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Model 3 mini Spare tire trunk rack

22K views 45 replies 16 participants last post by  sonoswen 
#1 ·
I’ve had my Tesla Model 3 since August, 2018. I travel extensively for my work and have had 2 tire blowouts. One occurred in the country, at night, where I had no cell phone reception. After the second flat my wife refused to drive the car due to lack of a spare tire, so I designed and built a tire rack that holds a mini spare tire securely in the rear trunk. It takes up about 1/3 of the trunk space, but I can still fit my golf clubs in the trunk with no problem. The trunk “cargo area” is accessible with the spare securely attached inside. The cargo area is where I store the jack and lug nut tools. I use a MAXIS T155/70/18 with a steel wheel. I searched the internet for the correct wheel & tire combination. The rack is fabricated from .75 plywood using .25 bolts and nuts specific for plywood assembly (Tee & Barrel nuts). The tire is mounted to the rack then placed in the rear trunk, securely held in place using turnbuckle hardware. No modifications to the Tesla M3 is required. The tire/wheel weighs 37 lbs., the rack is 14 lbs. My design is attached in the PDF file. You are welcome to build your own version.
 

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#2 ·
Thanks for sharing this design!

I generally go without a spare, and just throw one of my off-season tires into the trunk to act as a spare when I'm going on a long road trip. I like how your design keeps the floor of the trunk accessible. I wonder if something can be done to better secure this forward - the connection to the LATCH hooks doesn't appear to be at an ideal angle to keep the whole system from flying backwards in the event of a hard rear-end collision. But it's certainly better than me tossing a tire/wheel into the trunk. :)
 
#3 ·
I've had my Tesla Model 3 since August, 2018. I travel extensively for my work and have had 2 tire blowouts. One occurred in the country, at night, where I had no cell phone reception. After the second flat my wife refused to drive the car due to lack of a spare tire, so I designed and built a tire rack that holds a mini spare tire securely in the rear trunk. It takes up about 1/3 of the trunk space, but I can still fit my golf clubs in the trunk with no problem. The trunk "cargo area" is accessible with the spare securely attached inside. The cargo area is where I store the jack and lug nut tools. I use a MAXIS T155/70/18 with a steel wheel. I searched the internet for the correct wheel & tire combination. The rack is fabricated from .75 plywood using .25 bolts and nuts specific for plywood assembly (Tee & Barrel nuts). The tire is mounted to the rack then placed in the rear trunk, securely held in place using turnbuckle hardware. No modifications to the Tesla M3 is required. The tire/wheel weighs 37 lbs., the rack is 14 lbs. My design is attached in the PDF file. You are welcome to build your own version.
I have the same issue. Unfortunately, I am not handy with woodworking. Could you build one of these for me and if so, what would you charge? How do we get in contact?
 
#11 ·
Sorry for the slow reply, here's what I can do.. I can cut the 5 wooden pieces for 55$ (not painted). Include your zip code and I will calculate the shipping cost, and reply with a total price. With the cut plywood parts, all you will need is the common hardware listed in the BOM to complete the project, it is simply a matter of bolting the parts together. If I buy the hardware and ship it with the parts it will be much more expensive then me just shipping the wooden parts and you going to Home depot for the hardware. An assembled rack would be well over 150$ by the time shipping charges are included. Contact me at RSF1a@comcast.com.. R
 
#4 ·
I designed and built a tire rack that holds a mini spare tire securely in the rear trunk. It takes up about 1/3 of the trunk space. The trunk "cargo area" is accessible with the spare securely attached inside. The cargo area is where I store the jack and lug nut tools. I use a MAXIS T155/70/18 with a steel wheel. The rack is fabricated from .75 plywood using .25 bolts and nuts specific for plywood assembly (Tee & Barrel nuts). The tire is mounted to the rack then placed in the rear trunk, securely held in place using turnbuckle hardware. No modifications to the Tesla M3 is required. The tire/wheel weighs 37 lbs., the rack is 14 lbs. My design is attached in the PDF file.
I'd also like to buy one from you?
 
#13 ·
Sorry for the slow reply, here's what I can do.. I can cut the 5 wooden pieces for 55$ (not painted). Include your zip code and I will calculate the shipping cost, and reply with a total price. With the cut plywood parts, all you will need is the common hardware listed in the BOM to complete the project, it is simply a matter of bolting the parts together. If I buy the hardware and ship it with the parts it will be much more expensive then me just shipping the wooden parts and you going to Home depot for the hardware. An assembled rack would be well over 150$ by the time shipping charges are included. Contact me at RSF1a@comcast.com.. R
 
#12 ·
So, does the rack accommodate the full size wheel/tire you're swapping out during a roadside replacement or does it collapse out of the way?
No, the Full size tire is too big and bulky for this application. I found a mini spare on line, ordered it and then built the rack to fit inside the trunk with the mini spare attached. The Mini spare is bolted the the rack, and the whole thing is lifted up ( about 50#) ans slid into the trunk. Before that, I took off one of the M3's 19" wheels built a rack and found it too heavy and taking up too much room in the trunk, so I selected the mini as the best choice. The mini I use is a 100% air filled rubber tire that fits perfectly on the M3 wheel hub and can be operated for any distance at a reasonable speed with no adverse effect on the car.
 
#7 ·
Before I ordered my Model 3 a year ago, I asked the salesperson what would I do if I had a flat tire. The salesperson responded that no matter where or what time it was, Tesla would promptly send a service vehicle with a loaner tire and wheel. A few days ago I had my first flat and I would like to share my experience.

It was after 7 p.m. I was in Irvine, California, a large metropolitan area about 70 miles from my home in Los Angeles. Using my Tesla app on my iPhone, I contacted Tesla for assistance. About 10 minutes later, I got a phone call from a woman working for Tesla informing me there were no tires available. The most Tesla would do would be to tow my car to a nearby Tesla repair facility or any other repair station of my choice within 50 miles from my car. When I mentioned that I was far from home, more than 50 miles away, it was late, and local garages were probably closed. She was indifferent. When I asked how I would get home, that was my problem, she answered, not hers.

I had just finished a long, arduous day of work and I was very tired and hungry. As I informed the Tesla agent, I am in my late 70s, I was with my elderly wife, it was late, and we were far from home in an unfamiliar area. When she continued to be indifferent to my predicament, I admit I became a little hot under the collar. I reminded her this was not what Tesla promised it would do under these circumstances, and threatened to sue Tesla if she continued to be unresponsive to my situation. Instead of offering assistance, the woman then abruptly hung up and sent me a text which read, "It is my understanding that you have requested legal action. We will not be able to assist due to your request." Although I immediately texted back and apologized for getting excited and withdrew my threat of legal action, she refused to respond to my texts literally begging for help. All I got from Tesla's "service" agent was the equivalent of the middle finger with a text that read, "You will need to find your own tow provider tonight."

Fortunately, I was able to call the auto club and a kind and helpful man who came by in response inflated my tire and located a tire store a few miles away that was open for another 15 minutes. I managed to convince the manager to stay open longer and my flat was fixed. Kudos to AAA and the tire store and boos to Tesla.

My past good experience with Tesla led me to recommend the car to three friends who each purchased model 3s. I wouldn't recommend the brand again now. Obviously, I can't rely on Tesla's promises for roadside assistance. Without a spare tire, that's a serious problem for me. Being unable or unwilling to provide reliable road service, I think Tesla should supply a spare tire and wheel and a way of securing it in our cars.
 
#8 ·
The only time I needed Tesla roadside was for a flat midway between Memphis and Little Rock about the same time in the evening as your event. I also got a run around from Tesla. In fairness, AAA gave me an identical run around, and I was forced to hire a tow truck on my own at a cost of $160. Had I had a spare my situation wouldn't have changed. My car was barely off the interstate(up against the guardrail) and that stretch of I-40 is covered up with semis. Way too dangerous.

At any rate, I'm still searching for a suitable solution to the lack of a spare. The rack and mini-spare is the best solution I've seen to date, but I don't think it works for me since most of my extensive road trips include car camping. The search continues...
 
#9 ·
I have a few questions for RFS1: (1) I have 19 inch wheels mounted on the nicer rims, will the 18 inch tire mounted on steel rims work in an emergency for a reasonable distance? (2) Assuming your answer to the previous question is, "no," will your rack work with the larger tire and wheel? (3) I assume you carry a jack so you can change the tire if you are stuck without cell reception. What jack works on the Tesla?
 
#10 ·
18" is the size of the wheel but the wheel with tire is the same size as the 19" wheel with tire (just a lower profile tire). So, it should work if that's the way you want to go.
 
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#17 ·
https://modernspare.com/product/2017-2018-tesla-model-3-complete-kit/

Have ya'll seen this? I know it is a bit pricy but it could easily be loaded in the trunk or back seat floor for Road Trip. Something like this doesn't need allot of space.
I was actually able to make something similar for my Leaf back in 2015 with a used Maxima Wheel for $25, used jack for $15 and new tire for $145. About $10 for Canvas and my wife made a bag for it all.
 
#34 ·
Tire is held on the flat 9 x 36" x 1" panel with through bolt and plate on wheel. Front cross piece, 1" x 2 1/2" x 34" is braced up to cross member behind back seats...( the u shaped parts that back seats clip to when in up right position ) Clear as mud?

Yes, when flat black paint is cured, I will assemble the unit and put into the Model 3...pics to follow.
 
#35 ·
could you snap a pic before painting? black trunk interior, black tire, black frame might not be as visible.
 
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