Spare Tyre Poll

[stu0710]

Originally Posted by 844PHW

Especially if they have a cover like the RAV4 used to have. Apparently Toyota have now dropped the idea of a sparewheel in the UK market. So the fact of being on the back door and not interfering with anything else (except costs) doesn't stop manufacturers dropping it.

Surely a 20Kg plus spare wheel on the back door puts a hell of a strain on the hinges, catches and gas struts, not to mention it leaves a dirt-trap which can only be cleaned with the wheel removed - a solution best left to utility vehicles IMO. If you have to have a full-size spare for towing a trailer, mount it on the trailer or in the caravan?

[wimorrison]

[QUOTE=stu0710;1070982 ... If you have to have a full-size spare for towing a trailer, mount it on the trailer or in the caravan?[/QUOTE]

Ins't it nice to see a pragmatic and practical suggestion that no-one can argue against!

BTW also agree with you comments about door mounted wheels - they are also difficult to get off and on because of the weight and the height they are stored at.

[Lancahire]

Originally Posted by stu0710

Surely a 20Kg plus spare wheel on the back door puts a hell of a strain on the hinges, catches and gas struts, not to mention it leaves a dirt-trap which can only be cleaned with the wheel removed - a solution best left to utility vehicles IMO. If you have to have a full-size spare for towing a trailer, mount it on the trailer or in the caravan?

A side opening door does not need Gas struts.

[Lancahire]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

Ins't it nice to see a pragmatic and practical suggestion that no-one can argue against!

BTW also agree with you comments about door mounted wheels - they are also difficult to get off and on because of the weight and the height they are stored at.

Well actually I disagree with you. I really think that taking the spare wheel of the back door of a LR Defender or Discovery is less strain on the old back than lifting and man-handling the spare out of the boot of an S80 Volvo.

[stu0710]

Originally Posted by Lancahire

A side opening door does not need Gas struts.

Last time I looked the rear tailgate on my XC60 was top hinged

[844PHW]

Originally Posted by stu0710

Last time I looked the rear tailgate on my XC60 was top hinged

Yes, but let's be sensible. If you have a door-mounted sparewheel, it rather implies a side opening door. And with all that weight on the door, you may well want damping struts to stop the door swinging with too much momentum.

Because I lug my fullsize spare in or out of the luggage area from time to time, I can say that a door-mounted spare would be less bother to lift in and out of place.

[Lancahire]

Originally Posted by 844PHW

Yes, but let's be sensible. If you have a door-mounted sparewheel, it rather implies a side opening door. And with all that weight on the door, you may well want damping struts to stop the door swinging with too much momentum.

Because I lug my fullsize spare in or out of the luggage area from time to time, I can say that a door-mounted spare would be less bother to lift in and out of place.

I do so agree with that. You can let gravity be your friend when dropping the spare wheel from its carrier on the back door. But to get a spare wheel out of an S80 boot you have to lift the wheel UP before you can slide it over the sill of the boot.

[Worthingmike]

I don't think having a spare wheel hanging on the back door would be a good idea. I would have to give a lot of thought to buying a car without some sort of spare wheel. I don't mind a space saver, but as I often travel out in the country and out of mobile phone contact I would not like to be without a spare wheel.

[844PHW]

A rear door mount is not the only possibility for an external sparewheel - it could be bumper or towbar mounted. In these cases the mounting can be arranged to swing down out of the way so as to allow operation of the normal door.

[stu0710]

Originally Posted by 844PHW

A rear door mount is not the only possibility for an external sparewheel - it could be bumper or towbar mounted. In these cases the mounting can be arranged to swing down out of the way so as to allow operation of the normal door.

True, but have you seen a 4 or 5 year old (or older) Merc ML with the rear mounted spare which swings out of the way, they're inevitably a real mess at the back as the spare wheel is just a major dirt trap. The same goes for vehicles with a rear door mounted spare with a vinyl cover. Personally it would put me off buying the XC60 - if I wanted a vehicle with a spare wheel hanging off the back I'd buy an old Land Rover or Isuzu Trooper - I just don't think this solution works on a stylish car like the XC60?