Well guys, my poor old 98 with 287K on the clock is starting to show her age pretty good but still runs like a champ! I had to drop the spare out from under the other day and I noticed the rim is delaminating horribly from rust. That thing was full of dirt and no doubt salt and it got me to thinking about what would be the best approach to keep them in better shape? I drilled a few drain holes in the rim at the lowest points to help out there. I thought about wiping it down with a coat of grease or silicone - but that would make for a messy tire change if I was wearing anything I cared about. I can't find anybody who makes a bag or cover for such a thing? I kind of like that idea......maybe I'm going to have one made and I'll just put a hook on there rather than the stupid bar they have now? Anybody try something like that?

 

I was thinking on it late last summer but didn't get around to doing anything. My idea was using an old snow-saucer and a regular tire cover. Attach the snow-saucer to the outside of the tire cover (wrinkle 1, how?) so it would slide easy on the ground and protect the cover and tire from rocks and such (my rim was full of rocks and gravel), with the cover ties holding the whole thing to the spare. Remove the cover to detach the tire to the winch. Not sure it would work, figured it should keep it clean, and then it was winter.

IF spring ever comes I'll have to look at it again.

 

Move to California or Arizona..........

 

Paint it with POR-15?

 

My truck is about as close to rust free as you can get, and I ended up repainting my spare due to some spots of rust just starting to form ...

 

A lot of days I wish that was an option. Well Arizona anyway, not much into California.

 

Smart man, stay the hell away from there. Texas is a better choice than both though