Which "SUVs" have spares not mounted underneath?

[nfafan]

Hello all,

Been out of the car market for a LONG, long time. Started looking for an AWD SUV and have discovered that all that I looked at so far seem to have spare tires mounted underneath the vehicle, where Pittsburgh weather will perma-rust it to the vehicle making it unusable. This has happened to at least 2 folks I know...

Worse yet, I have since learned that for many vehicles - cars or trucks - spare tires have gone the way of the annual pay raise - extinct.

So far I only found Jeep Wranglers and Toyota FJs that do not have spares hanging underneath.

Are there any other SUVs out here that A) actually has a spare tire, and B) the spare is not mounted underneath the rear?

Thanks in advance for the tip!

 

[charbaby]

Alot of the Crossovers(CUV's) that are from the FWD sedans types

 

[Corvette Owner]

Nissan Murano has Spare in trunk.

 

[JHZR2]

Not sure why you'd want a spare mounted on the back or inside... I remember seeing a study once where the damage resulting from a rear-mounted spare tends to be much higher.

If its in the back, repairs/damage get $$$ and it gets a LOT of UV.

If its in the trunk it takes space.

 

[Eddie]

Subaru Forester and Mazda CX5

 

[friendly_jacek]

Pre-2013 RAV4
Old CRV

 

[Dave Sherman]

Older Honda CR-Vs through 2006 had a full size hanging off the tailgate. The zippers on the stock cover would rust, though. My '08 has a compact in a bin under the rear floor. I don't know if they've changed that for the 2012 and newer models.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: nfafan
Are there any other SUVs out here that A) actually has a spare tire, and B) the spare is not mounted underneath the rear?

Any Toyota RAV4 without a rear-mounted spare has the spare in an interior compartment covered by the floor mat. It's a pain to get at when the car is full of stuff, but at least it's clean.

Rear-mounted spares are going away in order to allow the installation of the newly-mandated rear-view cameras.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

XJ Cherokee and ZJ Grand cherokee have them mounted vertically on the drivers side. WJ Grand Cherokee have them mounted in the floor like a car.

 

[javacontour]

This seems to be a problem that only those who never drop their spare to check the tire pressure will experience.

If you are maintaining the spare and taking it down say in the spring and fall, I doubt it will permarust to the vehicle.

Most minivans have this sort of spare too. Just drop it periodically, say like when you are draining the oil during an oil change.

Who knows, maybe used motor oil is a good lube for the cable

Originally Posted By: nfafan
Hello all,

Been out of the car market for a LONG, long time. Started looking for an AWD SUV and have discovered that all that I looked at so far seem to have spare tires mounted underneath the vehicle, where Pittsburgh weather will perma-rust it to the vehicle making it unusable. This has happened to at least 2 folks I know...

Worse yet, I have since learned that for many vehicles - cars or trucks - spare tires have gone the way of the annual pay raise - extinct.

So far I only found Jeep Wranglers and Toyota FJs that do not have spares hanging underneath.

Are there any other SUVs out here that A) actually has a spare tire, and B) the spare is not mounted underneath the rear?

Thanks in advance for the tip!

 

[hattaresguy]

G wagon. 5th wheel and tire mounted on the back, 3 locking diffs, full frame, hand built in Austria.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
This seems to be a problem that only those who never drop their spare to check the tire pressure will experience.


I bet the vast majority of the population never drops the spare to check it.

 

[wallyuwl]

Equinox (2010 and newer, not sure about previous years) have them on the inside under the floor of the cargo area.

 

[toneydoc]

2012 and earlier RAV 4 have some mounted on rear sideways opening door.

 

[Volv04Life]

Lexus suvs have a plastic cover over the spare under the vehicle. It has to be taken off before you lower the tire.

 

[nfafan]

Originally Posted By: css9450
Originally Posted By: javacontour
This seems to be a problem that only those who never drop their spare to check the tire pressure will experience.


I bet the vast majority of the population never drops the spare to check it.


I have 2 ancient cars (one of which to replace with an AWD SUV) and am guilty of only checking air pressures in their trunk-mounted spares once a year. (On the one car, the only times the spare has ever touched pavement have been for adding air (which is lucky that it has never been needed..)).

So, I can see where crawling up under the back of a vehicle to check air pressure on such a rarely-needed object would likely never get done.

Me - I have to check that spare at least once a year, but beyond that, the idea of crawling under the back to fetch a nasty spare in nasty Pittsburgh weather is not my idea of fun.

Of the SUVs out there with spares underneath, I guess if we just had to have one of those types - then I would have to lash it down with tiedowns on the cargo floor.

 

[NHHEMI]

Jeep Patriot & Compass have it inside under the cargo area floor.

2014 Jeep Cherokee has it inside under the cargo area floor

2014 Honda CRV has it inside under the cargo area floor

I believe the Equinox and Terrain do as well. I know my 08 Equinox did anyway. I believe the newer versions do too.

 

[Eddie]

If you've ever had to change a tire at night, or in the rain or? and had an under vehicle spare, you know now why I never want one. Ed

 

[rjundi]

Instead of limiting yourself on this minor aspect that may affect your ownership maybe once and during that once may not be rusted. Why not buy what you like best/suits you and then looking in the lubrication area apply grease to the threads of the mechanism occasionally and exercise it.

At first I thought it was dumb but realized Acura was smart making the mechanic who changes the rear differential fluid(ever 40-50k it seems) lower the tire out of the way. The mechanism is nicely greased on mine and works.

 

[babyivan]

It's not just the mechanism that rusts, it's the rim as well.

So for the OP it may not even matter how often he drops it to check pressure and lubes the cable.

My girlfriend's Caravan has a spare and EVERYTHING is rusted, the rim, the mechanism, the control arms, the brake lines, etc....