Area Representative Nick Bassett Posted October 17, 2016 Area Representative Share Posted October 17, 2016 Washing my car yesterday, got me thinking that my 8+ years of ownership I've never had a puncture and I am therefore lugging around a big chunk of weight that must be blighting the performance a little. However I'm not completely comfortable wit the thought of never having a spare wheel at my disposal - long trips etc, so wondered if anyone has a any tips on a conversion that removes the spare wheel removal but allows refitment when necessary?My car is a 94 Supersport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 17, 2016 Member Share Posted October 17, 2016 You are not alone.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 As an aside, I don't have a spare but do carry a kit with pliers, puncture repair strips/solution and tools and a 12v compressor. I reckon I could repair a good %age of punctures at the roadside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 You know what will happen the first drive after you remove it ..... and it wont be a nice neat nail hole either ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Nick Bassett Posted October 17, 2016 Author Area Representative Share Posted October 17, 2016 Thanks JK - sounds like I'm not alone then. I did a quick search, but the search tool brought up nothing related! Just love this 'new' forum... It's seems there are a few home-made solutions out there - some detailed pics would be really useful if anyone is happy to share?Shame Caterham themselves haven't developed something... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 Try hereI used these instructions back in 2004 and it's still going strong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerB Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 my car came with Yokohama AO 48 track day tyres and no spare wheel carrier. Also the rears are a wider section to the front. I had intended to fit a carrier and spare for touring however the spare would not be the correct size for both ends. After arriving home one day with a front puncture which I hadnt noticed, as I had been driving steadily, I became aware that these track day tyres have very strong side walls and this flat only looked to have a low pressure rather than virtually zero. I have therefore decided to treat these tyres as run flats which will get me home. I do also carry an inflator and repair fluid.Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Nick Bassett Posted October 17, 2016 Author Area Representative Share Posted October 17, 2016 Thanks Roger - that is encouraging as I am running Yoko 48s at the moment!Thanks 'Aeroscreens' for the link - very interesting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickh7 Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Nick , I turned mine into a sort of bumper I cut the tube leaving a stub , I had an insert made that was an interference fit to link the two tubes. Drilled a hole into each bit of the tube and tapped them and secured with bolt , ground off the head filled the gaps with filler and painted it. I like the look and it also means you can still use the luggage carrier that fits the full wheel carrier. I used the hole from the wheel bolt to pass the wiring through for the number plate light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MADMALC Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Check to see if your carrier is welded or bolted on.You can clearly see welds or a bolt if you look carefully.Most cars with no spare wheel appear to have the boss/hole so you can put the bolt on carrier on. You have to take out the boot floor and move the petrol tank to get the bolts in so it is a bit time consuming. Obviously removing a bolt on is a reversal. The number plate light also needs reengineering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy couchman Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 What's needed is a service where a spare can be shipped to you same day. You wouldn't lose much more time than replacing the spare anyway. In one of our trips abroad, we had one car with two damaged wheels/tyres so even a single spare is not a perfect solution.Anyone offer such a service?Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 19, 2016 Member Share Posted October 19, 2016 That's like the minimum equipment needed for touring: a 'phone and a credit card. This approach also comes up in the HPV world. And IIRC with the McLaren F1 except that the 'phone to the factory and support helicopter was built in.JonathanPS: A bit disappointed that no-one's come with the same great play on words that's in one of threads to which I linked... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Or a bulk buy on high speed tyre sealant....................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickh7 Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 it doesn't always work but in 25+ plus yaers of 7 ownership I've never needed it . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Nick Bassett Posted October 21, 2016 Author Area Representative Share Posted October 21, 2016 Thanks for all your comments and suggestions - some great ideas and conversions undertaken.A winter project for me to look forward to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 I cut mine off with the intention of making it on/off able but never got around to it.Used some plastic caps from B&Q on the stumps. I think they're described as chair / stool feet / end caps.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Me as well and the same caps from B&Q. I thought I'd make it removable...but never bothered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Mears Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 During a trip last year I must admit that having the oldest car with a spare I did feel I was carrying it for everyone else as well. Would you leave a man behind or lend him your wheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNC Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 @ MADMALC, mine is a 2012 car and the spare wheel carrier has studs that go through the tube with nylock nuts so no need to remove boot floor or move the tank . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewE Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 Any pics Ian? Am thinking of doing same Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 here are some pics. Points worthy of note...1) Used an enamel badge to cover the spare wheel fixing stuck with double sided trim tape.2) Standard caterham light bracket and used the original lamp unit from the hoop. I had to slacken off the fuel tank fixings to pull the wire out of the hoop. PERHAPS DO THIS FIRST BEFORE GETTING THE HACK SAW OUT!!3) Notched the number plate so it fits flush with the bottom of the back panel (hiding a bit of corrosion under the paint) held on with velcro. Made a jig with some wood to notch the plate - mainly to locate the hole saw as I cut a semi circle.4) In case you're wondering, the lights are lorry LED lamps with econoseal plugs fitted to mate with the original loom. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Rogers Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 I cut mine off but left 2" attached to the chassis.The removed bit is now easily re-attachable( if that's a word)If you're still looking at this let me know & I'll go in to more detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Nick Bassett Posted November 2, 2016 Author Area Representative Share Posted November 2, 2016 Yes please Cartoony - the more detail the better & with pics as well if possible pls?Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Belding Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Inspired by this thread I cut off my wheel carrier, painted the 50mm stubs with Hammerite satin & plugged the ends with 20mm hood bar end plugs from a local boat shop. Bought a tiny led light from CBS for fitting in the ~10mm hole for the now redundant wheel retainer. Shaped a scrap of 5mm plastic (acrylic) to mount the light on with a 30mm M4 machine screw fitted with Araldite to fix it through the hole. The wiring passes through an angled hole to let it lie beside the mounting screw without being trapped. In the boot is another small piece of acrylic as a washer, with an angled hole to let the wiring out. I used a piece of connector strip for the wiring so I didn't need to fit any terminals. Used a black indelible marker on the visible edge of the acrylic and 3mm foam tape to keep the water out. Looks neat and is easily reversible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNC Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Something different, Ive cut down a wheel carrier re-welded the fittings and fitted a plug and socket for the wires so I can refit the full size carrier when I want to carry the spare wheel. It gives a bit of protection to the back panel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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