When I removed the cable mounted spare on my 98 F150, it had very
defined indentations, (wear marks) where the tire sidewall had
abraded against the frame members.
Could it have been loosening up or was it too tight? Whatever -
it's a bad design.
Mike L.
60A,67E,59Bug
----- Original Message -----
From: David Deutsch <mgman@optonline.net>
To: mgs <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: December 2, 2000 8:35 PM
Subject: falling spares
> There is a bumper sticker that reads something like ' the parts
falling
> off this car are made with the finest British Craftsmanship'
that I have
> found amusing. There is something happening on a regular basis
these
> days that is not amusing however and it's going to increase
dramaticly
> as time goes on. I'm talking about spares, as in spare tires,
dropping
> out from under mini vans and SUVs. I believe it was Chrysler
who began
> placing the spares under the rear of their mini vans back in the
early
> / mid-80's. Now almost ever mini van and SUV uses this method
of
> storage. A spooled cable raises and lowers the spare. The
problem is the
> cables are wearing and breaking.
>
> As a tow truck driver / roadside assistance provider I have gone
out to
> at least a dozen tire change calls where the spares are missing
and only
> a frayed cable end is under the vehicle. In most cases the owner
had no
> idea that it was missing and in few cases, that this was even
where the
> spare was supposed to be. This passed week I was called to an
accident
> site where a driver lost control after hitting a spare that
dropped out
> of the vehicle in front of them. Guess what? the vehicle did not
stop
> and probably didn't know that it had lost it's spare. Luckly it
was a
> donut spare that caused this accident. The all wheel drives are
required
> to use full size spares. I don't even care to think about the
havic that
> is going to be wreaked when the 17" wheels start dropping out
of
> Navigators and the like.
>
> So if you happen to own a vehicle with a cable secured spare
under it
> please check the condition of the mounting, especially in older
models.
> Additionally if you happen to be traveling behind one of these
vehicles
> please be aware of this hazard.
>
> Safety Fast (but not to close),
> David Deutsch
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