Spare tire orientation Valve up or down?

[JamaicaJoe]

So days after removing/wrestling/reinstalling my spare (2013 Expy) to clean it up and inspect it. I read the owners manual and it says to install it valve stem up. That sucker is heavy and the thought of cranking it down , pulling it out and flipping and cranking up again is not pleasant. I always thought valve stem down so the pressure can be checked. Maybe Ford has a reason?

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

So days after removing/wrestling/reinstalling my spare (2013 Expy) to clean it up and inspect it. I read the owners manual and it says to install it valve stem up. That sucker is heavy and the thought of cranking it down , pulling it out and flipping and cranking up again is not pleasant. I always thought valve stem down so the pressure can be checked. Maybe Ford has a reason?

My 2015 Expedition Limited 4x4 spare tire came mounted with the valve stem up - and instructions in the manual to mount it that way.

Very stupid design as you must lower the spare tire to check or adjust the air pressure in it.

 

[GlennSullivan]

Joe
As you are already aware, cranking the tire down and back up is a PITA, especially with the tool Ford provides. I put a pair of vice grips in the jack compartment so I can spin the vertical rod easily. The next step is to fashion an old ratchet extension to replace the vertical rod so I can either use a ratchet or battery impact to run it down and back up.

 

[JamaicaJoe]

Joe
As you are already aware, cranking the tire down and back up is a PITA, especially with the tool Ford provides. I put a pair of vice grips in the jack compartment so I can spin the vertical rod easily. The next step is to fashion an old ratchet extension to replace the vertical rod so I can either use a ratchet or battery impact to run it down and back up.

Yeah, I am going to rig up my cordless drill to see if I can turn that a bit faster.

The only possible reason to put it with valve up is to prevent road debris from hitting the stem. But chances are more likely it would impact the tread.

 

[turtle019]

Very stupid design as you must lower the spare tire to check or adjust the air pressure in it.

I have mine mounted valve stem up and use a dual head air chuck to check/top off the air pressure without needing to drop the wheel.
Something like this: https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-head-air-chuck-inflator-with-dial-gauge-63544.html

 

[GlennSullivan]

Yeah, I am going to rig up my cordless drill to see if I can turn that a bit faster.

The only possible reason to put it with valve up is to prevent road debris from hitting the stem. But chances are more likely it would impact the tread.

There was a post about this subject a while back - maybe last year, where someone found a valve extension hose which screws onto the valve and come down around the tire to all you to check and fill the tire with the valve facing up. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[GlennSullivan]

There was a post about this subject a while back - maybe last year, where someone found a valve extension hose which screws onto the valve and come down around the tire to all you to check and fill the tire with the valve facing up. I'll see if I can find it.

Here is the link to the thread and below it the link to the hose. If you do a google search there are a lot of them from various vendors.

FYI Spare tire Mounting

Hello all... went to check air pressure in my spare and found it is mounted with the valve stem up towards the floor resulting in no access. Lowered it and flipped the tire over so it can be reached ant time. Seems like a bad idea to not have access to spare tire air fill. What are the feelings...

www.expeditionforum.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0078RGXMW/?coliid=IBR7ID3YP3X4L&colid=3UV8LYOZGLQZZ&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[GlennSullivan]

Yeah, I am going to rig up my cordless drill to see if I can turn that a bit faster.

The only possible reason to put it with valve up is to prevent road debris from hitting the stem. But chances are more likely it would impact the tread.

When I travel any distance, I bring my 1/2" Dewalt impact with me anyway - don't want to jack around removing lugs by hand, so I'll just figure out what I need to adapt to that.

 

[Ellison Brown III]

Down… so you can check it/ air it up if necessary.

 

[Billme]

I’ll take my chances, stem down.. No need to fret over this..