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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2630 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Quick How To: Installing BAL Hide-A-Spare
    Posted: 15 Jun 2018 at 9:27am
Subzilla, how wide is your spare tire? I have to admit I just eyeballed it a bit (with a tape measure), as it's still attached to the standard rear-mount. If your tire is closer to 10", then it would start getting real close as to whether it would work or not.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Subzilla View Drop Down
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Posts: 302 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jun 2018 at 6:47am
GlueGuy, I hope you have less frustration than I did installing it.  I'm certainly not trying to rain on anyone's parade here.......I thought I had done the same forethought as I'm usually pretty meticulous with such projects.  Not sure where I went wrong.  After precise measuring (or so I thought), I installed the mounting brackets where I thought they should be.  Threw the tire in place and could not even come close to getting the tire carrier in proper place.  I had to move BOTH mounting brackets down as low as I could get them PLUS reduce tire pressure to less than 10 pounds to give it some flex and I still had to slightly force the carrier in place.  

If the top of your bracket goes 2.25" down, I wonder where that puts the mounting holes.  Mine were at the bottom of the frame.  Not sure why mine was such a challenge.  Please report back when you install yours and let us know how it goes.  I will go home and do some measurements this weekend and try to remember to post them to compare with your numbers.    Have a good day!
Mark
Mark
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2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4
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Presitla99 View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2018 at 6:03pm
Thanks to all for the detailed info and responses.  I am humbled by your efforts.  The 28215 is my choice but hard to find.
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2018 at 3:52pm
Originally posted by Subzilla

Just be careful of putting too low under the trailer at the rear end....I could see some scraping occurring if going through a steep driveway.  Maybe the 28217 puts it in a good spot...not too tight but not too low.   Their "identifier" sheet has the dimensions.  Might want to do some measuring.
I talked to a tech at BAL, and the main difference between the 28215 and 28217 is that the 28217 is designed to fit into the channel in an I-beam style frame. Either will work, but the 28217 will come "out" whatever dimension they allowed for the I-beam. Both have roughly the same drop.

Based on measurements I took, the R-pod frame is 4" tall, to allow you to tuck the tire up by that amount. Our HRE spare tire is roughly 9" wide, so it will have to hang down by about 5" plus the thickness of the Hide-a-spare. As-built the 28215/28217 provides 6.75" of space to the top of the mountain bracket. That means the top of the bracket is going to be mounted down ~~ 2.25" on the frame to allow enough space for the spare.

The 28216/28218 provides an additional 6.75" of space for the tire (total of 13.5" of space for the spare). Certainly enough space, but about 4.5" more than we would need.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Subzilla View Drop Down
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Posts: 302 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2018 at 12:41pm
Just be careful of putting too low under the trailer at the rear end....I could see some scraping occurring if going through a steep driveway.  Maybe the 28217 puts it in a good spot...not too tight but not too low.   Their "identifier" sheet has the dimensions.  Might want to do some measuring.  
 
Mark
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2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2018 at 12:01pm
I started poking around and found that the 28215 & 28216 are being discontinued (or are in the process of being discontinued). The new versions are the 28217 (in place of the 28215), and 28218 (in place of the 28216).

The difference is how low the tire ends up being mounted. The 28217 can mount the tire "snug" up against the belly of the R-pod. The 28218 will drop it down quite a bit more. It seems from what others have stated that the 28215/28217 needs to be adjusted somewhat to accommodate the width of the tire. I think the 28216/28218 will end up with the tire a "lot" lower (several inches it seems).

This link shows the differences with a couple of pictures.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Subzilla View Drop Down
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Posts: 302 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2018 at 11:38am
Second to what voisj said....had to lower both brackets with new holes and even deflate the tire to get it secured.  Maybe my spare is wider...don't know.   But I now like it.....like having the spare out of sight.
Mark
Concord, NC
2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4
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voisj View Drop Down
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Posts: 471 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2018 at 10:08am
I also used the 28215 and cut 8" off it . I installed it using CHETC 'S instructions.
Only due to the hood river tire, I had to mount the both brackets lower. It still pushes against the floor pretty tight, But I think that help supports the floor.....
SLOPODMODS
John&Sue,SLO,CA
2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost
 
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crw8sr View Drop Down
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Posts: 328 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2018 at 8:58am
I used the 28215 on our 190.  Had to cut about 8" off it to install it.  Ours is mounted behind the tires.  I added a platform to the end of it and store our non-potable water hose there.  

Crawl under yours and check the area that you want to mount it.  Look for obstructions, wires, etc.

Not difficult to install, took about an hour.

I think it's better there than bouncing around on the back.

Go for it and good luck!
Chuck & Lyn
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2018 R Pod 190   
2019 Traverse

In moments of adversity;when life's a total wreck, I think of those worse off than me and really feel like heck.
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Presitla99 View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2018 at 5:24am
I have a 2018 180 Rpod and am considering the BAL Hide-a-Spare.
1. Do any of you who have completed this install have any regrets or alternative suggestions?
2. I am not certain which model BAL to purchase.  My choices are in the attached photo.  Advice, please.

Thanks to all.
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