Most Popular Under Chassis Mount for 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500

I know some will agree, not agree, or don’t care about this post. It’s about having a spare tire with you in case the worst happens and you need one. I just had new tires on our class C 2017 Sunseeker. I changed the spare also, since it was 7 years old as the ones on the rig. Never had an issue with them, Michelin tires, but felt age was the deciding factor. I went with General Tires, with the hope that some of the mushy feeling might diminish some. And it did!! The sidewall is a little stiffer than the Michelins, thus giving a stiffer ride also. Can’t have the best of both worlds yet in tires, but I’m happy with the stiffer ride. Now to the spare, mounted under and behind the rear axle. I always check tire pressures before a trip, even the spare. Never really noticed how it was mounted; just thought it would be let down like a lot of my pickups I have owned for years with a cable. Nope!! One stud bolt and nut, that is all. It was mounted solid, but to drop the tire down was another story. It took 3 men at the tire shop to lower that tire assembly, it weights 80 pounds. That 16” rim and tire was very awkward and heavy for those men. What would happen if I had a flat and needed the spare, looks like an accident waiting to happen for 1 person to do by themselves. I now have my spare still mounted under the frame, same spot, but with a cable assembly I bought from eTrailer. Much easier and safer for anyone to lower the spare tire anywhere. Had to do a little modifying to allow the spare tire to be mounted with enough clearance to access the turning stud on the winch. Welded 4 spacers blocks giving 1-1/4” clearance so the spare tire would be snugged against them and allow the space clearance needed for the turning shaft. I used ½” emt conduit, ½” pvc coupling and a 1-hole ¾” strap clamp to secure the emt conduit in place on the rear bumper. The ½” conduit is just large enough inside diameter to go over the turning stud on the winch, yet loose enough to allow movement like a universal joint since it is not in perfect alignment. The conduit is attached to the winch stud with a 5/32” cotter pin. I welded a 3/8” drive short extension to the inside of the conduit to be able to use a ratchet, speed handle or drill motor to raise and lower the spare tire.

Spare tire winch seems well built. I got a little creative with the install.