Are rear tire carriers essential?
- Thread starter xcmountain80
- Start date
Mr. Leary
Glamping Excursionaire
Have you seen mine?
The guy who made mine made a template, and he can do the aux fuel tank using the same filler tube if you desire. I have the pics up on here somewhere, but forgot where they are. I'll be out of town this weekend, but I'll try to get you some pics when I get back in town.
The bumper is sweet, but the latch has issues, he will be fixing mine with a more conventional compression latch this weekend.
Blah, blah, blah.... I'll get the pics up when I get back!
The guy who made mine made a template, and he can do the aux fuel tank using the same filler tube if you desire. I have the pics up on here somewhere, but forgot where they are. I'll be out of town this weekend, but I'll try to get you some pics when I get back in town.
The bumper is sweet, but the latch has issues, he will be fixing mine with a more conventional compression latch this weekend.
Blah, blah, blah.... I'll get the pics up when I get back!
xcmountain80
Expedition Leader
Who are you? And what do you drive? You certainly can't just leave us hanging.............well I guess you can still hanging.
A
matt s
Explorer
True enough. One more thing to think about. Mine is a full width gate and therefore when swung open in a parking lot it sticks out into the lane of traffic pretty far. Also I have to open my garage door in order to swing it open while loading or unloading. Not a real big deal but we get cold snaps at 30 below here and standing around with the garage door open while you load cargo is cold and pretty wasteful of heat. I would encourage you to go with a smaller gate thats total swing is only the width of the tire and fuel cans (or whatever else is mounted).
All of my complaining aside, I really do like the setup (in concept) and have no better solution. Since mine is simply a custom 3 inch square tubing setup and easy to modify, I am watching everyone else's setups for ideas about how I might mitigate some of the issues that annoy me.
Spikepretorius
Explorer
A tyre carrier is for tyres that are too big to fit in the usual spot under the back. If your tyre still fits there then leave it there.
You can always find another spot to squeeze in an auxiliary tank or whatever.
Besides, when last did you need to change a flat? I carry a tyre repair kit behind my drivers seat and if I feel or hear I'm getting a flat I get out and fix it right there and then without taking the wheel off. The spare is just for emergency if I totally destroy a tyre.
You can always find another spot to squeeze in an auxiliary tank or whatever.
Besides, when last did you need to change a flat? I carry a tyre repair kit behind my drivers seat and if I feel or hear I'm getting a flat I get out and fix it right there and then without taking the wheel off. The spare is just for emergency if I totally destroy a tyre.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Found this with a quick google search:
http://www.trailerhitches.com/hitch...urce=gbase&gbid=Spare_Tire_Mount&TID=CTM31006
Receiver-hitch mounted spare tire carrier.
Doesn't give a maximum weight limit, though.
Pluses: Low cost ($90.)
Easily removed when not needed.
Minuses: Doesn't appear to pivot downwards which means no rear tailgate access unless you feel like removing the spare.
For a 4runner or similar vehicle you'd also need to rig up a mount for the license plate.
Might be a nice, low-buck alternative for someone who needed to move the spare out from underneath the truck but didn't want to shell out $1000+ for a custom rear bumper & tire carrier.
http://www.trailerhitches.com/hitch...urce=gbase&gbid=Spare_Tire_Mount&TID=CTM31006
Receiver-hitch mounted spare tire carrier.
Doesn't give a maximum weight limit, though.
Pluses: Low cost ($90.)
Easily removed when not needed.
Minuses: Doesn't appear to pivot downwards which means no rear tailgate access unless you feel like removing the spare.
For a 4runner or similar vehicle you'd also need to rig up a mount for the license plate.
Might be a nice, low-buck alternative for someone who needed to move the spare out from underneath the truck but didn't want to shell out $1000+ for a custom rear bumper & tire carrier.
the dude
Adventurer
essential, no.
Nice to have, YES!
I will agree with the PITA factor for getting in the tailgate. But it's not that bad. My tire carrier/fuel rack is a copy of the 4x4 labs and is split off center. If you are pulling a short trailer beware of opening clearances.
I like my tire up out of the road grime, out from under the truck, and easily accessible.
Nice to have, YES!
I will agree with the PITA factor for getting in the tailgate. But it's not that bad. My tire carrier/fuel rack is a copy of the 4x4 labs and is split off center. If you are pulling a short trailer beware of opening clearances.
I like my tire up out of the road grime, out from under the truck, and easily accessible.
angusdevil
Adventurer
I think they are absouletly needed! The first time you blow out a back tire and the truck vehicle is stuck in mud or the spare is blocked, you'll be kicking yourself. Just make sure that if you are gonna get one that you do it right the first time and it'll do all that you want.
Here's mine...
A few older pictures
Here's mine...
A few older pictures
daPitbull
Adventurer
I'm sure he can. He's made them for 4th Generation 4runners and my FJC is at his shop right now.
JamesDowning
Explorer
If you want a solid, low/mid buck alternative, check out CBI offroad. They custom make a drop-down, receiver-mounted spare tire carrier to your specs. For those of us that don't have a lot of aftermarket support for our vehicles, it's greatly helpful!
Total cost of mine was $300. Much less than the cost of a custom bumper + swingout.
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
Funny I came across this thread this morning. I'm heading down to Tucson to finish my rear swing out for my bumper today.
Originally I was going to just do a holder for scepter cans for water and a couple gas. I find that I rarely hit my spare tire.
On the other hand...
I wouldn't mind making the rear swing out so when I "need" to I can put my spare up there. I don't do many rock crawling type trails, but I could see it being useful whenever I go to a place like Moab or Martinez mine etc.
We'll see. I don't know what I'll have until I get home Monday!
:sombrero:
(oh yah, if I do the tire mount, the next project will be an aux fuel tank. Not integrated and all fancy. Just a big, aluminum dummy tank with baffles that will have a fuel pump feeding into the filler neck that will refuel my main tank.)
Originally I was going to just do a holder for scepter cans for water and a couple gas. I find that I rarely hit my spare tire.
On the other hand...
I wouldn't mind making the rear swing out so when I "need" to I can put my spare up there. I don't do many rock crawling type trails, but I could see it being useful whenever I go to a place like Moab or Martinez mine etc.
We'll see. I don't know what I'll have until I get home Monday!
:sombrero:
(oh yah, if I do the tire mount, the next project will be an aux fuel tank. Not integrated and all fancy. Just a big, aluminum dummy tank with baffles that will have a fuel pump feeding into the filler neck that will refuel my main tank.)
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ttora4runner
Expedition Leader
Cool on both ends.
If I was ever to do a rear tire carrier I would. I've buried a few vehicles in sand and mud only to get hung up on the rear tire. I say go for it.
xcmountain80
Expedition Leader
Now I said I can get the tire out with two rear flats on the road but say you were like this......
but not like this
Not to mention if I don't go the aux tank just yet I could run 2 full size spares, not that I have ever needed more than 1 but I'm just saying.
A
toyrunner95
Explorer
Last time I tried to get the spare out from under my old truck I had to cut the wire because it was rusted, stripped, and covered in mud. I swore that never again would I need to crawl under my truck and cut it out from under there. Bed, roof, bumper, I dont care just put it somewhere handy.
Funny side story.
Hwy 26 in WA at Othello. I go pulled over for having a low tire in mid august (106 deg F). Cop made me change it. Boy was I glad I didnt have to lay on my back on hot assphalt to get to it.
Punchline: the spare had less pressure than the one I was running and he let me go anyway. I guess he needed his quota.
Funny side story.
Hwy 26 in WA at Othello. I go pulled over for having a low tire in mid august (106 deg F). Cop made me change it. Boy was I glad I didnt have to lay on my back on hot assphalt to get to it.
Punchline: the spare had less pressure than the one I was running and he let me go anyway. I guess he needed his quota.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
If you want a solid, low/mid buck alternative, check out CBI offroad. They custom make a drop-down, receiver-mounted spare tire carrier to your specs. For those of us that don't have a lot of aftermarket support for our vehicles, it's greatly helpful!
Total cost of mine was $300. Much less than the cost of a custom bumper + swingout.
James: That's actually a pretty cool setup, and you can't beat the price!
I also like the fact that it leaves me the option of keeping my vehicle stock. I can put on the tire carrier for an off road trip, and then when I get back to "civilization" I can put the tire back underneath the truck if I want.
Might have to shoot them an email...