Controversial - no spare tire!

After considering that my 37" spare tire and wheel weight over 100 pounds and the likelihood that I could wrestle it off the spare tire mount (nearly zero percent chance), let alone get the flat back on the mount. As well as the fact that the scissors jack in the Jeep is incapable of lifting the Jeep high enough (did I mention 37" tires and a 2" Mopar lift?). I decided to ditch the spare tire all together. It's like my Jeep went on a diet

Now, I may like to take chances but I try not to be stupid, so I am installing an ARB twin compressor in the back of the Jeep and carrying a tire plug kit. If all else fails, there is AAA and Uber. When i go offroading, I will hoist the spare into the cargo compartment (just in case).

What do you think?


Ps. My past Corvettes and Porsches didn't have spares and they didn't have a compressor and plug kit onboard either.

 

Welcome @The4x4Guys . The spare-free looks okay but for me the reality in life for me is I don't like to wait for help, be helpless nor depend on others. “Better to have, and not need, than to need, and not have.”

 

FYI @The4x4Guys the black Wrangler in the pic is a JLU. Perhaps you own both JK/JL?

 

I do not like “no spare tire”.

psssst .. get a Commander .. hehe .. just kiddn’

 

There is no doubt that the lack of a spare does have its lovers and haters. I haven't given up on carrying a spare in the future, but if I do it will be on a bumper mounted setup, not on the tailgate.

 

Nope it just means I messed up my sig line......going to fix it now.

 

So true, I do not care if on tailgate or bumper .. for now my gate can still hold the 35.

 

Welcome to the forum @The4x4Guys. Nice Jeep.
I kinda struggled with the spare no spare conundrum.

https://www.jeeps.net/threads/spare-vs-no-spare.1506/

And for the same reasons. But I choose to go with the spare. Although I do like your rear end set up. And I know I just set myself up there. (Go for it various @members). I'm not a fan of depending on others also. And I just feel I'd rather have a spare...than not. I'm running 35s. And I joined a gym to be able to lift flat back on the spare carrier.

 

https://images.app.goo.gl/Fa74eKWCVuNWJopg8
Well....hmmmm.

 

I like having a spare. I have one... in my garage cuz I cant pick the damn thing up to get it back onto the spare tire mount haha

 

Hahahahaha!

 

Hello Bob, welcome from Oklahoma.

I am with aggrex, I like to be self sufficient and hate having to depend on others or feel helpless.
It's funny you see a Jeep with a winch and recovery gear, a high lift, etc but no spare. So they can get out of darn near any obstacle that they could get stuck in, but a blown tire could have them stranded on the side of the road. Kind of ironic. Now if you also have on board air and a plug kit then you are still self sufficient and have the means to get back underway in most situations, so that's ok.
Maybe someone should build a crane to lift the spare tire off like we used on the big trucks in the military.

I don't mind the no spare look though.

 

The biggest PLUS to me is the visibility. Trying to look out the back of a Jeep with 37" or larger tires stinks. The weight savings is great too!

That said, I still run a spare on both our Jeeps. Off-road there's no room in the back to fit a spare. On road, I have AAA but would rather do the job myself. Same reason I carry an impact and tools in the Jeep as well as the appropriate jack(s).
And I also have an ARB twin and plug kit and fuel in case I need to give help to a fellow Jeeper.

So I guess I'd suggest hitting them gym a little harder and heft that wheel/tire on there LOL (Ps I'm a 52 year old short, fat guy with bigger/heavier tires than you, and I can do it)

 

... LOL

 

Oh I knew this was going to be a controversial topic and honestly I anguished over the decision for weeks. I actually solved a couple of problems by removing the spare and create a new one. The problems solved are 1) I can now see out the back window - with a 37" tire and a Rough Country bracket that lifted it 4" to clear the backup sensors, I had zero view out the back window. 2) with aftermarket wheels (KMC Rockstars) the backup camera saw a lot of the inside of the wheel due to its offset, 3) I wanted/needed an excuse to mount the ARB twin compressor, this gave me the excuse to part with the $.

The problem it created of course is no spare tire around town, which I explained earlier would have been of questionable value without 1) Charles Atlas to remove the spare and hoist the flat back up there, 2) a Hi-Lift jack or hydraulic floor jack to lift the side of the Jeep with the flat, and 3) an impact wrench to remove the torqued on lug nuts.

Here is what I am considering as my backup plan. I have a JCR Offroad mid-width rear bumper on the Jeep now, they also sell a bumper mounted tire carrier. I am considering mounting the spindle for the carrier on the bumper, but not actually mounting the carrier itself. I did all the wiring on the inside of the tailgate with weatherproof quick disconnects (third brake light, license plate light, and backup camera) so that I could remove the current license plate, brake light, backup camera bracket and plug in an alternative. I just need to talk to JCR about leaving the spindle exposed and what issues that might create.

Bob

 

Dunno man, doesn't seem controversial to me.
Everyone's needs are different and you need to build to your needs. Other's are just sharing their perspective on their needs.
All good

 

I agree, to each his own. I don't look down on folks who don't customize their Jeep and run them stock. (well I do literally look down on them since the 2" lift and 37" tires put me up a bit higher)...LOL. But I figure every Jeep sold is good for the community and the company so they continue putting out more awesome Jeeps.

I love my JLUR, but saw the Gladiator this weekend at the Dallas Auto Show and despite my initial reservations, I love it.

 

I do not despise people or Jeeps who do not want the spare tire. It’s just my personal taste that I actually like the look of the spare tire on a Wrangler .. All good.

 

This is exactly what I do . . . must be a Texas thing. 40" spare in the cargo on the trails with a High lift jack and tools. Only twice in my 35 years of driving have I ever had a flat that prevented me from driving to the nearest Discount Tire (not counting off-roading).