R-POD 172 spare tire
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3393
Printed Date: 03 Jun 2025 at 6:34am
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Topic: R-POD 172 spare tire
Posted By: 2lane roads
Subject: R-POD 172 spare tire
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2013 at 3:00pm
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This is something that I should have checked on before bringing home our 2009 R-POD #172 but failed to ask. There is no spare tire on this R-POD, I don't even see a bracket for it. I did check under the frame & under the bed, under the seat & inside the 2 hatches at the rear of the trailer. I'll have to purchase a wheel/tire I know, but does anyone out there know if this model came with a spare tire & where would it have been attached?  Thanks in advance.------------- There is no "X" in ESPRESSO. |
Replies:
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2013 at 5:30pm
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The bracket on mine (2011 177) fits in a square tube (11/4 inch I think) like a small trailer hitch. Do you have that? I cant imagine that it shipped without a spare.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2013 at 5:32pm
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By the way, welcome aboard. I hope you have as much fun with your pod as we do!
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2013 at 7:52pm
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Welcome. As mentioned, on most models it is fitted on the rear to the small receiver. I believe the garage and tent models of the pod have it mounted in the rear lid.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: HuronSailor
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2013 at 8:37pm
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My 2009 172 has a spare tire with a bracket that mounts in the trailer's rear receiver. ------------- .: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :. |
Posted By: 2lane roads
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2013 at 8:49pm
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Thanks, I do have the small receiver on the back. I was going to use it to put a storage rack onto. Would that be ok? Anyway, I'll have to find a 14" wheel & put a tire on. Thanks, Paul ------------- There is no "X" in ESPRESSO. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2013 at 9:38pm
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2Lane roads, The spare can be mounted on the tongue to save the rear bumper space for bikes and such. See my post at http://rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3132&title=tongue-mounted-spare-tire-on-172 ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2013 at 7:52am
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Be careful about hw much you put back there. FR says tire or bike rack. It is not real strong. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: 2lane roads
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2013 at 1:26am
Thanks for the tip. Now I will not put anything back there except for the spare tire. I didn't think it would hold too much.  ------------- There is no "X" in ESPRESSO. |
Posted By: HuronSailor
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2013 at 7:50am
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I throw the spare in the back of my pickup and carry two bikes in the pod receiver. FR sells a 2 bike rack especially for the pod. I wouldn't carry more than a couple of bikes though. Seems like mine used to have a sticker on the frame near the receiver that said the weight limit was 150#. I'll check and see if it's still there. ------------- .: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :. |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2013 at 11:19am
 ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: 2lane roads
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2013 at 5:17pm
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Thanks for the tip. ------------- There is no "X" in ESPRESSO. |
Posted By: HuronSailor
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2013 at 5:40pm
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Thanks, I'm stealing that photo and adding it to my online pod reference folder! The sticker on mine is gone, but the good news is the capacity is more than I remembered. ------------- .: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :. |
Posted By: CaperPodder
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2013 at 1:29pm
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Based on this weight limitation, I shouldn't have any issues with this bike rack and 2 mountain bikes? The rack is 28 pounds. Not sure what the weight of the bikes are but should not exceed the 250lbs  ------------- Don, Mimi, & Nola the Goldendoodle 2013 RPod 177 (CachePod) 2013 F-150 4x4 |
Posted By: yellowstonestu
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 12:13pm
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I think that you can purchase a bike rack that fits over an exterior spare tire. I think that if the receiver is rated at 250#, one could conceivably carry the bikes and the spare on the back and be within the 250# range. Any thoughts out there??? ------------- Yellowstonestu & Bela the Vizsla 2008 Toyota FJ 2015 RPod 179 (Pod #2) |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 12:59pm
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I would recommend against putting both bikes and tire on the rear bumper. First, the bikes get a hell of a whipping back there on their own mount; even worse on the tire. Second, any weight added to the rear subtracts from the tongue weight. Especially with a WDH you're not apt to have a problem with too much tongue weight, but too little can cause problems. So two options: Put the tire on the tongue and the bikes on the back, or leave the tire on the back and put the bikes between the trailer and the TV. Right now I have the bikes on the back with the FR recommended carrier and the tire on the tongue (see post referenced above). However, Swagman makes a version of their platform carrier, #64664, which goes on the WDH shank between TT and TV. An extended shank is probably be necessary. Then the tire can either stay on the rear bumper or move to the tongue. The less weight and length on the rear bumper the better. This also has the advantage that the bikes can be hauled when the trailer is left at the campsite. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 2:44pm
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Adding any extension to the hitch cuts the max tongue capacity of the hitch in half. All about leverage. So you end up with the ability to carry just the bikes, making the ball itelf useless for towing anything.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 2:48pm
I looked at several "over the spare" bicycle carriers not too long ago and decided not to buy one. I was not concerned too much about the added weight to the back of the trailer, but noticed that typically the tires of the bikes hang below the bottom of the spare, close to the pavement. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 4:02pm
Doug, Your comments are correct in principle, but the effects depend on how and how much the extension is applied. I am talking about a 16 inch shank instead of the normal 12 inch shank; an extension of 4 inches using a shank specifically designed by the hitch manufacturer. The Swagman carrier needs 3 inches clear on the shank and I have 1.5 with the 12 inch shank. If I could have found a 14 inch shank I would have gone with it. The shanks are rated at 1400# tongue weight and the lever arm extension from the rear axle of the TV is insignificant, so the real consideration becomes the receiver itself. A class III hitch is rated at 600# tow weight and the normal shank puts the ball 11” from the face of the receiver on my Honda. Adding 4” to this yields a degradation of 1.36 (14/11) or 79% of the original #600 rating. The resulting 474# is still within the tongue weight rating of the Honda and less than the measured TW of the Pod. And it still leaves room for the weight of the bikes. BTW, I’m considering an upgraded TV which will have a class IV receiver. I agree that trouble can be had with some methods of hitch extension, if taken to extremes, but I question the blanket statement that any extension automatically cuts the capacity in half. If that were so Progress Mfg. (E2), Curt, etc. would never sell longer shanks. I’d appreciate your thoughts and any holes you may find in my analysis, Charlie ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 4:44pm
My current set-up consists of the spare in the truck and the $65 Allen bike rack from Walmart on the back. My son followed me a while back for about 300 miles; said bikes barely moved; minimal to no bouncing. Also said POD didn't sway an inch, tracked perectly. That's what I always thought, but it was nice having someone observe. I don't use any special hitches, straight to the ball and hook up the chains. Hey charlie, I see you mentioned in another post something about your Florida mountains!!!!!! I new you had them. ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 5:17pm
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Yep. we've got 'em. Highest point in FL is 300+ ft. Oxygen is provided at the base of the hills.!!!
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 10:19pm
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Charlie, my observation was based on what I read about another brand of extension + bike rack which advised down rating the capacity by half, plus considering the max hitch weight of less-capable TVs than yours. Your numbers would put a TV with a 3500 pound limit (and 300 or 350 pound hitch weight) into the red zone. One more consideration is sway, since the farther the ball is from the rear axle the easier sway can be induced. Sounds like you would be ok. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 10:43pm
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Doug, Thanks for your look-see. I agree a 3500/350 TV would be an issue, but such a vehicle would be marginal anyway with the larger Pods fully loaded. And sway is a consideration, but that's why I have the E2. Actually I think the WDH helps with the hitch weight problem but I've got to spend more brain time one that one. I think I'll be OK........We'll see next month. Six thousand miles through AL, MS, LA, TX, OK, CO, KS, AK and back home. The hills of CO will tell the tale. Happy Podding, ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |