Steve034x4

For you guys with 19.5 wheels & tires - where do you keep your spare? I have just enough room in theory to mount a 245/70/19.5 spare under the bed in the normal spot (34" diameter), but a guy at the tire shop tells me that the larger wheels/tires are too heavy for the mechanism (about 140 lbs). I can't take up bed space since I have a slide-in camper, and the spare would be too heavy to haul up onto the camper roof (and I don't want to be more top heavy than I already am). Need some ideas....

Posm

I have a set of ricksons on the way and have thought of the same thing. It stays just a few degrees warmer here than it does at your local, so that may influence your choice. My two choices are: Buy the 247/19.5 and just see if the winch will hold it or find a worn out 305 or 315/17 that will be the same diameter and hope you never need either of them.

Just my thoughts. I have not had a spare on the ground in the last 300,000 miles. How bout a plug kit and 3 cans of Fix-A-Flat?

Bryan

Steve034x4

hey Bryan, my logic in going with the 19.5 as a spare is that the OEM or similar 17" wheel won't support the truck plus 4500 lb slide in camper (loaded estimate) or at very least it would be really pushing the limits of an 'E' rated tire. I'm inclined to pull up the 19.5 with the stock winch under the bed and build some sort of carrier frame underneath to take the bulk of the weight. I would think it will hold it under normal circumstances, but all I need are some potholes or a speed bump to cause it to fall off and cause some poor Neon behind me to lose his sense of humor.

HorseHauler

i haven't looked at the winch operation under the truck but is there a way to make it stronger some how? whats the weak point in the winch?