Spare Relocation Experience?

Archives of Posts to the NZ MX5 List back in 2003
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Ross Bryon

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by Ross Bryon » Mon Aug 04, 2003 10:52 am

Has anyone done the spare tyre relocation to the underside of the boot?
And if so, are you happy with it?

I'm seriously considering it, but all the plans and pics I've seen are
based on hanging the tyre from a single M12 bolt-and-large washer
through the usually rubber-plugged drain hole at the bottom of the left
side of the boot's recess. Further, most of the plans call for hanging
the tyre off-centre - from one of the lug holes rather than the centre
hub.

My worry is that, with all that weight hanging from that single point
over time and bumpy roads, is one point of the boot tray (even with
large over-size washer) strong enough to withstand all the
shock-and-pull force of the tyre weight - especially if the tyre is
hung off-centre?

Would appreciate advice from local NZ experience with this modification
- good or bad. I'm really covetous of the additional boot space which
the scheme affords, but don't want to end up with a damaged boot floor.


Ross Bryon
Ampersand Design
ross@ampersand.co.nz
Tel 64 9 376 1670
Fax 64 9 376 4009
Mob 64 21 376 167
BRG V-Spec 1991 Roadster

Gordon Tucker
See my 5 and raise you.
See my 5 and raise you.
Posts: 74
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 7:53 am
Location: Cambridge

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by Gordon Tucker » Mon Aug 04, 2003 5:38 pm

I have had this on my 94 J LTD for the last 6 months. No sign of the boot
floor cracking as yet. The bolt is through one of the lug holes, with a
large wingnut and a pin so it can't unwind. The wingnut is done up very
tight so there is no flex. I can't speak highly enough of this
modification. On the Anzac weekend trip around the East Cape, not only was
I able to fit a bag each for Trisha (large bag) and myself (small bag), but
also some food and more importantly, liquid refreshment for the 3 days.
Gordon.


Ross Bryon
<ross@ampersan To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
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Sent by: Subject: Spare Relocation Experience?
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04/08/03 10:52
Please respond
to MX5List


Has anyone done the spare tyre relocation to the underside of the boot?
And if so, are you happy with it?

I'm seriously considering it, but all the plans and pics I've seen are
based on hanging the tyre from a single M12 bolt-and-large washer
through the usually rubber-plugged drain hole at the bottom of the left
side of the boot's recess. Further, most of the plans call for hanging
the tyre off-centre - from one of the lug holes rather than the centre
hub.

My worry is that, with all that weight hanging from that single point
over time and bumpy roads, is one point of the boot tray (even with
large over-size washer) strong enough to withstand all the
shock-and-pull force of the tyre weight - especially if the tyre is
hung off-centre?

Would appreciate advice from local NZ experience with this modification
- good or bad. I'm really covetous of the additional boot space which
the scheme affords, but don't want to end up with a damaged boot floor.


Ross Bryon
Ampersand Design
ross@ampersand.co.nz
Tel 64 9 376 1670
Fax 64 9 376 4009
Mob 64 21 376 167
BRG V-Spec 1991 Roadster


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Phil McArthur

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by Phil McArthur » Mon Aug 04, 2003 5:39 pm

Call me an optimist but I've had the spare sitting in the garage for quite a
few months. Considered the mod but too stingy to pay for the exhaust
re-routing. Admittedly I don't stray too far from town too often. Would
one of those emergency fly-spray style reinflators do at a pinch if on the
open road? I agree the extra room is a major improvement.

Keith Cook

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by Keith Cook » Mon Aug 04, 2003 5:41 pm

An easy way.
Trade in that leggy blonde for a nice short brunette. Then there's room behind the passenger seat for the spare without any more hassle than sliding the passenger seat forward a bit!

simple
Why yes, actually I do run this site.
Why yes, actually I do run this site.
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon May 01, 2006 5:19 pm

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by simple » Tue Aug 05, 2003 7:51 am

I relocated my spare wheel to underneath the boot about 18 months ago
- it has worked really well for me & I highly recommend it. The
exhaust got louder - a resonator seems generally to be considered
essential, as well as the new/small/relocated muffler.

I didn't like the single-stud mounting used by virtually everyone
else, so I installed two studs. I tried installing with just one,
but the boot floor is very thin metal and flexed very easily - not a
good look. The minimum length of threaded rod I could get at the
local engineering supply (Wairau Engineering) was enough to do 2
studs, so extra hardware cost (extra nuts, washers, wing-nut, R-clip)
was on the order of $5 or so. I'm not saying that single-stud will
cause problems (I've never heard of such an install failing), but
having 2 appeals to my engineering sensibilities.

Getting the wheel onto the studs is difficult to do without lying on
your back under the car, but I figure that's something I generally
only need to do at home. Getting the wheel off the studs, which is
the thing I might need to do on the side of the road, in the rain, is
easy - can do it without getting dirty, just by reaching underneath
the car, pulling the two clips & spinning off the wingnuts.

I found that the front of the spare was bearing on the sway bar
(maybe due to imperfect positioning of studs), so I drilled a hole in
a block of wood & put that over a now-unused exhaust hanger - this
keeps the spare from touching the sway bar. I also placed some heavy
rubber where the top of the spare was pressed against a lip running
laterally under the back of the boot. Thoroughness makes me happy.

The space is definitely an improvement - I can now fit a PC in the
boot, where the spare got in the way before. I'm not sure how I
coped with the boot space previously, because I still fill up the
boot when I go on holiday, even just by myself :-)

If anyone around Auckland wants to come & look at my installation,
send me private email. (I'm generally on the North Shore, but Mt
Eden for the next 2.5wks, and often in West Auckland too). I can
also do digital photos (no, I don't have any online anywhere at
present) - send me a private email.


Karl.

lou Girardin

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by lou Girardin » Tue Aug 05, 2003 8:06 am

I haven't used a spare for 4 - 5 years now, there's nowhere to put a 205/50 -
15 if I did change it. I had 1 puncture 3 years ago and the fix a flat can got
me mobile to the nearest tyre shop.
Lou

DBM58
Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
Posts: 139
Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 12:59 pm
Location: Auckland

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by DBM58 » Tue Aug 05, 2003 8:16 am

When the "Fix A Flat" type canisters were first available, I understood that while they sorted out your immediate problem, they crerated another in that the tyre was no longer able to be re-used. Is this still the case?

David Moughtin
David

pjenkins

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by pjenkins » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:13 am

'Fix a flat' cannisters can be dangerous and should only be used as a
temporary measure to get you to the nearest tyre shop.
Reason is that whatever made the tyre go flat (such as nail) can score the
inner liner of the tyre when it rotates flat and you can't gauge the extent
of the damage until the tyre is stripped, cleaned and inspected. The
cannister inflates the tyre and you drive off thinking all is well until
the weakened sidewall blows out at the damage point.
The gel sprayed into the inside of the tyre to seal the hole makes a huge
mess which you must clean out thoroughly before assessing the damage and to
see if the tyre can be repaired. The rim also needs to be cleaned. Tyre
shops -if they will clean it out-will impose a hefty surcharge for this
over the cost of the repair.
Throw the cannister away and stick with the spare...
Pete


"David Moughtin" <Davidm@Snackmate.com>@mx5club.org.nz on 5 August, 2003
08:16:12

Please respond to MX5List<mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>

Sent by: e-admin@mx5club.org.nz


To: "MX5List" <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
cc:
Subject: RE: Spare Relocation Experience?


When the "Fix A Flat" type canisters were first available, I understood
that while they sorted out your immediate problem, they crerated another in
that the tyre was no longer able to be re-used. Is this still the case?

David Moughtin

joanie
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 109
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 3:48 pm
Location: Paekakariki

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by joanie » Tue Aug 05, 2003 12:50 pm

Nice to hear some info on "Fix a flat" from someone in the trade; especially
the bit about a surcharge to clean it out when you take it to the tyre shop!
Like Lou my question remains..what do you do with the flat tyre after you
change it for the spare..it won't fit under the car will it nor in the boot
you've now got nicely filled with luggage. Maybe I should just toss the spare
(I don't fancy driving on one of those things anyway) and trust my luck, just
call for help if I am unlucky enough to get a flat out on the road. In my
experience most of my flats have occurred in my garage anyway!
Cheers Joan H

lou Girardin

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by lou Girardin » Tue Aug 05, 2003 1:21 pm

No. Clean it, repair it, good as new

lou Girardin

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by lou Girardin » Tue Aug 05, 2003 1:27 pm

None of that happened to me, drove 10 km's, got the tyre fixed, paid the
normal rate, all's well. If you drive any distance on a flat tyre the carcass
will be knackered anyway. I'd rather drive on a tyre sealant than a space
saver.

Scott

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by Scott » Tue Aug 05, 2003 5:02 pm

seems to me that it wouldn't be too hard to organise either something to
go on the roof or on the bootlid to temporarily store the tyre while in
transit.
I'm thinking something padded with velcro to secure the tyre with arms
that would go under the boot lild and join up on the underside. Of
course doing this on the roof instead of the bootlid would require a
hardtop.

Any ideas?

Dez_Prado

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by Dez_Prado » Tue Aug 05, 2003 9:53 pm

We did the relocate mod as soon as we got my wife's car 18 months ago
and as it is a daily driver I've kept an eye on the result - no
problems! Although I followed the scheme available on this website I did
modify the washer arrangement slightly by ensuring it was larger, to
spread the load better (by making one) and insulating the back of it
with a thin layer of rubber compound sheet. Have done the mod to my '94
J-Spec of three months, as well.
Provided the wheel is sitting flush & firm with the floor and not able
to bounce around, there should not be a problem, surely?
Regards
Dez

lou Girardin

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by lou Girardin » Wed Aug 06, 2003 8:03 am

MessageI've seen aftermarket racks that fit on the boot lid. But the whole
idea sounded very expensive just to have a spare that's seldom used. There is
also a product called Slime, that is added to the tyre pre puncture, so to
speak. It then seals any penetrations as they happen. But you have to be
fairly diligent in regularly checking the tyres. There has also been wheel
balance issues using this stuff on bikes, it may not be a problem in car tyres
though.

Scott

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by Scott » Wed Aug 06, 2003 11:43 am

I was thinking along the lines of an all material rack, something that's
not permenant and could be packed in the boot. Could prove fairly cheap
if we then made them inhouse.
Hmmm...

lou Girardin

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by lou Girardin » Wed Aug 06, 2003 3:40 pm

MessageYou could try a magnetic pad similar to m/cycle tank bags and use
retaining straps hooked onto the edges of the boot lid. Then you need to work
out how to locate the wheel securely. You may even have a niche market for
them. I won't make any intellectual property claims. Good Luck

biff
I have stars and not afraid to use them
I have stars and not afraid to use them
Posts: 248
Joined: Tue May 23, 2006 3:17 pm
Location: Christchurch

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by biff » Wed Aug 06, 2003 6:20 pm

MessageHow about this.
take an old seatbelt or two and use the belts, add a metal/plastic clip, like
a "J" on its side, and a bit of rubber on the inside groove. These go over the
boot on all 4 sides/edges, now close the boot.(Will need to be tensioned of
some sort, add it to the "J" on its side)
attach some more belt material to the + and some Velcro, the 21/2 inch stuff,
strap up the spare and off ya go.
When finished, chuck it in a bag and its done.
Biff
ZOOM1N

PS If ya make one ...I'll be in
Red MX NA
ZOOM1N

Muscles

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by Muscles » Wed Aug 06, 2003 8:17 pm

I used to work for a tyre shop about 5 years ago, now i wont disrepute the
business by saying its name, but we used to say to customers straight away no
dice, cant fix this tyre, its ruined and you'll have to buy a knew one, so
depending on company it will happen...hope that helps...

lou Girardin

Spare Relocation Experience?

Post by lou Girardin » Thu Aug 07, 2003 8:12 am

MessageYou have to make sure the pad doesn't move or it will scratch hell out
of the paint. That's why I suggested a magnetic rubber backed pad for the boot
surface.
You're right Muscles, there's plenty of rip - off tyre shops out there. That's
why I stick to one I know and trust. At least these forums expose some of the
rorts.

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