stock spot in my cargo area. I've since replaced it with a full-size spare.

Saw a picture of a landy with a spare on the door and a spare on the hood. Got me thinking about multiple spares.

1. mini spare on hood as a "last resort"
2. full-size spare in load area

and/or

3. full size spare on swing-out.

What says you? I've been a situation where two spares would have been a blessing. (got to desert, been there 5 minutes and an Ocotillo branch sliced one of my sidewalls. not repairable with plugs. If it'd happened with two tires, I honestly would have been SOL calling a tow service, or trying desperately to sew a sidewall back together or simply ruining a rim, to get to a tire shop.

I'm figuring most of us have the mini spare available. why not carry it? it'd get you down the road, right?

again, just a thought. wouldn't work if you're running 33's or 35's but might work a treat if you're like me runnin' 29's-31's.

 

[ExpoMike]

Actually if you are running a LSD or locker, a mini spare is completely useless. You'll burn up a LSD with different size tires (anything over the ~28" stock size) and a locker would "drag" the smaller tire around and create some very weird handling/driving issues.

Honestly, in most places, how far are you actually away from a paved road? Once to pavement you can call a for a tow. It also helps if you wheel with others that have similar/same size and type spare. You can borrow a spare from someone else. Worst case, I say a rim is sacrafical if it really came down to it. I have spare rims at home exactly for that reason.

As for an XJ carrying two full size spares, heck, it's hard enough to find room for one. Two is just adding extra weight and possibly creating handling issues, depending on where they are placed. Being that the XJ is a fairly light vehicle when compared to others, you're more likely to get away with driving on the rim in the dirt, until you got to a paved road, without doing much if any damage to the rim.

That said, my buddy killed two tires in Anza because he was being an idiot, driving too fast in a wash and not watching where he was going. Nailed a big rock and bent the inner edge of both pass. side wheels. He borrowed an extra spare from on of the other guys to get home.

Personally I try to really watch where my tire placement goes, looking at sharp/pointed rocks with care. Heck, wheeling the rental Wrangler over in Hawaii, crawling around in sharp lava, will really keep you thinking about what line you take. Managed no tire damage but I also keep the tire pressure up since I did not have any OBA with me.

My .02 worth.

 

[winkosmosis]

I've thought about that too. If you want to use the back seat you can't mount a 31"+ tire in that stock location anyway, so you might as well leave the mini spare in since it takes so little space.

 

[ExpoMike]

I've thought about that too. If you want to use the back seat you can't mount a 31"+ tire in that stock location anyway, so you might as well leave the mini spare in since it takes so little space.

I have a ~31" (245/75-16) tire in the stock location having removed the mini spare. Many others have done it as well. It takes getting the tire in just right but it will fit.

 

[Maximus Ram]

I can carry 2..one on the roof rack and one on the swing-away in back.
Now I don't carry that weight all the time. I don't even keep the swing-away on when runnig about town. But I can if needed.

 

[winkosmosis]

I have a ~31" (245/75-16) tire in the stock location having removed the mini spare. Many others have done it as well. It takes getting the tire in just right but it will fit.

No matter what I try, I can't get the seat to latch on the left side. The angle of the seatback makes the rear seat unusable for long trips.

 

[Harald Hansen]

I had a narrower tyre on the bonnet of my Series III. It made it easier to look over it, but it wouldn't cause that many problems if mounted on an axle.

 

[bobDog]

I've thought about that too. If you want to use the back seat you can't mount a 31"+ tire in that stock location anyway, so you might as well leave the mini spare in since it takes so little space.

Actually I have a 31 behind the rear seat w/o a problem....I guy I met at the home depot the other day had a 33 ...he had slightly bent the back of the back seat ....might have bothered a center passenger, but it fit real nice!:victory:

 

[BIGdaddy]

Actually if you are running a LSD or locker, a mini spare is completely useless. You'll burn up a LSD with different size tires (anything over the ~28" stock size) and a locker would "drag" the smaller tire around and create some very weird handling/driving issues.

Honestly, in most places, how far are you actually away from a paved road? Once to pavement you can call a for a tow. It also helps if you wheel with others that have similar/same size and type spare. You can borrow a spare from someone else. Worst case, I say a rim is sacrafical if it really came down to it. I have spare rims at home exactly for that reason.

As for an XJ carrying two full size spares, heck, it's hard enough to find room for one. Two is just adding extra weight and possibly creating handling issues, depending on where they are placed. Being that the XJ is a fairly light vehicle when compared to others, you're more likely to get away with driving on the rim in the dirt, until you got to a paved road, without doing much if any damage to the rim.

That said, my buddy killed two tires in Anza because he was being an idiot, driving too fast in a wash and not watching where he was going. Nailed a big rock and bent the inner edge of both pass. side wheels. He borrowed an extra spare from on of the other guys to get home.

Personally I try to really watch where my tire placement goes, looking at sharp/pointed rocks with care. Heck, wheeling the rental Wrangler over in Hawaii, crawling around in sharp lava, will really keep you thinking about what line you take. Managed no tire damage but I also keep the tire pressure up since I did not have any OBA with me.

My .02 worth.

So...

-wheeling with a buddy is a good rule
-a traction device requires tire sizes to be the same or very close
-once at pavement, call a tow truck

most of the people here are open, alone, away from pavement, though buddy.

And I thought I was being careful, too. the branch was buried, didn't even see what did it until I heard the whoosh of air. I was actually trying to get into position to recover a stuck truck, very slowly.

 

[BIGdaddy]

I can carry 2..one on the roof rack and one on the swing-away in back.
Now I don't carry that weight all the time. I don't even keep the swing-away on when runnig about town. But I can if needed.

Yeah, thats the idea. just like you're doing it. When you're around town, there's probably always a tire center around, so why lose the mpg's...

anyone seen a double swingaway for an xj? that might help alleviate the inside storage issue.

I like the rack, swingaway idea, except for the weight up high, but if its on something like the mohave road that isn't too off-camber. why not?

Trail repairs 80% of the time have to do with tires. Read that once. I believe it. Of the trips I've been on, tires topped the list of repairs. Makes sense since its the only part that 100% contact with the surface you're travelling on.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Here's a good quesiton. does anyone substitute a plug kit and a compressor for a spare?

I know some rockcrawling guys who do this, with 40" tires. (no room for a 5th tire)

or the common phrase of "I'll just steel one from my trailer"...anyone actually had to to this?

i'd think that the mini spare would be a good option, cuz if the trailer wears the same tires as your rig, the trailer axle isn't going to care what tire size it's running(beam axle). If you traveled at 30mph or less, you'd probably never even know the difference. That would get you to a tire center...

 

[XXXpedition]

i always carry two...
not that great to see, but well enough )

 

[BIGdaddy]

i always carry two...
not that great to see, but well enough )

gawd I love that rig. We're both your spares full size?

what was the overall mpg of it loaded up for a trip, sven?

 

[Root Moose]

anyone seen a double swingaway for an xj? that might help alleviate the inside storage issue.

IIRC both Kaymar and TJM have them.. or had them, not sure if they sell XJ bumpers any more.

They were quite expensive. For the less money you could get someone to build you exactly what you want.

 

[Root Moose]

No matter what I try, I can't get the seat to latch on the left side. The angle of the seatback makes the rear seat unusable for long trips.

Let some air out? If you have OBA or an air pig not a big deal.