shoesandsocks Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 So ever since i mounted my 31 on my truck i notice my spare doesnt fit underneath and hits my panhard bar. So i was going to get a basket and mount it on to the roof but my friend says that on his xj he lost somewhere from 4-6 mpg with the tire mounted up there I was wondering if any of our members that have theres mounted on the roof have had any problems with this and can shed some light on this for me otherwise i will be spare less lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastpakr Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 I don't believe 4-6mpg, but certainly it's an abysmal influence on your CD. The larger concern IMO is that you're adding all that weight at the highest point of the vehicle. It would be one thing to do it as needed for an occasional trip when you know it's there. A little different when it's always there and you may have to make an emergency maneuver. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramdala Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 So ever since i mounted my 31 on my truck i notice my spare doesnt fit underneath and hits my panhard bar. So i was going to get a basket and mount it on to the roof but my friend says that on his xj he lost somewhere from 4-6 mpg with the tire mounted up there I was wondering if any of our members that have theres mounted on the roof have had any problems with this and can shed some light on this for me otherwise i will be spare less lol. Hi i am running on 32" (265/75) And relocating one of the spare tire brackets and trimming a little bit the rear fender the tire fits perfect without rubbing the panhard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkorahil Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 I had two in the roof rack of mine for a few weeks on a road trip and there was a noticible drag and reduced milege down the highway, not sure it was as high as 4-6 but it was there and enough to make me take them off when I got home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stioc Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Getting it on and off the roof rack is going to be a PITA. As ramdala said you should be able to fit the 31" in the spare location with a little bit of rearranging. I hear the rubber bumpers could be removed but I haven't looked into it myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverPath Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 It kills the mpgs noticeably as stated above however not 4-6. You can also feel the drag when you let off the accelerator. I need to get mine off my roof someday and onto a rear bumper..... Never really found an issue throwing the spare up there, I just stand on the back tire and give it the ole' heave-ho! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stioc Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 If you can lift 70lbs over your shoulder with one arm then you're a better man than I Just test it with your current spare and see. But again, you shouldn't need to relocate a 31" tire with a bit of creative trimming. Now if you want to look 'cool' that's another story Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoesandsocks Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 i think im just gonna source a smaller 15 in spare instead of my 31x10.5 i dont think it would hurt having 29in spare back there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XPLORx4 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I had a 31x10.50R15 spare mounted in the stock location for 10 years without problems on my '97. You might just need to play with the orientation of the tire as you crank the chain to lift it into place. It seemed to fit into place better when the tire was angled so that it was higher against the bumper, and lower towards the axle, and then when it's cranked into position, the side of the tire closer to the axle would lift into place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick13 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 (edited) Yeah, it can be a PITA to get a 33" on a steelie up and down, but I've been doing it for years now. I use both hands to prop it up above the rear window and then step on my back bumper and heave it up and in.I usually have quite a few things up on my roof basket (shovel, axe, jerry cans...) and I've really only noticed a 1-2 mpg difference at most...but I drive like a grandma so take it for what it's worth.I fit a 30.5" tire in the stock location and it was tight, so I always thought a 31.5 (or so) would actually fit but make it tight. If I could fit my 33, I'd much rather keep it down low for COG reasons as stated above. Edited March 22, 2013 by Rick13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nunya Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 My blazer has the spare on the roof (as did the 4runner it replaced), both in a 31" flavor on a factory aluminum wheel on the blazer. I'm sure it ain't helping MPG but I'd put money it's not 4mpg, even with other crap on the roof as well. It gets driven daily and has had no ill effects on handling (for the way my wife drives at least) though it gets some funny looks climbing up the side of the truck web doing tire pressure checks make sure it's good and secure when you mount it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theexbrit Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I have my main spare on the swing out carrier at the back & a smaller (29.5") spare on the roof. I haven't noticed any drag or loss of mpg but I have so much crap on my roof rack I wouldn't have noticed anyway! Before anyone asks, I have 2 spares as I do a lot of desert exploring, miles from anywhere & guys in my group have gotten 2 or 3 flats before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoesandsocks Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 yeah that land ops stuff looks pretty awesome man i was gonna look into tha but im to chicken to take my daily out that far from the beaten path lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01silvapathy Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I ran around with a 35x12.5 on my roof for awhile....it does kill gas mileage and makes the truck feel a TON more top heavy. Plus it was never secured agaist theft so it was risky as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom01Pathfinder Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 When i had my 31" spare on the roof, i noticed only a slight decrease in mpgs. What bothered me the most was wind noise and whenever i went over a decent bump it made noise. I'd check it every once in a while to make sure it was secure, and it was. Shook it back and forth, everything was tight. Maybe the weight of the tire flexed the rack a bit??? i still dont know. I took the rack off months ago and just have the spare in the cargo area now... Are you looking to buy a rack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoesandsocks Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 yes if it was cheap cause the rack i want is 109 shipped lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom01Pathfinder Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 I couldnt sell it for that cheap I imagine shipping to Arizona is not cheap from Indiana for something that weight 25ish pounds and it oversize. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 I'd be concerned about the weight as well, but if you had to put it up there, couldn't you stretch a tarp or something over it and tie it down at the corners? That should cut down on drag a bit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I lose some mpg when my roof is on, -3 maybe. It doesn't affect too much when the spare on or not. High speed noise is even worse from my point of view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90seven Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Have you considered trying other methods to carry your spare? There are hitch tire carriers that connect to your receiver, and fancier ones that pivot to allow the carrier to remain on while giving access to the lift gate. Only problem I see is if you happen to tow a trailer, but you might just throw that in the trailer for when you detach. Or for those with front mounted receivers....you get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoesandsocks Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) i honestly never knew they exsisted but now i know what i want for my birthday. Edited March 28, 2013 by shoesandsocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverPath Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 The whistle mine puts off is very loud and high pitched. Sometimes the radio can't even drown it out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoesandsocks Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 i think im gonna do this seems easy enough and looks cool http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/AlekG/SpareCarrier/Curt_L.jpg&imgrefurl=http://88xpeditions.blogspot.com/2007/11/rear-spare-tire-carrier-fabrication_9024.html&usg=__4ma4ThJ-gD1SNHELChc9xpFkXIM=&h=768&w=1024&sz=158&hl=en&start=15&zoom=1&tbnid=fn6l51xGZGTiuM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&ei=oHVUUdjgJKrW2AWrwoAY&prev=/search%3Fq%3Drear%2Bhitch%2Btire%2Bcarrier%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divnsfd&um=1&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CEgQrQMwDg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman2989 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 i think im gonna do this seems easy enough and looks cool http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/AlekG/SpareCarrier/Curt_L.jpg&imgrefurl=http://88xpeditions.blogspot.com/2007/11/rear-spare-tire-carrier-fabrication_9024.html&usg=__4ma4ThJ-gD1SNHELChc9xpFkXIM=&h=768&w=1024&sz=158&hl=en&start=15&zoom=1&tbnid=fn6l51xGZGTiuM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&ei=oHVUUdjgJKrW2AWrwoAY&prev=/search%3Fq%3Drear%2Bhitch%2Btire%2Bcarrier%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divnsfd&um=1&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CEgQrQMwDg I like that idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yazir Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 (edited) I was also concerned about this issue now that I got my 31"s, not really about whether the 31" spare would fit in the stock location or not, because I know it does, but if it was going to prevent me from being able to install a hitch, which is something I want to do ASAP. That's why I think I decided to get a square hitch (Reese 51046), which looks like it would give me more clearance around the tire. I was initially going to get the round Reese 33050. I like how the square hitches look anyways, and I was first concerned about the extra weight, but this one's only 6 pounds heavier thank the round model. $142 on Ebay. If you guys have more info on round hitches and 31" spares, maybe we'll erase any doubts. Y. Edited March 29, 2013 by yazir Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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