Looking for Tire Carrier Spindles

[ntsqd]

This comes as no surprise to me. It's the prime failure mode in such a design. I wouldn't convict every such design based on these pictures, but it does pay to size the spindle appropriately. I've no interest in doing those calculations as I intend to put my hinge pin in double shear. Also pays to firmly anchor the latch side and not just merely latch it shut.

Interesting, that first picture shows the 'beachheads' oriented where the primary flex direction was fore/aft. Tells me that it was rarely opened or it has a lot of miles on it. Likely both.

 

[RonL]

Why do so many used tapered bearings? Is it just to get better pre-load. General, tapered bearings are for high speed set-up(wheel bearings).

 

[Fergie]

From what I understand, and I could very well be wrong here, but tapered bearings handle forces in different(multiple vectors(right terminology)) directions better than regular old roller bearings.

I like the design of the Custom 4x4 Fabrication swing out mount the best.
http://custom4x4fabrication.com/xjrear_photos/original/XJRB-CM1.gif

 

[BigAl]

I am a fan of this style latch, it closes very tight. If the hinge fails, it's unlikely that this 1/2" grade 8 bolt will fail at the same time

 

[ntsqd]

I would design the latch to drive the corner of the main tube into some sort of rigid V shaped receiver so that you lock the gate in two planes rather than just in one as shown. That puts the bolt in tension rather than bending and tension. Otherwise the same thing that is trying to break off the spindle will also be working on trying to break off the bolt.

 

[Colorado Ron]

I would like to compare some various Tire Carrier Spindles for a possible project. Please post sources if you have some.

Beowolf,

Check out the ones Matt uses on my suburban. He is in Longmont so you can see them first hand. Matter of fact, my suburban is at his shop right now, so you can see them mounted. They are by far the beefiest around. He is one of my sponsors, so let him know I sent you over if you dont mind.

http://treadindustries.com/

 

[86cj]

A double shear mount is so easy to make and has no disadvantage I can think of, so that is what is on my Jeep..It's a KOZ Offroad bumper.............
I also don't see the need for grease bleeding down my bumper or high speed bearings. My Delrin bushing works perfect for it's application, no slop or rattles and it rarely needs a tiny squirt of WD "just to keep the campground quiet"........

My 9 year old salty ZR-2 Blazer has Delrin or similar bushings and does not like any lube, it swings to easy, I just let it squeak a little. These tire carriers have the easiest to use latch I have seen, GM did a good Job on the design.......

 

[4307]

Bash and run... LOL.
forgot about this thread....sheesh
I'm not bashing the design, just posted the results of a long running rumor, never seen images of failing spindles... found them and posted them.
Big deal.
Still doing research, so far I like the double barrel hinge design used on the former expo west tacoma.
Anything can fail, just sharing info thats all.:victory:

http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipment/tacoma/DO_rear_bumper.html

 

[Beowulf]

Also, I did not want the "Bash and Run" to sound mean. I actually meant it with the best of intentions and with a smile on my face. It was mostly so people would post alternatives to spindles.

Heck, I was throwing Delrin styles in with the whole spindle concept. Pretty much anything that was a stick of metal poking vertically out of the bumper was a spindle to me. That is why I am enjoying this thread. I like seeing what options are out there.

 

[cruiser guy]

If folks have ideas of a "better mousetrap" post pics too. Remember, pictures are worth a 1000 words!

 

[4307]

Here's some links for Barrel Hinges....

http://www.hingesandhardware.com/weld_on_barrel_hinges.html

http://www.hardwaresource.com/Store_ViewProducts.asp?Cat=157

http://www.hooverfence.com/ornamental/hinges/index.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com/HEAVY-DUTY-GATE...30651027QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDoor_Door_Hardware

This is copied from my build thread, my bumper and swing out gate design...

Rear Tire Gate Design Idea.....

I'm having some fun coming up with a tire gate design.
I did a little Photoshop work, nothing spectacular, just something to get the point across. I wish I had some CAD software, but Photoshop was quick and simple for me.

Anyway.... This design incorporates a caged in spare tire design. The tire is mounted with the back of the wheel facing out, with the gate closed, for security and due partly to the cage design. The cage also acts like a cradle, to accomodate a 33'' tire and a 35'' tire. The tire post will be height adjustable. The outside of the cage will give me a good place to mount the license plate and spot light.

The cage would be fabricated out of 1'' x 2'' rectangular gusseted tube.

The gate is roughly 12'' in height, length is currently unknown.

I want to build a a gate with double barrel hinges welded to a reinforced gusset / bed side protection incorporated tower. This design gives greater strength, getting away from a single spindle hinge design, that has the potential to shear and bounce.

The double Barrel hinge will allow me to remove the swing out gate if I want.
Here is the barrel hinge I'm thinking of using....

http://www.hingesandhardware.com/weld_on_barrel_hinges.html

I still have to do the math to come up with a rough weight figure.
I'm not set on this design, I have a couple more to consider. I may actually skip the idea of a swing out gate.

The first image, the gate height is a taller gate design, where the top of the cage cross bar is bisecting the wheels center. Same basic design as the second image....

The second image is a shorter version designed to save a little weight. The wheel mounting post would be easy to incorporate a adjustable height, if I bump the tire size up to 35". The cage width would be built to the specs of a 35 x 12.5'' but still cradle the 33'' tire ....

Taco Chaser response....
Have you looked into 4x4labs spindles? http://www.4x4labs.com/fabricationproducts.shtml

And for the latches you can either go through 4x4labs or McMaster Carr.
http://www.mcmaster.com/

Just some more options.

I mentioned why I'm leaning towards the double Barrel hinge design, but my current choice is based more on, my gate design.
The 4x4 labs use a 1.75'' spindle, as well as Slee, that size is much better in IMO then 1'' or 1.25'' spindle design adopted from a trailer-wheel hub spindle.
Until Taco Chaser mentioned the 4x4Labs spindle, I didn't think they existed in the 1.75" size.

The latch I'm leaning towards is actually the ''T'' bolt BigAl posted, easy to build, I can use 2 of them on my gate design. It would be tedious to unbolt but, I'm not in a race.

After all this, I'm not totally set on using a swing out gate. I considering stuffing the spare 255 in the stock location under the Tacoma and call it good, to save weight and bypass the added blind spot.

I'm on the fence.... err gate.

 

[richard cabesa]

4307

I have used many of the barrel hinges you posted lilnks to but for residential drive gates and large steel entry doors. Although they work well for those applications, I just cant see them working for the tire gates. In most of my applications they are space 3 feet or better apart and they are all of a simple lift off design. The do carry alot of weight in their applications though. I have done gates that weigh 5-600 pounds and two of them swing the gate smoothly

I am designing my own swing out right now and turned to them at first because I know where to find them and having used them. I just could not work them into the design. You would need to use two and space them so you would need a "post" to mount them on and that post would need to be braced.

Your milage may vary

 

[4307]

Demello's creations... Barrel hinge application....

 

[MaddBaggins]

B, I have an extra 4x4Labs spindle. Not sure I want to part with it, but maybe a loan.

 

[solidfrontaxle]

Most of these designs have the carrier on top of the bumper. For my application I need it to sit flush against the outside of the bumper. Something like this: WELD ON HINGE

I'm not sure if thats quite heavy duty enough and I really don't like the price...
I've seen some people convert their spindle into double shear, which would work great if it doesn't take too much work. Are there any spindles that lend themselves to this conversion better?
It seems like the main problem with most spindles is the center shaft has a nut on one end which prevents connecting that end to a tab.
So what spindles don't have that nut?