Using a tree for a spare tire.

Andy in Gap · Jan 7, 2011

Alright, I know we've got a lot of creative people on this site, but has anyone ever seen or done anything like this?
Using A Tree As A Spare Tire [VIDEO]

johnrex62 · Jan 7, 2011

I have seen that done a few times over the years. There was a report of someone in southern California that got a ticket for towing a car with a wooden beam for a front tire. There are a couple of videos out now with tree limbs being used on a trailer.

Seems like I can recall a motorcycle sidecar with a limb for a wheel. Might have been something in a movie, thinking World's Fastest Indian, but not sure.

The one posted by the OP was new to me, but there was one on Shocking Vidoes taken by the highway patrol a few months ago that was very similar to this one. Same wheel, same tongue overlap, no rain and driving on the shoulder instead of the right lane. Enough to make me think staged copycat video.

D33r3 6r33N · Jan 7, 2011

My dumb luck thing would catch fire and burn the whole rig up:laughing::confused2:

schmism · Jan 7, 2011

ive seen it done a few times off road... especially if they broke something big like an axle or housing etc. but it was just to get them off the trail and back the the trailer/parking lot to affect real repairs....

dont think i would ever consider hauling arse down the highway on the setup

Willl · Jan 7, 2011

I just don't see the problem here.

NOTV8 · Jan 7, 2011

McGyver impostor? :laughing:

radioman · Jan 7, 2011

Willl said:
I just don't see the problem here.

me either.

lostcause · Jan 8, 2011

Willl said:
I just don't see the problem here.

i dunno, it sits level, tracks straight... i've seen worse looking trailers going down the road on steel and rubber.

Runner · Jan 8, 2011

It will probably work better/last longer than the space-saver tire I thought I'd get away with using....found it along the road and it happened to have the correct diameter/lug spacing for my trailer.

Not one of my smarter ideas...

Willl · Jan 8, 2011

Runner said:
Not one of my smarter ideas...

As long as it got you home,,,,,,,,,

Runner · Jan 8, 2011

Actually, I had two of them. The first one blew out in just a couple of miles, but the second one got me home. So, I guess it wasn't such a bad idea afterall.

It was just a stop-gap measure, now I have a regular sized spare for the trailer..

CompactTractorFan · Jan 8, 2011

Uh...no...

Tig · Jan 8, 2011

That's funny. When I read the title, Fred Flintstone came to mind. But Fred would have at least mounted a round on the axle. Just as a temp spare until he could get a stone replacement.

jimmysisson · Jan 8, 2011

johnrex62 said:
I have seen that done a few times over the years. There was a report of someone in southern California that got a ticket for towing a car with a wooden beam for a front tire. There are a couple of videos out now with tree limbs being used on a trailer.

I wonder what the ticket was for? Using unauthorized equipment?
Jim

rockinmywaypa · Jan 8, 2011

I remember doing it once with a square baler that had to have a flat while on the highway, grabbed a fence post, lifted the baler with loader, chain it into place and get off the road as quick as possible. The needles would have been dragging if I hadn't lifted it up so I couldn't just run it on a flat.

woodsmith · Jan 8, 2011

I have a book about American transport used during WW2. It shows exactly that method for getting light vehicles out of the dirt when an axle or wheel broke.

Seems sensible to me if used for getting to a safe place for repairs or recovery but not for the highway!

Besides, with that size of trailer, had it been me I would have put it on the roof rack.:thumbsup:

escavader · Jan 8, 2011

Its ok to do if its from a rubber tree:laughing::laughing::laughing:

RadarTech · Jan 8, 2011

This is good.... I can see me doing this!!!!!!!!!!!

Andy in Gap · Jan 8, 2011

I never would have thought to do something like that in an emergency. It reminds me of a native american travois, which was the original trailor, I guess. Should have known some of you guys have been there, done that.

MikeD74T · Jan 9, 2011

woodsmith said:
I have a book about American transport used during WW2. It shows exactly that method for getting light vehicles out of the dirt when an axle or wheel broke.

Seems sensible to me if used for getting to a safe place for repairs or recovery but not for the highway!

Besides, with that size of trailer, had it been me I would have put it on the roof rack.:thumbsup:

Take another look:

That trailer's wider than the car roof
too heavy for less than 4 people to lift that high
he ain't got a roof rack

I've used the travois to bring a Farmall tractor with a broken wheel out of the woods and to get a snowmobile with a broken & jammed track back to a trailer. Not knowing how far he's going I'd have brought a couple extra logs. MikeD74T