Spare tire down under!

My Nissan Leaf Forum

Help Support My Nissan Leaf Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Electric4Me

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2010
Messages
533
Location
Union City, CA
Hey folks,
this just surprised me! I sold a Leaf QR Hitch to a customer in Australia and I was quite surprised to learn that the Aussie market Leaf comes equipped with a spare tire!! It has no plastic diffuser cover over that area so the spare tire is readily accessible. Here are some pics he sent me (and said I could post):

photo%25203.JPG

photo%252012.JPG

photo%252011.JPG


Another customer in the UK told me that his Leaf does not have the spare (and does have the plastic diffuser cover). I wonder what other market(s) may have the spare? Presumably it's there due to Australian regulations...

FWIW, he's trying to make the hitch & spare compatible with each other, but may end up putting the spare in the trunk. I'll report back when he's finished.
 
Bill thanks again for the hitch, it went on easy peazy, the longest part was fishing the bolts into frame. But with a little U2 on it became a fun challenge.
I really like the spare down under. I wonder if there is any ordering info for it.
Your quick release hitch could easily mount a tire like this with a couple tiny modifications. Then it would be a quick release spare tire. I would buy that from you too.
 
TonyWilliams said:
Interesting way to do it. I'd love to see how they drop that tire!!
No idea, but on my dad's '76 Peugeot the front end of the carrier was hinged, so once you released the catch you lowered the rear end to the ground and pulled/slid the tire off the carrier. This one would appear to require a certain amount of lifting as well, to clear the 'eyes' at the rear corners.
 
Electric4Me said:
Hey folks,
this just surprised me! I sold a Leaf QR Hitch to a customer in Australia and I was quite surprised to learn that the Aussie market Leaf comes equipped with a spare tire!! It has no plastic diffuser cover over that area so the spare tire is readily accessible.

This is very interesting. Thanks for posting it.

What would you have to remove from the US spec Leaf to get space for the spare? I looked under my Leaf and there is no way there is spare room... something's gotta go to get that extra space...

Another note: I wonder if Nissan ever close up the "gap" in the rear area above the license plate holder on the Aussie spec Leaf?
 
Electric4Me said:
Hey folks,
this just surprised me! I sold a Leaf QR Hitch to a customer in Australia and I was quite surprised to learn that the Aussie market Leaf comes equipped with a spare tire!! It has no plastic diffuser cover over that area so the spare tire is readily accessible...Another customer in the UK told me that his Leaf does not have the spare (and does have the plastic diffuser cover). I wonder what other market(s) may have the spare? Presumably it's there due to Australian regulations...

FWIW, he's trying to make the hitch & spare compatible with each other, but may end up putting the spare in the trunk. I'll report back when he's finished.

Hey Bill, first off your hitch is excellent! On top of that 1st class after sales service, I'll have that nut sorted out! I wonder too if Australia is the only market with the spare? Certainly must be due to our road regulations, never seen a car here without one.

I've tried to figure out a way to make the hitch & the spare compatible. Even though the spare is compact - a Maxxis T125/90 D1698M - road clearance will be a major issue if the spare is placed over the top of the hitch.

HairyCairy said:
I really like the spare down under. I wonder if there is any ordering info for it.
Your quick release hitch could easily mount a tire like this with a couple tiny modifications. Then it would be a quick release spare tire. I would buy that from you too.

Not sure if the spare wheel kit can be ordered outside of Australia. You'd need the original brackets, hub spacer, basket and spare wheel pictured here.

photo%201.JPG


photo%202.JPG


photo%203.JPG


photo%204.JPG


GRA said:
TonyWilliams said:
Interesting way to do it. I'd love to see how they drop that tire!!
No idea, but on my dad's '76 Peugeot the front end of the carrier was hinged, so once you released the catch you lowered the rear end to the ground and pulled/slid the tire off the carrier. This one would appear to require a certain amount of lifting as well, to clear the 'eyes' at the rear corners.

Yes the basket is hinged. Loosen the bracket bolt inside the boot compartment, under the plastic cover and you can lift & unhinge the basket then slide the spare out.

mxp said:
What would you have to remove from the US spec Leaf to get space for the spare? I looked under my Leaf and there is no way there is spare room... something's gotta go to get that extra space...

Another note: I wonder if Nissan ever close up the "gap" in the rear area above the license plate holder on the Aussie spec Leaf?

I think you would only have to remove the diffuser but you would have to add the spare mounting brackets & spacer as well as the basket pictured above.

The gap above the license plate holder is there on the Aussie model too! Not sure why?
 
remf said:
Not sure if the spare wheel kit can be ordered outside of Australia. You'd need the original brackets, hub spacer, basket and spare wheel pictured here.....

I think you would only have to remove the diffuser but you would have to add the spare mounting brackets & spacer as well as the basket pictured above.

The gap above the license plate holder is there on the Aussie model too! Not sure why?

I just cut a hole in the rear air diffuser. The spare tire hardware is available in UK, and I even priced it out. Quite a bit different than this Aussie version, as the tire was designed to fit in the boot.

The gap above the plate is the only place in the body to release cabin pressure from the two rear outflow valves.

Spare tire stuff
 
I just added a spare to my Leaf, this thread shows how i did it:

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=14081" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
TonyWilliams said:
Interesting way to do it. I'd love to see how they drop that tire!!
There is a bolt in the trunk/hatch that you screw to loosen the cage around the spare and it then simply unhooks from the brackets holding it in. I unfortunately had the pleasure of needing to use the spare a few weeks ago.

However when I purchased the car the dealer told me it would be easier to call road side assist than to change the spare myself, maybe he didn't know how to get it out? :))
 
Maybe I should have done mine like that. Unscrew it from inside and let it drop. I guess I can still do that if I want.
 
Lasareath said:
Maybe I should have done mine like that. Unscrew it from inside and let it drop. I guess I can still do that if I want.
Your set up looks fine. We don't have the extra plastic/cover you have under the car where the tyre is though so keeping that and hiding it under there is perfect.
 
Electric4Me said:
Hey folks,
this just surprised me! I sold a Leaf QR Hitch to a customer in Australia and I was quite surprised to learn that the Aussie market Leaf comes equipped with a spare tire!! It has no plastic diffuser cover over that area so the spare tire is readily accessible. Here are some pics he sent me (and said I could post):

...

Another customer in the UK told me that his Leaf does not have the spare (and does have the plastic diffuser cover). I wonder what other market(s) may have the spare? Presumably it's there due to Australian regulations...

FWIW, he's trying to make the hitch & spare compatible with each other, but may end up putting the spare in the trunk. I'll report back when he's finished.


Bill do you have any update on how this went? I am from Australia too and am very interested in getting a hitch for my Leaf. It would be nice to be able to have the hitch and spare working togeather, but I suppose I could live with them not, if I can swap between them without too much trouble.

I take it there is no issue with Left-hand-drive vs Right-hand-drive.

Also, can you tell me please if your hitch would work ok with a 6 x 4 ' box trailer?
 
The Australian regs have some additional requirements over other markets. In general they are very sensible requirements. Once out of the city in Aus down a track with a flat tyre, folks die out there. So a spare tyre is one.

(FWIW, by way of example: The other most sensible of requirement for cars I came across while out there on a sabbatical is that they have to have a 'top-tether' for child seats in the back. This really firms-up a child seat, and I now routinely bind the top of my kids seats to something - often the headrest is the only thing to do this with, which is not ideal but better than nothing.)
 
donald said:
(FWIW, by way of example: The other most sensible of requirement for cars I came across while out there on a sabbatical is that they have to have a 'top-tether' for child seats in the back. This really firms-up a child seat, and I now routinely bind the top of my kids seats to something - often the headrest is the only thing to do this with, which is not ideal but better than nothing.)

We have that too in the US, for quite some time, and I believe it's a legal requirement since just about every recently-made car I've seen has them. On our Leafs, it's on the trunk (boot) side of the rear seat back, same with my Audi A3. On sedans (saloons) they are usually on the rear window shelf.

You don't have these anchor points where you are? Here's what they look like on the Leaf:

http://image.automobilemag.com/f/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1106_2011_nissan_leaf_june_20_update/37385088+w968/17-2011-nissan-leaf-trunk.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Out of curiosity I called up a dealership in Australia and had them e-mail me the parts list for the spare tire “down under” version. And just let me say this, I like the way those aussie ladies speak the queens English. Now back to business, the complete assembly with all the brackets, bolts, supports and such is priced at $385 US Dollars PLUS shipping, this is the fun part. So before I even called the dealership I spoke to UPS and just for a 5 lb. (test) package they priced it at $299 to the states, (Alabama), I am going to get a confirmation on the weight of the assembly since I was quoted a weight of 20 kgs (44 lbs) seems a bit high so I will have to double check that. For the fun of it may just have to fly over space “A” on a military hop ( retired military) and pick it up in person and speak personally to the parts manager (lady). Sucker for great English.

Maybe I can take the quote / invoice with Part Numbers to a local dealership and see if it can be ordered here in the states.

The "Bolt" version tire hanger is beginning to look better at the moment

Wish me luck.
 
I don't think "G'day" and "barbie" are considered proper Queen's English :lol: The Aussies are a fun people though.

Good luck with your project and post pics when it's done!
 
Eyeresearch said:
So before I even called the dealership I spoke to UPS and just for a 5 lb. (test) package they priced it at $299 to the states, (Alabama), I am going to get a confirmation on the weight of the assembly since I was quoted a weight of 20 kgs (44 lbs) seems a bit high so I will have to double check that. For the fun of it may just have to fly over space “A” on a military hop ( retired military) and pick it up in person and speak personally to the parts manager (lady). Sucker for great English.
Although traveling down under to pick up these parts sounds like a great idea, you should also ask if they can ship via the Postal Service. At least from the US to Australia it costs me ~1/3 as much to use the USPS for a 30 lb box (LEAF hitch). Ironically, FedEx does the actual transport!
 
I agree the Postal Service will be the most economical means of transport. I had a chance to call a local Nissan Dealership and they can't access the Australian Parts for all the tea in China.

Plan "B" I will probablly just install an 3/8" eye-bolt with a large washer and / or flat stock to prevent pull-out in the "trunk" area (inside) and hook it with a modified "J" - bolt with the threads pointing up and lock it down with a "spare tire nut" salvaged from the nearest auto salvage yard. A whole lot cheaper but I confess I won't miss the lost space from the boot.

Sometimes you just have to look at things from a different angle to find a better solution, gotta lose the blinders.
 
Or you can do it the way I did mine:

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=14081" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Back
Top