Yes, considered for off-roading, camping, etc. Still setting up my mall crawler OBX for more off-roading adventures in the near future.
The technology is DOT legal, but are the wheels you buy with that technology? I expect most of the available wheels will be offroad only variety unless they are sending them out for testing and certification.
Silly question, but why would you deflate the spare? Simply a weight thing or is there another benefit?
My 2022 Badlands is my 4th new Bronco, first being 1974 never used my spare but did include it in Rotation.
You are correct that the engine is the heaviest component of the vehicle outside of the frame itself. However, it sits slightly inside the wheelbase so it effectively grounds the vehicle as there is a fulcrum (wheel) on either side. The spare is outside of the wheelbase, which means it only has one fulcrum supporting it and leverage is a force multiplier. In effect, the spare increases weight on the rear tires and ever so slightly lifts the front tires. It’s not enough to make a difference on flat road or even a steep incline, but if you are giving it the beans up an incline and hit a bump on a front tire causing the front end to lift it may just be that last little bit of force needed to cause you to roll.I don’t understand this logic, but I am happy to learn more. The engine is one of the heaviest components of the vehicle, so unless the vehicle is carrying a heavy payload in the cargo bay, it seems like the center of gravity is already forward of the midpoint of the vehicle, especially with a 2D, unless the back half of the body is much heavier than it appears. Therefore, the weight of the spare on the swing gate should help move the CoG back closer to the middle, unless you have a heavy payload in the cargo bay. Wouldn’t you want the weight distribution to be as equal as possible for maximum traction on a 4WD vehicle off road?
Look at rock monster wheels, they build OEM for the government too so yes I'm sure they are DOT approved, there are others brads to like Traction Off Road offer them as well.
Air pressure typically doesn’t add weight to anything
When I was wheeling my Jeep pretty regularly I ran a spare tire delete but the tire was strapped to the floor where the back seat used to go, I have a 2 door. It wasn't for weight balance but mostly to not bash it coming down off obstacles, seen too many cracked tire carriers and crumbled tailgates, and the extra rear visibility was a nice bonus. Jeeps been retired to mostly DD service now so the factory tire carrier is back on and back seat is back in.I think the OP is getting at off road use. On road, if you get a flat without a spare it’s inconvenient but road side assistance can be called. Most new cars don’t even have a spare. Just a can of fix a flat.
To answer the off road question. A lot of guys doing the extreme off roading go the spare delete route to shift the vehicles center of mass forward. If you’re running big tires, you have a 80-100+ lbs counter weight sitting back there. They are counting on using a patch kit if they get any tire damage to get them off the trail. Worse case scenario they get their rig off to the side and remove the tire, leave the rig to go get the tire repaired (doing that kind of off-roading you should never be alone) and then return with the repaired tire. That or they call Matt’s Off-road Recovery.
Long answer short, if I was doing a solo trip I wouldn’t go anywhere without a spare. Doing the aggressive off-road stuff where that CoM makes a difference Id go the delete route but I’d never be by myself. That said I never intend to do the crazy stuff.
Cool, when I searched they didn't pop up, perhaps they should work on the SEO?
Heavier but stronger sidewalls!
