Spare wheel stowage

[jimed]

I've just been pondering the above as I am doing 2 trips to Scotland in the next few weeks and would like to take the spare with me rather than the sealant jobbies. The issue as most will know is that with the spare strapped in the boot in its correct location it then becomes almost impossible to put the roof panel in and then shut the boot lid. I do have a cut roof and it seems watertight even though no seals (there is the roof fabric down the join at both sides and that has been well proofed but it is not always easy to push both sides together tight enough so always slightly risky) but if it is really wet over a couple of days (and nights when it would just be sat there rather than being driven) I suspect water would eventually find its way down the join and then just pour in so I'd rather not take that risk. (The surrey roof is not much use for me - tried one and one of the struts was almost hitting my head when sat in my normal position so a no-no).
This has set me wondering if I could put the roof panel in and then stow the spare and jack, etc. without it smashing about in the boot. Some strap arrangement for the spare would not be too easy to do as suspect stowing the roof panel would prevent that (jack stuff might go behind one of the seats but nowhere to fix straps or anything at the numberplate end of the boot) so has anyone done anything like that?
Any thoughts appreciated otherwise I might have to finish up with the cut roof and risk it ....
Jim

[jimed]

I wonder why my roof won't sit down enough to close the boot lid properly with the spare in? I'll have another go at that.
As everyone says the split roof is so much easier. I did try and put some of the rubber sealant onto the roof fabric where it comes down between the two halves but it just pealed straight off and that was when I had cleaned it (ie. No proofer on it). I assume the split roofs you mean don't have the fabric down between the two halves and as such gluing to the panel itself would be better. I would be reluctant to cut the fabric back as it does look good without that. Guess I might just have to bite the bullet....maybe a simple roof cover for overnight....
Jim

[jimed]

I've had another go with the spare in and it does mean that however I try the roof won't sit far enough down to let the boot shut - well I could force it which pushes the lid up so no use.
Re the sealant, the breakdown stuff says you must have the supplied spare with you, I did query that and explain about where to put the punctured wheel but they didn't want to know based on if it comes with it etc. I have gone with the sealant in the past but some roads in Scotland are extremely quiet and often with no phone cover so a blowout type of
damage which is not repairable with the sealant would leave me stranded. Hence the idea to look for a different answer.
Jim

[jimed]

Hi Adrian - as you say long time etc! Nice to hear from you. Yes I have done all the things that you advise but it still sits up at the right hand side. Real nuisance ...
Jim

[jimed]

That does look a lovely neat job Steve - especially the box to hide the clips!! What glue did you use to put the seal on? Think the stuff I tried already had the glue on as from memory it had a peal off layer on it but it wouldn't stop on - not even for a few seconds it just dropped straight off.
I have been pondering Adrian's post and decided to have another go with the spare in a bit earlier and after some shoving/lifting at the near side success! Despite this I still think the split roof is the easiest one to go with so guess it is currently down to the weather forecast.
Jim

[jimed]

Thanks Steve. Yes the spare tyre is the normal one as far as I can see, however it does say that the tyre should be inflated to 60psi with the implication that it is also run at that pressure. As such the tyre is certainly bigger than it would be at a lower pressure and I suspect that with the normal tyres being at a much lower pressure I probably wouldn't need the spare at 60 so if anyone has any good advice re that it might make it easier to get the roof in as a little less tyre sticking out would make a difference!!
Jim