Roger -
I see no reason not to keep a 14-inch spare. You have to ask yourself what you will do when the spare gets old and untrustworthy, and you have to replace it.
Bob -
When lowering the tire carrier, I think the important thing is not to lower it too far. The tire sidewall should still be in firm contact with the underside of the trailer. What you want to avoid is a situation where the spare tire and the carrier can float up and down a bit. In that case, as you go over bumps, the assembly will lift up, then slam down on the bolts. The shock load could cause problems of all kinds. I suppose you could install some compression springs on the extended bolts to carry the load.
Of course, the other thought is to travel with the spare deflated to a low pressure (so it will squish and fit), and also carry a compressor. I wouldn't do it, but ...
Bill
|