How to Select a Trailer Hitch
A hitch-mounted spare wants a solid 2 inch Class 3 (or larger) receiver in most shops. Class 1 tubes with a 1.25 inch opening are the wrong conversation for CURT’s published spare mount.
Watch on YouTube →Hitch Spare Tire Carrier Guide (Canada)
Thinking about a hitch-mounted spare tire carrier for Canadian roads, cottage trips, or a temporary tire that will not fit under the floor? A spare on a 2 inch receiver can free cargo space and keep a full-size tire reachable — but it also adds tongue weight, hangs behind the bumper, and fills the receiver so you cannot tow or run a bike rack at the same time. CURT publishes a hitch-mounted spare tire mount (31006) for 2 inch receivers. That carrier is not an active Shopify product on Lots of Parts today. This guide stays practical about when the idea makes sense, what to watch for, and which related CURT gear we do stock.
Built for Canadian hitch shoppers. Free shipping on CURT towing gear from Lots of Parts when the SKU is live on this store.
Related reading:
hitch for bike rack only,
cover versus lock,
what hitch class do I need, and
tongue weight explained.
Prefer the full index?
Open the towing guides hub.
Watch these CURT videos first
All four videos are from the official CURT YouTube channel (@curtmfg). They will not show the spare carrier install itself, but they cover the hitch basics you need before hanging heavy gear off a receiver.
If an embed does not load, use the YouTube link under the card.
CURT Install Techniques
Good habits for any receiver accessory: clean the tube, seat the shank fully, and pin it before you hang weight. Finish with the sheet that ships with your carrier.
Watch on YouTube →Trailer Wiring Harness Basics
A spare carrier does not replace trailer wiring — but if you also tow, keep the harness path clear so a hanging tire does not crush plugs against the bumper.
Watch on YouTube →Ball Mount and Trailer Ball
You will not tow with a spare sitting in the same receiver. When the carrier comes out and a ball mount goes in, this video helps you set height again.
Watch on YouTube →When a hitch-mounted spare makes sense
A hitch-mounted spare is a niche tool, not a default upgrade. It earns its keep when you need a full-size tire on trips where under-floor storage is gone, when cargo space matters more than trailer duty that weekend, or when you are staging a temporary tire for a remote job. Off-roaders and cottage drivers who swap between a carrier and a bike rack often treat the receiver like a tool dock — one accessory at a time.
It is the wrong answer when you need to tow the same day, when ground clearance behind a low bumper is already tight, or when the spare’s weight plus the carrier pushes past honest tongue-weight comfort for your vehicle. If you mainly want bikes, start with the bike-rack-only guide instead of forcing a tire mount into that plan.
Tongue weight and ground clearance
A steel carrier plus a tire is real weight hanging behind the axle. Treat it like tongue weight even though you are not towing: it unloads the front tires, changes how the vehicle feels in crosswinds, and can drag on steep driveways if the mount sits low. Read the tongue weight guide, then weigh the tire and carrier together if you can. Stay under the hitch and vehicle ratings, and leave margin for wet roads and full passengers.
Ground clearance matters on Canadian winters and cottage lanes. Measure from the lowest point of the mounted tire to the pavement after you set shank height. CURT’s published 31006 mount uses multiple shank holes so you can raise the tire for bumper clearance — use the highest safe hole that still clears the bumper and does not block lights or the hatch.
Pin, lock, and cover habits
Any hitch accessory is only as secure as the pin that holds the shank. Use a proper hitch pin and clip, or a lock-style pin if the vehicle sits overnight in public lots. We stock CURT hitch locks such as CURT 23518 and CURT 23519 for that job. A receiver cover is a different tool — it keeps weather and debris out when the tube is empty — see CURT 22272 and the cover versus lock guide.
CURT’s published spare mount notes that tire mounting hardware is not included. Bring the correct lug hardware for your wheel, torque it, and recheck after the first short drive. Do not assume the carrier alone stops a wheel from walking loose.
What CURT publishes versus what we stock
CURT 31006 is the published hitch-mounted spare tire mount for any 2 inch by 2 inch receiver. It stands about 24 inches tall with slotted holes for multiple wheel patterns. That SKU is not listed on our Shopify catalogue in this pass — no product link for 31006 here. We are not inventing a listing.
What we do stock nearby: hitch locks, 2 inch receiver covers, tray-style bike racks, and a basket-style cargo carrier for weekends when cargo matters more than a spare. Those accessories still need the same tongue-weight honesty and a clear receiver.
In stock on this store
CURT 23518 hitch lock
Lock-style pin for keeping a shank in the receiver overnight. Free shipping on CURT gear from Lots of Parts.
In stock on this store
CURT 23519 hitch lock
Another CURT lock option when you want a pin that is harder to walk away with.
In stock on this store
CURT 22272 2 inch cover
Weather cover for an empty 2 inch tube — not a lock, not a tire mount.
In stock on this store
CURT 18153 cargo basket
When you need cargo space more than a hanging spare. Still counts against tongue weight.
In stock on this store
CURT 18085 tray bike rack
Two-bike tray rack for weekends when bikes beat a spare. One accessory in the receiver at a time.
| Item | Status on this store |
|---|---|
| CURT 31006 spare tire mount | Published by CURT for 2 inch receivers. Not listed on our Shopify catalogue in this pass — no product link here. |
| CURT 23518 and 23519 hitch locks | Active — linked above for pin and lock habits. |
| CURT 22272 2 inch cover | Active — weather cover when the tube is empty. |
| CURT 18153 cargo basket | Active — cargo alternative when a spare is not the goal. |
| CURT 18085 bike rack | Active — tray-style bike path when bikes come first. |
Practical checklist before you hang a spare
Step 1Confirm the tube
You need a 2 inch receiver for CURT’s published spare mount. Check class and ratings in the hitch class guide.
Step 2Weigh the plan
Carrier plus tire versus tongue comfort. Leave margin for passengers, fuel, and winter gear.
Step 3Measure clearance
Shank height, bumper gap, hatch swing, reverse camera view, and driveway angle.
Step 4Pin and lock
Seat the shank, pin it, then decide whether a lock-style pin earns its keep in your parking spots.
Related guides we do publish
Bike rack onlyWhen bikes are the whole point
Cover versus lockWeather plug versus theft pin
What hitch classWhy 2 inch Class 3 shows up
Tongue weightWeight hanging behind the axle
Bike and cargo guideOther hitch-mounted loads
Towing guides hubAll vehicle and topic guides
Shop a CURT hitch lock
Secure the shank whether you hang a spare later or run a rack today, with free shipping on CURT gear from Lots of Parts.
Open CURT 23518 →Need a weather cover for an empty 2 inch tube? Open CURT 22272. Looking for CURT’s published spare mount 31006? It is not an active listing on this shelf today — we are not inventing one.
Lots of Parts · Canada hitch spare-carrier shopping help that explains tongue weight and clearance, links locks and covers we stock, and admits the 31006 catalogue gap. No fake reviews.
