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Yesterday I had a stairlift service call in Toledo, OH. So I left here about 8:00 in the morning and headed that way. I got about 19 miles from Toledo, on the 80 Turnpike, and I heard what sounded like a tire going bad. Wasn't anything to do except slow down and keep going but a couple of miles later, my left rear tire blew out; So, I knew it would be a pain but I got ready to change the tire. This is a 2017 Dodge Caravan that I bought slightly used a couple of years ago for the business. I've owned about 5 or 6 of these over the years and knew the routine. Pull the pad out of the center console crank down the tire, crawl under the van pull it out and etc. Nope, turns out that this 2017 model did not come with a spare. Only a jack and an inflator kit. Never knew; Inflator kis is useless with a blown out tire. So I called AAA and they had to load me on a flat bed and take me to a tire shop. I have basic AAA and the tire shop was further than the plan allowed so I ended up paying $149.00 out of pocket for the tow. Got 4 new tires installed and got to my service call. So, guess what? I HATE this trend where you do not get a spare tire with a vehicle, More and more manufactures are doing it. I've heard the reason is to save weight and therefore improve fuel economy. What a joke. You can bet that I'll be looking for a donut spare to put in the back. Those things are expensive new. I'll try to find a used one somewhere.

Thanks to everyone! Seems like I’m gonna have to wrench on the bike more than I had imagined because of the dealerships and lack of knowledgeable mechanics nearby my area but I have found through the forums that people are willing to help and nothing that goes wrong with my bike hasn’t gone wrong with someone else’s before me. So thanks again!

You’re in the right place to get her going. Look on the home page, scroll down to the 1st gen read only tech section, you can get acquainted with it there. They’re a blast to ride with many going well above 200,000 miles, there’s a fanatical following here that can help you through anything that may be wrong.

That would probably be cheaper, The problem is the space. A full size won't fit underneath where the donut goes and besides, I really don't want it under there anyway. I load this van up at times with as many as 3 stairlifts. The Donut will just take up much less room in the back.

@Freebird Call Reeds Junk Yard on 82 in Columbia Station. I used to be a frequent customer there and I have picked up several spare tires there both regular size and donut style. I will say that was 20 years or more ago but I do believe they are still in business.

Call Feezles in PA, https://www.feezleautowrecking.com/ Then look around on ebay for un mounted, used spares. When Kris got her "newish" Optima, it had the jack and fixaflat spare kit. Not even a pump with slime, just a can of fixaflat. We found a complete spare tire kit with mounting insert, jack, tire tool and spare donut at a very reasonable price from a scrap yard. The tire had never been mounted, everthing looked brand new. We paid less than half what a spare donut from Kia would have cost.

So heres the truth: Bum and I are just Canadian forward. But we are just the surface. It really is our hope that young remembers stick around. If you choose you will thru your sharing of mistakes under your finger nails, learn confidence. That is really what the sport is about! Dad and Carl set this forum up to carry on well past us old timers. So ask now, gain that confidence but, don't stretch beyond it. What do we have to offer the younger crowd? History, that's real, all we have in words we shared. What you all do with it well we'll be looking down and seeing if you's is using it fairly. (no ego) We lost a lot of great guys over the years. The important thing to remember about forums is that it is always ok to agree to disagree! And, in that is the best of advise we have to share! Don't enter a group experienced with a chip in your eye. Dad taught us all that, and, Lord knows we put him thru the paces that one ting, " OH you really want to know what I think" let me tell ya, you've just been told// Of course Carl is always trying to keep the peace.. yaknow be a Canadian, when really some of us just need to set the roof a blaze yaknow like bros at the kitchen table! For me tho I love/hate everybody equal, because if I don't like them, likely I am meeting their wives at the boarder anyways ( not allowed over,, its just a big miss understanding, of course) The thing is is that this joint of all those that have treated me BETTER is a cool place for a mans mind to hang his hat. Read the old stuff to get to understanding of the wealth of experience, and make that a part of yours. There really is no magic to what we know. So just flow with it, pass it on, just accept as most Canadians do, that we is just better at some thins (knows whats I means)

To put things in perspective, Chinese made brings to mind one thing: the type of material used in making the product. We know Yamaha uses a certain type of rubber for it's diaphrams. They last years! We don't know anything about Chinese products. Could be plain rubber that will deteriorate with gas contact.... Maybe even engine heat will destroy it. Not worth the risk. Especially if one comes apart and leaves teeny runner pieces in the carbs. Buy reputable and only do the job once.

You didn’t pick it up for dinner? Never had buzzard but in a pinch I’d grill it up. any link to your windshield? I’m looking for a replacement.

The toughest part was figuring how to take them apart. But it is fairly simple just need to modify a socket for the wire then remove the nut then 3 screws that hold the shaft to the mirror. The extensions are stainless steel tube with longer screws. It worked great for me. Does require some machining or grinding on the tubes but not hard. As for the lowers I added custom additional plexiglass pieces. Actually a wind screen for a GPZ 550 fairing cut in half. Then drilled and bolted to lowers. Little bit extra wind off my knees. I am tall so knees are up a bit. Thanks for the compliment.... only reason we post.... LOL