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MELIPRON UNIVERSAL SPARE TIRE CARRIER: A SIMPLE, COST-EFFECTIVE MOUNTING KIT COMPATIBLE WITH MOST ROOF RACKS & BED RACKS – INSTALL & REVIEW
Relocating your spare tire is important when off-roading and overlanding for a multitude of reasons. The MELIPRON Universal Spare Tire Carrier is perhaps the easiest and most cost-effective solution for doing that.
This kit comes with everything you need to mount your spare tire on most bed racks and roof racks, including both platform and basket-style roof racks. This carrier is powder coated for maximum rust and scratch resistance and is lockable to prevent theft.
Considering its price point and simple installation, this spare tire carrier should be considered by all serious off-roaders and overlanders wishing to relocate their spare.
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WHY RELOCATE YOUR SPARE TIRE?
A spare tire is of the utmost importance when off-roading, especially on multi-day overlanding excursions. Even if you carry a tire plug kit or fix-a-flat, these will be of no use in the case of a ruptured tire or a punctured sidewall.
Furthermore, deflating your tires, while necessary when off-roading, increases the likelihood of your tires coming off the bead. If you’ve ever encountered this, you know that reseating a tire is a difficult repair out on the trail. Additionally, if your spare tire gets damaged beyond repair, you can be left immobile on the trail with few options.
When stored in the factory location, your spare tire is subject to all kinds of abuse, both on and off the road. Off-road, your spare is susceptible to mud and debris that can lead to corrosion and wheel damage.
A lesser-known fact is that mud can get caught in between the bead of your tire and cause a flat. With the spare mounted underneath the bed, the spare gets covered with mud and dirt that could cause a flat or damage. This is especially common in the Southeast where red clay and sandy mud are commonplace.
Furthermore, there is also the risk of puncturing your spare tire when bottoming out over rocky terrain. Relocating your spare tire from underneath your bed will prevent this from happening, and give you a bit more ground clearance in the rear.
RUNNING LARGER TIRES?
Relocating your spare tire will also help you avoid unforeseen issues when getting bigger tires. It’s important to have a full-size spare tire. Driving on a smaller spare tire puts more strain on your drivetrain, suspension, axles, and differentials. Your differentials work to spin your tires at different speeds to aid in cornering, and a smaller tire on one side will undoubtedly affect this.
While smaller spares can be used in a pinch, they are a temporary fix that can cause a plethora of issues if used more than 50-100 miles. This can be a real issue when on a rough trail miles away from a tire shop, not to mention it is uncomfortable