Anyone tried replacing the donut spare with a full size? just eyeballing it, looks like the shell that the donut sits in would have to go...

 

No it can not be done.You can try it and let us know,how it turn out.

 

My rig is similar but not stow and go. A full size spare fit just fine in mine. You wouldn't even notice the difference unless you crawl under with a before picture. It may hang slightly lower than the skinny spare but not any more than anything around it.

I hope the stow and go is the same deal.

 

Stow and go tires are under the van between the two front seats. And it has a cover to the tire from being damage.Caravan's are under the van near the rear bumper. Thats why you can have a full size tire and stow and go can't.It would be nice if all the vans could have full size tires.

 

Oh... that must be why you are "master tech".
Seems like an odd place for a spare but whatever works.

 

Punching the floor down to make the in-floor storage takes up all the room under the van. They had to move the fuel tank and the spare. The plastic cover is like a sled to get the tire out from under the van after the winch is let down.

 

Well, I did have some success. I found a used tire for $25 that I couldn't pass up. It still has the little rubber spaghettis protruding from it! And I wanted an exact match for my 4 tires currently installed. Bridgestone Turanzas. so the plan is in the case of a unfixable flat, I can install the donut, get to a convenient tire store and have them install my "new" tire.

Now I know since I have this tire, I will never have need of it. Last time I bought new tires for my Dakota, within a month, my wife had sliced one and I had to drop $180 to replace a "new" tire with a new tire! haha-blast....

So without the tire installed on the rim, I can cram it into the "tank" behind the rear bench seat. Still gives me enough room to stow the 1/3 seat. I only plan on using this method on our long vacation trips. I'll be driving from Louisiana to Vermont this summer.

Certainly over thinking this whole process. Probably will never need it. Kinda like insurance....

 

Nice plan