Where to put the 6th wheel?

G'day Juzzy,
Why not learn to remove/replace a tyre and save yourself all this worry?
Cheers from the Moose

Just a suggestion...why don't you find out how to change a tyre?? the tyrepliers and (another one I can't think of) do make life a lot easier- and the whole kit would probably be cheaper than an extra wheel rim. By all means carry an extra tyre case, and a good repair kit with a spare tube. I reckon most of your repairs will be able to be fixed with a tyre plug kit (comes with the Tyrepliers kit)..
If you're carrying 2 spares- what happens if they are both stuffed ???
I'm sure if you purchased either kit from your local 4WD shop, told them your predicament- they would give you a demo !!

I tend to agree with what the other blokes have said to a certain extent.

However, there is another aspect you need to consider, IMHO. I've been to Cape York twice. Both times I towed our Ultimate camper. The Patrol had a dual spare wheel carrier/rear bar and the Ultimate had it's own spare tyre. So, I had a total of 9 wheels/tyres; 6 of them on the ground at any one time. I made sure i had good quality (I mean "nearly new") tyres.

I had zero tyre problems.

What I'm saying is that I believe it would nearly be okay to consider going with just the one spare tyre, so long as you have nearly new, strong (like Goodyear MTR, BFG A/T or M/T, Cooper ST-C/STT) tyres etc. If you are running highway tyres, be prepared to take a few spares!!!! LOL

Also, if you don't feel competent to use R&R beadbreakers or Tyrepliers etc, could I also suggest you at least carry one of the tyre repair/plug kits. That is all I carry; the ARB version in the red case. Hopefully, if you are unfortunate enough to get a flat tyre, it will be one that you can fix with a plug. If it is serious enough to warrant using the larger tools to remove the tyre from the rim, then it could well be stuffed anyway and then you'll be in the same situation.....buggared!

Cheers

Roachie

I tend to agree with what has already been said. Get a tyre plug set. Make sure your tyres are in really good nick. Most of the people you see with flats on good roads have worn tyres even if they are good tyres. We usually carry two spares and a tyre. But we travel alone a lot and we have a way of carrying them. Also have had 2 flats at the same time! This increases the paranoia a bit. Don't know if they fit on the Prado but you see cruisers with a double carrier on the back that looks like some sort of gate system. It is worth being able to remove the tyre from the rim as it can give you some more options if you are really stuffed somewhere. I don't think I would load the rack with sets of tyres though.

Steve

Yes, a tyre plug kit is the most practical solution.

ARB have their own brand for around $60.
TJM distribute the original Safety Seal kit for $75.

This will get you out of any trouble with a simple puncture. Don't even have to take the tyre off the rim.

If you get a sidewall puncture, or the tyre is destroyed, that is when you need a spare casing and the Tyre Pliers, or R&R Beadbreaker kit.

If you wish to go with the dual wheel carrier, Kaymar is the brand and I think you can get them from Opposite Lock stores. They are not cheap though.

A good quality 12 volt pump is a better investment.

Juzzy,

Two people in a Prado for 5 months.

Taking the 6th wheel would be a good idea. The rest of the stuff do you really need it all?

If all the seats are taken out, except for the driver and passenger of course, and the cargo barrier is positioned behind the front seats there should be heaps of room.

Go with the roof rack and use that for the light bulky items. The 6th wheel could be placed on the floor of the vehicle and items placed around and in the recess of the rim. If the need for the 6th wheel arises, then time will be spent removing the wheel, but the chances of using it would be remote.

Placing two wheel on the rear door is asking for trouble.

Wayne

Your Prado would probably have 17inch tyres on mags. 17inch tyres are still hard to come by out bush.

If you want to go with just 5 tyres, like Roachie said, you need a set of new Goodyear MTRs or Silent Armours or BFG ATKO. New tyres are less likely to puncture, and the above are a lot stronger than the GrandTreks. The quality plug kits are great - its all I use. No need for all the tyre changing equipment, but theres a bit of a learning curve with plugging punctures. Your wheels are probably mags - if you try to change them with tyre irons, you'll scratch them up badly.

If you're planning on using the GrandTreks, you'll need to carry a second spare. Use that and the plug kit for security. And you'll need a roofrack to carry it.

I wouldn't recommend that you get the beadbreaker. Leave the tyre irons and beadbreaker at home. No matter where you go across the top end, you'll be able to get someone to fix a tyre if necessary.

If you control teh weight, keep the speed down and lower your tyre pressures to about 25psi on the dirt, you'll minimise your chances of punctures.

Following on from the others, where around the top end are you going?
If it is not too remote, one spare and a good tyre kit may be all need.

Will you be travelling roads which will see at least few people a day?
I have loaned others my spare before now and followed them into the nearest town.

I have usually carried 2 spares in the past, and occasionally used one.

Looking after you tyres by having good tyres to start, looking after them in regard to speed and pressure all makes a difference.

I am considering this at the moment. Now got a CT, so do I take 3 spares or 2?
Used to put the 2nd spare on the roof rack, but trying to not use the roof rack this time as that gear should be in the CT. I have the rims to take 4 spares but that woudl be overdoing it :o). Thinking 2 spares, and good tyre repair kit in cluding the R&R beadbreaker with some big patches for the inside?

Think the prado would be like the pajero with the rear door carrier, not strong enough for 2, and opening it with that extra weight would be a pain.

PS - my roof rack is an old one at 2100 long. I mount back a bit so that the front is behind the sloping line of the windscreen. Makes a big difference to fuel economy. Put the heavier stuff in the middle and towards the front.

You most probably will repack a few times during the first week adjusting things.
Have a few easy days for the first week while you establish a routine.

I definately wouldnt be putting a second on the rear door. The first of these series had major problems with the doors cracking on the lower hinge, the only fix was a complete new rear door and hinges. They were modified on the second series but I still wouldnt be putting extra strain on it. Also for any body that has the first of these models the first sighn is when shuting rear door it sticks indicating it has cracked and dropped. Steve M

Juzzy,
I have a Kaymar dual wheel carrier on the back of my Patrol. The wheels aren't mounted on the doors. The whole rear bumper is replaced and the wheel carriers are part of the rear bumper. They can be opened separately or together. I found when I took the Pajero to the Cape with the wheel attached to the door that the vibration did affect the door hinges etc. With the Kaymar unit the doors don't suffer from any vibration. As stated if you can learn to change a tyre it would mean only carrying a spare casing if you wanted that security. A casing can easily be carried on the roof rack and because there's no rim there is plenty of room to store things in and around the casing. Changing a tyre isn't too difficult but you would be better off to do a bit of practice before you leave. If the tyres have been on the rims for a while it might pay just to break the beads and reseat them before leaving. Some people use soapy water to seat the beads and over time this can cause the bead to be really difficult to break.
Peter

Can't disagree with everyone else's advice. I have a 2nd spare on a rim plus another casing and I take one or the other depending upon how much room I have (take the 6th tyre on a rim if room but if space is a premium take the casing and tyre levers etc).

It is amazing how much room there is to stow gear INSIDE the spare casing on the roof. I usually fill it with stuff I don't expect to need but are taking "just in case" which is really the situation with the spare casing as well. I have never had to unpack it yet but it is there if I really get stuck. (have the repair kit also but touch wood have been lucky enough so far and it hasn't been used except in the backyard on an old tyre for "training")

The other way I have seen for carrying the spare casing is strapped to the other spare already on the back door. A casing without a rim doesn't add that much weight.

Cheers
Trevor

Ever thought of towing a trailer behind? If you overload the car you could have nothing but problems , you can carry more spares and it even comes in handy when carrying fire wood. also less wind drag.

As you are new to camping , can I suggest you do as much camping as possible before your trip to work out what gear you really need and work from there.
If there is only two of you, you can remove the rear seats, install a cargo barrier and false floor/draw system and it should all fit inside.

10 years ago I did a canning stock route trip in a LR discovery (smaller than your car) and had the complete second spare inside the car straped to the cargo barrier. I dislike roof racks, corrugated roads destroy them.

John D