Tow car spare wheel

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Comments

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited December 2015 #32

    If the car does not have a spare as original equipment, most breakdown/insurers accept this and will take you to find a tyre?

  • chrisn7
    chrisn7 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited December 2015 #33

    Space saver spare wheels not advisable by C.C....Buy good quality steel rim from your local car breakers and likewise a thoroughly approved used tyre for it...the rim cost £5 and the tyre £20.....get new valve and balanced and you are sorted.

    So the CC knows better than the car manufacturers who have spent large sums testing their cars? If a space saver is supplied then it must be fit for purpose, within the limitations specified on the wheel in terms of speed, pressure and distance.

    And a wheel from the scrappy with an unknown history? And a tyre for £20 - was that from the scrappy too? How could that be 'thoroughly approved'?

  • Johnc 26
    Johnc 26 Forum Participant Posts: 49
    edited December 2015 #34

    I have a "electrickery" tow bar fitted to my 5 series bmw, it works a treat and has always been reliable. The auto electrician did tell me to operate it over the winter period to stop it seizing up. Was worth the extra dosh.

    John C

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #35

    I have a "electrickery" tow bar fitted to my 5 series bmw, it works a treat and has always been reliable. The auto electrician did tell me to operate it over the winter period to stop it seizing up. Was worth the extra dosh.

    John C

    They do look the dog's danglies Cool

  • BarnOwl
    BarnOwl Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited January 2016 #36

    I have just ordered a Disco Sport with the electric towbar and full size spare wheel! Delivery expected in early March. I was going to order another towcar because the Disco didn't have a full size spare and only found this option at the last moment which
    changed everything. I also didn't want the 7 seats so it's a win win for me - although it is an expensive option. I will let you know how I get on when I start towing in the Spring.

  • Scottie2
    Scottie2 Forum Participant Posts: 226
    edited January 2016 #37

    We are new to towing and are pondering the merits or otherwise of a spare wheel for the tow car. Many vehicles do not have a spare wheel these days and that includes the new Land Rover (LR) Discovery Sport when fitted with a towing hitch (it does have a
    tyre repair kit). We could simply purchase a 'skinny' wheel (£350) and carry it in the back at the cost of space or there is another very expensive option (+£1900) which LR call the Towing Package which would provide for a full size spare.

    Does anyone have strong views or experience/advice?

    Write your comments here...I stand my decision to leave my space saver spare wheel in the garage and carry my spare which is a sourced wheel rim and the purchase of a same spec tyre fitted. Hence no worries of having a puncture without a full size spare
    and so likelihood of having the breakdown guys declaring the space saver as unfit to use . As a caravanners we all have to make sacrfises and spare wheels is one of them so bite the bullet and get a full size spare.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #38

     .... . As a caravanners we all have to make sacrfises and spare wheels is one of them so bite the bullet and get a full size spare.

    No where to put one other than strap one down in my limited sized 'boot'

  • marg63
    marg63 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited January 2016 #39

    Had the same problem with spare wheels,got an insignia with skinny spare ,always worry about towing if we get a flat,I like and feel completely safe with full size wheel which in my case is 245/45/18 quite wide for the well ,went onto eBay and got full sized
    alloy same as car cost £85 dropped on brand new ,fitts in well but is4" wider,so I loose a bit of space ,just got to get a tyre fitted ,don't forget it has to be none directional so you can use both sides

     

  • Unclemort54
    Unclemort54 Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited March 2016 #40

    Just bring this up to date. We now have the Land Rover DS. In the end we did go for the full LR tow pack (in spite of the cost) which gave us the full (alloy) size spare wheel, electric tow bar and surround camera. It also Deleted User seats 6 & 7, which we didn't
    want anyway. Thanks once again for all your comments.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #41

    Just bring this up to date. We now have the Land Rover DS. In the end we did go for the full LR tow pack (in spite of the cost) which gave us the full (alloy) size spare wheel, electric tow bar and surround camera. It also Deleted User seats 6 & 7, which we didn't want anyway. Thanks once again for all your comments.

    Just to be clear for me as its this that was putting me off another LR, so I can have a 5 seater in any trim level, with a full size spare under the inside floor and a towbar fitted? and there's room for my dog in the back Cool

  • Unclemort54
    Unclemort54 Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited March 2016 #42

    Dave FL2, I think you can have the "Heavy Duty Towing. Pack"  with any TD4 180 trim level but I'm not so sure about having it with the TD 150 version. We payed an extra £1900 on our TD4 180 HSE. We have five seats, a full size alloy wheel stowed under the
    inside back floor and an electrically deployable tow bar. One also gets the Surrond Camera with this package. The easiest way to check is to go to the LR web site and 'build your own' specification. It will tell you if you cannot have something you have choosen.

    We have only done a little over 500 miles but  the DS is just great so far although we have not pulled the caravan yet - that's next!.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #43

    Thanks for that, I am on my second SD4 so the new 180 will have to be the choice. I did try to 'build my own' on site but was still unsure of the options, will have another go at it. With only the two of us and the dog I have no use for seven seats but would
    make use of the space.

  • Unclemort54
    Unclemort54 Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited March 2016 #44

    It can be confusing I agree. When it tells you to reconfigure just go with it and it seems to sort it out. For example, if you had already chosen the detachable tow bar and then chose the towing pack it will tell you you cannot have that without reconfiguring.
    Reconfigure and it will remove the detachable tow bar and insert the towing pack.

  • BarnOwl
    BarnOwl Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited August 2016 #45

    I have had my LR Disco Sport for 3 months now with the heavy duty pack and electric towbar. I have towed several times this year with it and it all works really well. The full size spare wheel gives me some confidence too. An added bonus which I didnt expect
    is the fully automatic testing of all the lights when connected to the van (it takes 3 minutes). My wife doesnt have to stand and wave at me now.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #46

    I have had my LR Disco Sport for 3 months now with the heavy duty pack and electric towbar. I have towed several times this year with it and it all works really well. The full size spare wheel gives me some confidence too. An added bonus which I didnt expect is the fully automatic testing of all the lights when connected to the van (it takes 3 minutes). My wife doesnt have to stand and wave at me now.

    Blimey I have just come back from having my Freelander 2 serviced and was talking to the salesman about this very subject!

    Can you answer me a question please? Is the towball supplied the Alko extended head version to take the Alko stabilised hitch? The salesman had no idea what I was talking about. Hey ho!

  • Unclemort54
    Unclemort54 Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited November 2016 #47

    Hi Fysherman, I've just revisited this post, I actually thought it had finished long ago. To answer your question, although possibly too late, yes, the LR towball supplied with the heavy duty towing pack is definitely compatible with the Al-Ko ATC stablilised
    hitch; we have one. 

    I agree with BarnOwl, the auto light check is brilliant, as is the surround camera system and yes, the spare wheel gives confidence, especially when in remote areas of Scotland.

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited November 2016 #48

    Takes three minutes to test lights, I think I`ll stick to the old fashioned way takes us about 20 secs!

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #49

    Car salesmen are just that, they generally know about engines common options and common car related points. Towing is something they do not normally encounter as most of us have done our homework and do not need to ask. As most do not tow and very few people
    ask about it they simply do not know about our needs so if you order a car with the makers towbar and electrics you need to specify exactly what you need in writing on the order otherwise you might just get the legal minimum and have no comeback.

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