Spare Tire

[merrelljohnson]

Please make the spare tire standard. Reps shared that it wouldn't be today in Cola. They even challenged the fact that other main competitors don't offer them i.e. the Bronco (inaccurate info btw). But an upcharge for a spare tire on a purpose-built off-road vehicle is an interesting choice. While I understand the Rivian doesn't offer one *edit as standard equipment *, the Scout is in a whole other category.

 

[cyure]

I think the take away here is not all reps have everything down and there may be inaccurate statements made. But at least what we learn from the SM team on this forum is generally 99.555556% accurate.

And they were really trying to get the correct answers. I asked about how wide the Traveler would be with the mirrors folded. The SM team member I spoke with didn’t know and he did go ask others, but it was a question they just didn’t have the answer to yet and that’s okay.

 

[strider]

Why?
You have to pay either way.
This way the people who don’t need a spare don’t have to buy it.
And those who don’t want the factory spare can buy their own from a 3rd party.
It annoys me when there’s no a place to safely store a spare, but it’s not a big deal to me when there isn’t a spare in that space when the vehicle is delivered.

I don't understand your position. They should build a space to hold a spare but then charge extra for the spare itself? I have never seen such a thing. Are automakers really doing this? I mean, all "real" Jeeps come with spare tires, same with Broncos. On the pickup side, AFAIK it's quite standard to include a spare. How much can a steel wheel and tire cost to an OEM?

All that being said, I still like my idea to give everyone a sizeable credit to be used in the Scout Store with every purchase. For example, I do not need an EVSE so I would rather use that money towards something I want instead. But someone who is new to EVs (or NACS) may want to get an EVSE "with purchase." I pitched this to Tesla back in the day when they were complaining that people were buying hardwired EVSEs and not using the included "mobile" (plug-in) EVSE that they were including. So they stopped including them and made people buy them. It just felt like you're being nickel and dimed to have to buy an EVSE on top of the car. They never did it but I still think it's a good idea.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I don't understand your position. They should build a space to hold a spare but then charge extra for the spare itself? I have never seen such a thing. Are automakers really doing this? I mean, all "real" Jeeps come with spare tires, same with Broncos. On the pickup side, AFAIK it's quite standard to include a spare. How much can a steel wheel and tire cost to an OEM?

All that being said, I still like my idea to give everyone a sizeable credit to be used in the Scout Store with every purchase. For example, I do not need an EVSE so I would rather use that money towards something I want instead. But someone who is new to EVs (or NACS) may want to get an EVSE "with purchase." I pitched this to Tesla back in the day when they were complaining that people were buying hardwired EVSEs and not using the included "mobile" (plug-in) EVSE that they were including. So they stopped including them and made people buy them. It just felt like you're being nickel and dimed to have to buy an EVSE on top of the car. They never did it but I still think it's a good idea.

My position is that just because the spare is in the vehicle at purchase, you're not getting a spare "with the car," you pay for it one way or another. Why should someone who doesn't want it be forced to pay for it?

 

[THil08]

Big thing with a spare is having the right size. If you have 35’s on but your spare is a 33 from factory, you can toast your differential. I’ve seen it twice now, on two modern vehicles in my community.

 

[THil08]

My position is that just because the spare is in the vehicle at purchase, you're not getting a spare "with the car," you pay for it one way or another. Why should someone who doesn't want it be forced to pay for it?

Even the “space saver” spare. Aka that gummy crap. You have to pay for now, comes with every vehicle

 

[speedrye]

My position is that just because the spare is in the vehicle at purchase, you're not getting a spare "with the car," you pay for it one way or another. Why should someone who doesn't want it be forced to pay for it?

My view is related to the starting price of "under $60k". If that doesn't include a full-size spare, the value proposition just went down. I'm assuming that starting price is $59,995, but if it turns out to be $58,225 without a spare, I'm fine as the value proposition remains.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

My view is related to the starting price of "under $60k". If that doesn't include a full-size spare, the value proposition just went down. I'm assuming that starting price is $59,995, but if it turns out to be $58,225 without a spare, I'm fine as the value proposition remains.

I don’t have any disagreement with that.

My *preference* would be that I can order a full-size spare to come with the truck when I pick it up. But I would prefer it be a selectable option. I expect it’ll be around $750 to $1250, with the higher price being for a wheel and tire matching the other four. Next to it on the order site will probably be a compact spare that requires inflation to use, and I would expect that to be about $500 to $750. What I don’t want is that it be a necessity that someone pay for a spare that they don’t want (whatever their reason is). I would also hope there to be sets of 1, 4, and 5 wheels and tires for each of the other tire/wheel combo options.

 

[SrfnFly227]

This is an interesting discussion and I think it shows just how much difference there is in the wants and needs of individual buyers. Not just with spare tires, but also with every other option in a vehicle. Ultimately, I think the manufacturer needs to look at what they perceive the vehicle to be (offroader, tow rig, around town transportation, road tripper) and weigh the standard and optional equipment against what they anticipate the average buyer wants. And I say wants there on purpose because wants and needs are vastly different when it comes to vehicles.

 

[speedrye]

I don’t have any disagreement with that.

My *preference* would be that I can order a full-size spare to come with the truck when I pick it up. But I would prefer it be a selectable option. I expect it’ll be around $750 to $1250, with the higher price being for a wheel and tire matching the other four. Next to it on the order site will probably be a compact spare that requires inflation to use, and I would expect that to be about $500 to $750. What I don’t want is that it be a necessity that someone pay for a spare that they don’t want (whatever their reason is). I would also hope there to be sets of 1, 4, and 5 wheels and tires for each of the other tire/wheel combo options.

The small-tire BEV options are much easier as the spare can go underneath. Even the large-tire and EREV version of the Terra are easy enough as you can just buy a spare from the accessory shop and throw it in the bed, you just have to figure out where you want it and how you want to mount it. Tailgate-mount, roof-rack mount, bed-mount, trailer-mount, etc. The large-tire and EREV versions of the Traveler that want the spare on the rear are where most problems come in.

 

[cyure]

This is an interesting discussion and I think it shows just how much difference there is in the wants and needs of individual buyers. Not just with spare tires, but also with every other option in a vehicle. Ultimately, I think the manufacturer needs to look at what they perceive the vehicle to be (offroader, tow rig, around town transportation, road tripper) and weigh the standard and optional equipment against what they anticipate the average buyer wants. And I say wants there on purpose because wants and needs are vastly different when it comes to vehicles.

I can’t even imagine the spreadsheets they have with all the ideas we come up with. I’m sure there’s lots of head shaking.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

The small-tire BEV options are much easier as the spare can go underneath. Even the large-tire and EREV version of the Terra are easy enough as you can just buy a spare from the accessory shop and throw it in the bed, you just have to figure out where you want it and how you want to mount it. Tailgate-mount, roof-rack mount, bed-mount, trailer-mount, etc. The large-tire and EREV versions of the Traveler that want the spare on the rear are where most problems come in.

Assuming the hints that the carrier is not removable are true, it won't be an after-factory option. I would expect that if someone options the rear tire carrier, they get the matching spare as part of that package. That is, it's "included" with the vehicle from the factory.

 

[speedrye]

This is an interesting discussion and I think it shows just how much difference there is in the wants and needs of individual buyers. Not just with spare tires, but also with every other option in a vehicle. Ultimately, I think the manufacturer needs to look at what they perceive the vehicle to be (offroader, tow rig, around town transportation, road tripper) and weigh the standard and optional equipment against what they anticipate the average buyer wants. And I say wants there on purpose because wants and needs are vastly different when it comes to vehicles.

Every SUV with a solid rear axle has a full-size spare to my knowledge, and they have for a long time. The Traveler should come with a full-size spare standard, EREV or not and Scout knows it. If they want to offer a delete kit that you/they can install for additional cost, that's fine, but don't BS us and call it optional and add thousands to the price. Just admit you screwed up your initial price estimates and raise the price to where it should be.

 

[SrfnFly227]

Another thought more related to the topic of the thread. My wife and I have 3 vehicles all technically from the same manufacturer. Each one has a different philosophy with spare tires.

- 2006 Jeep Wrangler. Full size spare tire with matching wheel. Matching is deemed important because the spare is visible on the outside of the vehicle. Full size is deemed important because of intended use of vehicle.

- 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Full size spare, but wheel does not match and is actually a different size. Non matching wheel doesn't matter since the spare is mounted under the floor in the rear cargo area. Full size matters because of the intended use of the vehicle.

- 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. Does not come standard with a spare tire. Because of our intended use, I optioned a spare tire in as part of our build. The spare is a "kit" that includes an air pump, wheel, and deflated spare. Opting for it gets rid of the built in vacuum that comes standard on the Pacifica.

Now I'm 44 years old and in all my life, I have only ever used a spare tire 1 time. I take my Wrangler rock crawling and on all my trips, I've only ever seen 1 vehicle need a spare. I would imagine that a majority of buyers will never need a spare. It sure feels good to know it's there though. Especially on long distance trips or when you're miles off the road.

I'll be undecided on whether I want the rear mounted spare on my Traveler until they show the final versions without it included.

 

[J Alynn]

Assuming the hints that the carrier is not removable are true, it won't be an after-factory option. I would expect that if someone options the rear tire carrier, they get the matching spare as part of that package. That is, it's "included" with the vehicle from the factory.

That makes 100% full sense, but imagine even all the pricing behind scenes since buyers wheel choice then needs added to carrier option. I see all our options for new homes so I know to @cyure ’s point, just how many lines there truly are
And as a builder, many of our options create conflicts or intersections with other options, so that then becomes yet another option. Like option on an option. At least most truck parts are stand alone, mostly

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

I can’t even imagine the spreadsheets they have with all the ideas we come up with. I’m sure there’s lots of head shaking.

Do you remember the comic with the little guys rolling around the floor and laughing they’re a*** off? That Jamie and crew when anyone posts.

 

[strider]

My position is that just because the spare is in the vehicle at purchase, you're not getting a spare "with the car," you pay for it one way or another. Why should someone who doesn't want it be forced to pay for it?

I agree, but where does it end? I do not want any ADAS. I just want a dumb "hold the speed no matter what" cruise control. I don't want cameras or radars or lasers or any of that crap. That stuff costs WAY more than a spare tire. So if I'm going to subsidize everyone's lasers, they can subsidize my spare tire