Pano' roof and spare wheel

[rav4x4man]

Hi,

Has anyone on the forum solved the problem of putting a space save in a RAV4 with a panoramic roof?

There doesn't appear to be a securing mount in the floor-well of the pano' RAV4 to secure a spare as an aftermarket addition.

Is this the case?

Any help urgently required.

Thank you,

Peter

[robo1]

Hi 
Been discussed here 

  

[IanML]

On 3/2/2021 at 11:32 AM, rav4x4man said:

There doesn't appear to be a securing mount in the floor-well of the pano' RAV4 to secure a spare as an aftermarket addition.

Is this the case?

 

Check whether there is a threaded hole in the bottom of the well.  If so, just get a threaded rod and a couple of nyloc nuts to match that thread.  Shorten the rod as necessary - an angle grinder does the job.

Tip:  thread a non-nyloc nut onto the rod before shortening.  Then remove the nut, forcing it over the distorted threads at the cut(poor man's die).  I did a similar thing for my Kia Soul EV.  See post #20 here.

[rav4x4man]

Thanks for all the info'/help.

I hope to get the car at the end of the week; just not sure if there will be any provision to screw in a securing nut.

I'll report back when I know more.

 

[robo1]

Please report back.

Very interested to know if there is a screw thread in the wheel well. I Am considering changing my hybrid ( with space saver ) to a Dynamic but having no spare wheel is a no no. I’ve still got a full size spare from my previous Diesel RAV so am hoping the anchor thread will be there. 

[philip42h]

Yes, there is ...

[robo1]

Thanks for the update. Enjoy your new RAV.

[rav4x4man]

Thanks Philip,

That's wonderful news. I'm going to try a space-saver first and see how that goes.

Hope to have a result early next week!

[rav4x4man]

Success; all sorted with the space-saver in my 'pano' 2020 model RAV4. As other members mentioned there is a mount with a screw anchor thread in the wheel well.

I already had a space-saver and securing screw; I just needed to take up some slack on the securing nut. Improvisation worked well; I happened to have a plastic lid from a Percol coffee jar; I drilled a suitable size hole in the centre of the lid and it worked perfectly. I also covered the lid with a strip of duct-tape to make it more 'grippy'.

In the wheel well I placed a plastic sheet as a 'liner' and  four strips of polystyrene for the tyre to rest down on. Result: nice and secure; no free play or rattles. I'm sure there would be ample room in the well for a full size spare if desired. The cover tray is on the high setting. In the picture the ghostly white area is actually a white towel in which the jack is wrapped. The black bag contains the wheel brace, etc.

[Geller1968]

Skipped the sunroof model due to no spare wheel 

[robo1]

Problem now is the Dynamic has 19 inch wheels and no space saver even without the sun roof. 

[rav4x4man]

I wonder if there is still a space (wheel well with a screw thread securing point) for a space saver in the 2021 model?

[Terry10]

Hi

I have the 2021 model with 19 inch wheels and can confirm that yes it does have the securing point for the spare wheel. I also have the pano roof. I have a full size spare ( non original )18 inch wheel produced for 2019 on Rav 4.   If you look online you will find that the 18 inch wheel/tyre falls easily within the magic 4% size difference  limit. I purchased a 1.5 ton jack on eBay plus a decent extendable wheel brace with the relevant socket. Also got the wheel retainer from Toyota online. The complete kit cost me about £200 with a new budget tyre.

It is a tight fit but as long as you don’t require the lower shelf then it is not a problem.

The important thing about this is that in the event of a puncture you have the option to continue your journey be it with a aluminium wheel that does not match the rest of them. It will act as a reminder to get the original repaired and to reinstate everything back to how it was.

A word of warning!!!!! I went through the process of changing first a front wheel and then a rear wheel for my new spare just to be sure that all would be ok in the event of a puncture on a dark rainy night. Everything fitted. BUT the wheels are very heavy to lift onto the studs. I did struggle and even though I am a very active ( into my DIY ) 72 year old it was hard going. I think if I got a puncture and had decent clothes on and it was dark and wet then I would call the AA and let them change it for me. 
Regards Terry

 

 

 

[robo1]

Terry10

Very interesting reply. I’m picking up a new RAV tomorrow, with 19 inch wheels, and like you I have a full size 18 inch spare from my previous Diesel RAV. ( present driving hybrid model) The spare size tyre is 235/55 R18 which is 8 years old. Think the new RAV has 225 wide wheels so have wondered if it would fit in the wheel well. 
As the tyre is 8 yrs old thinking of getting a 225/60 R18 tyre which gives a difference of circumference of 0.3% according to the online tyre calculator. 

will find out tomorrow.

As the car is built with a space for a full size spare it should be a option as repair kits are a poor substitute.

 

[robo1]

Took delivery of car last Friday. No panoramic roof but wheel well filled with large piece of polystyrene with small cut outs for small compressor and can of goo. A lot of wasted storage space.

My 18 inch 235/55 tyre fits easily into the wheel well. Room around and within wheel for tools and jack. As tyre is  8 years old, well worn and just legal have bought a new  225/60 R18 tyre which is a closer match to the new 19 inch tyres. Standard Toyota wheel retainer works without any modification. Luckily eBay search produced  a RAV mark 5 scissor jack from a breakers yard.