Safety of wheel on the front?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by LiliesWheels, Jun 10, 2021.

  1. DubCat

    DubCat Sponsor

    I do like the look of bull/roo bars and it solves the spare wheel problem. There's also the extra protection for driver and passenger legs.
     
  2. Soggz

    Soggz An inquisitive supporter

    Yes. That’s what I meant by riding up over the front of a car, in a stock heigh van.:thumbsup:
     
  3. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Maybe back then, but cars and vans are taller now - look at the typical SUV. I suspect many would hit above the deformation panel.
     
    cunny44 likes this.
  4. Soggz

    Soggz An inquisitive supporter

    This is true.
     
  5. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    When I first got a bay, you might remember too as you've had one for a long time, it was great looking over all the cars and the only other tall cars were Range Rovers. Not so now, the cars have all got bigger in every direction - we used to be big vehicles, now our buses look like toys.
     
  6. Huyrob

    Huyrob Supporter

    A bit wacky maybe but I’ve put mine on the roof in a teak cradle, out of the way and very easy to get at standing on side of cab.
     
    MorkC68 likes this.
  7. Huyrob

    Huyrob Supporter

    Forgot the photo 5DF3CF1B-F900-4A13-ACE0-C335E9F41217.jpeg
     

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    MorkC68 likes this.
  8. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

  9. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Neat but I suspect you stand a lot higher chance of being injured by unloading the wheel from up there and dropping it on someone than having a crash and the wheel being a problem.
     
    Purple, Zed and Day like this.
  10. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    Can’t you fit it in the engine bay above that new-fangled motor of yours?
     
  11. Huyrob

    Huyrob Supporter

    On the contrary, it is secured in the cradle by 3 ratchet straps, the cradle has internal plates to strengthen and spread the load. To remove you simply stand on cab raised cill, remove wheel cover and straps and slide the wheel towards you. Once it is near the edge of the roof, stand on terra firms and grab wheel .Far mor risky to a dodgy back is removing a wheel from the rear housing whilst stretching. I agree about the crash bit but it gives me loads of room in the internal wheel well to store tools……and a first aid kit.
    If anyone is interested I have kept the original wood template for the cradle which I can transfer to paper.
    Ps. The wheel increases the roof weight for lifting…..but I’ve fitted gas struts so no problems there
     
    Zoedanbus likes this.
  12. Soggz

    Soggz An inquisitive supporter

    I said this yesterday to my wife,when we were out for a spin in mine,when a car was trying to get past us down a street with traffic parked down one side. Our vans are much narrower and can go pretty much anywhere compared to say...a Nissan Juke.(other overpriced oversized cars are available).
     
    Pickles likes this.
  13. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    Geoff, I’ve got the (possibly) ideal spot, in our lasses handbag, plenty of room apparently :lol:
     
    77 Westy likes this.
  14. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Should have seen the chaos in a Loire Valley village we went through ignoring the " no campervan" signs... We drove through in the Bay because it is lower and narrower than many modern cars.
    I think the big white motorhome/campervan who ignored the signs decided to follow us got wedged between two buildings.
     
    Soggz likes this.
  15. Soggz

    Soggz An inquisitive supporter

    I have a similar story of mouse hole, in Cornywall...
     
    scrooge95 likes this.
  16. Fruitcake

    Fruitcake Supporter

    I just carry a can of squirty stuff and a battery compressor, most modern cars don't come with a spare and the recovery companies are happy as long as you have either of those.
     
  17. being honest then before i even bought a vw camper many moons ago i thought it was actually a standard thing to have the spare on the front as thats where they always seemed to be. over my years of ownership ive started with it on the front, in the spare wheel well, on a rear hinged carrier (bluebird type) then with not taking one at all, on the trailer on long journeys and now its back on the front.... where its staying.
     
    Zed, scrooge95, Day and 1 other person like this.

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