Spare tire on top experience for those who are considering it
On my last trip I decided to try out having my full size spare on the roof rack. I bought a Gobi tire mount clone, it is simple and easy to mount. It is Made for a padlock to secure which eased my worry of theft. I have a hitch mounted tire swing out but it is about a foot off of the rear and the rear sags when used. I bought Swift springs to solve that issue but did not have the time to install them before the trip to the Lost Coast. Pros: I loved having up and out of the way. Did not have to swing it out every time I wanted to open the. Cons: The only one that was readily apparent was the effect on handling. I was Leary of raising the center of gravity and there was a noticeable difference. Was not terrible but at highway speeds I was more careful. I did have to relocate other items on the roof rack to accommodate the spare which made Getting it down if I had a flat does not seem to be an issue. I would rather do that in the off chance that I did get a flat rather than use the swing out every time I needed to get in the back. When not camping I take it off (along with all the gear I don’t need daily driving) And then I rely on tire plugs and a mini compressor. I do plan on modifying the hitch carrier to be closer along with the updated springs installed before my next trip.