Here's how I did it on a 2013 RP 172. It may not fit the newer 178 but you may get some ideas. I did use a E2 WDH and it all fit. I don't recall problems turning sharply if going forward. Backing may have required some caution but that always does. From my much earlier post:
When we bought our 172 we ordered the factory recommended
bike rack for the rear. This displaced the spare tire. I didn’t want to give up
interior storage space so I devised a way to mount the tire on the tongue. This
was a bit of a task since the tongue already had two batteries, two propane
tanks, and an equalizer hitch. However, it worked out well.
The job begins with a Swagman model 64025 RV Bumper Adapter,
available from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Swagman-RV-2-Bumper-Adaptor/dp/B00174ZHGU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1352492512&sr=8-5&keywords=swagman - http://www.amazon.com/Swagman-RV-2-Bumper-Adaptor/dp/B00174ZHGU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1352492512&sr=8-5&keywords=swagman
This adapter is designed for a 4” square bumper so some work
is required to mount it on the 2”x3” RPOD frame tubing. The attachment bolts
are replaced with ½ x 4 ½ inch class 8 high strength bolts, flat washers, and
locking nuts to accommodate the 3” frame depth. Two new 9/16” holes, spaced 3”
center-to-center from two of the existing holes, are drilled in the top and
bottom plates to accommodate the 2” frame width. I would have preferred
stainless, but stainless is not as strong as the class 8 bolts so I went with
SAE ½ inch bolts and locking nuts. I did replace the 10 mm hex set screw bolt
with stainless, but be warned, it is metric. The starting kit is shown below:
The Swagman adapter provides a 2 inch receiver and the FR
supplied tire carrier requires a 1.25 inch receiver. I used the reducer sleeve
that came with the bike carrier, but similar devices are available elsewhere.
The results are shown below. The adapter just fits, but it
fits:
EDIT: Amazing. That old stuff is still on this server. Here's a link to my original post. http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3132&KW=spare+tire&PID=29715&title=tongue-mounted-spare-tire-on-172#29715 - http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3132&KW=spare+tire&PID=29715&title=tongue-mounted-spare-tire-on-172#29715
------------- Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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