Mounting spare tire in roof basket

[mjmcdowell]

Hello all! I just thought I would share my way of mounting my 2nd spare tire on my MOAB basket from "Thule". I mounted it with the inside up and then used a threaded 5/16 inch x 8" J hook which hooks on one of the cross tubes of the basket bottom then up thru one of the lug nut holes, a fender washer and wing nut/knob, tighten down, done! lock w/cable lock to basket. This system worked for me on two trips into the northern Canadian bush in the "James Bay' region, "Ttans-Taiga" road, a very remote trip to say the least. Could be adapted to other baskets probably with a little trial/error. stay safe, mjmcdowell.

 

[Lajning]

Sounds pretty decent. Would you mind sharing a picture?

 

[HenryJ]

Nice tip. Might use it. Thanks!

 

[stevo]

Roof mounted spare tire

Roof mounted spare tires look cool, however, they obviously are not for everyone. Being a 62 year-old man, the thought of wrestling a 80,90, or 100 lb. tire up onto or off of a vehicle's roof is not a pleasant thought. What about the change in the center of gravity of the vehicle? I've seen lots of guys puting spare tires, gas cans, and God only knows what else on their roofs. I doubt if any of these people ever thought of what might happen in an off-camber situation. Just my humble opinion but not for me, thanks.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Roof mounted spare tires look cool, however, they obviously are not for everyone. Being a 62 year-old man, the thought of wrestling a 80,90, or 100 lb. tire up onto or off of a vehicle's roof is not a pleasant thought.

That's exactly what first came to my mind. Forty years ago I wouldn't have given it a second thought. By the time I reached 50, stuff like that was becoming a consideration. Now that I'm past 60, I have a much greater respect for things like gravity and air. Gravity gets stronger and air contains less oxygen the older you get.

I hate to break the news to you, but when you're 30-ish you think you will always be able to toss 100 pounds around without a care. At 60-ish, that is sheer fantasy for most of us.

 

[rusty_tlc]

That's exactly what first came to my mind. Forty years ago I wouldn't have given it a second thought. By the time I reached 50, stuff like that was becoming a consideration. Now that I'm past 60, I have a much greater respect for things like gravity and air. Gravity gets stronger and air contains less oxygen the older you get.

I hate to break the news to you, but when you're 30-ish you think you will always be able to toss 100 pounds around without a care. At 60-ish, that is sheer fantasy for most of us.

Have you noticed how much further away the ground is now days?

 

[alexrex20]

gravity always wins.

 

[mjmcdowell]

Spare on roof rack.....

Well...... I am a disabled Vietnam combat veteran, RVN, A co., 6/31 inf., 9th inf. div. 1699/70. I was born in 1948... you do the math. Sooooo lets not be hasty in saying that someone may be something they are not or not be able to do something or not. I can and have put my P 255/70R16 on my roof basket on the cab of my truck topper on my Ford Range super cab 4x4 by lifting it on to the tailgate then when standing on the tailgate lifting then to the basket, then stand on the rear tire and lift/slide/flat/sideways it to the front of my basket, not a problem, lift with my legs, no bending no over stretching, no hurry here! I also have L/R 20 ltr. gas cans mounted on the out board ends of two Thule racks on my cab, again by lifting carefully I can mount/dismount them using the side steps with the 2 doors open with no problems. Yep, off-camber could be a problem, then again we must know our trucks and our limitations as to what we can travel over safely. I have done a lot of testing and thinking about outfitting my truck for overland trips and have found most of my ideas work for me (James Bay Region (x2) to the end, Wemendji, Chissasiba (Cree nation villages) TTR, NR and back (x2) also many trips into northern NYS's Adk. mtns. camping/exploring, for the last 30 yrs or so. Oh! I also go alone, if I don't..... I would not be able to go, lots of thought, planing and a VERY understanding wife also help, Please do not any of this in the wrong way, Hell... I wish I was 30 again... no not really, but I have to go now.... or go never. stay safe, mjmcdowell

 

[HenryJ]

I am contemplating an auxilary fuel tank where the spare rides underneath right now. That may be the push for the tire in the basket. The fuel below will more than compensate for the tire overhead. I may even move the tire to the bed cover.

I came across a nifty plastic spare tire retainer that may thread on a J-bolt. Easily removed by hand and may offer a place to attach a lock.
Christmas break project?

mjmcdowell , we REALLY need to get you versed in the art of picture taking. Your words paint a pretty good picture, but a photo is worth a thousand...well , you know

I, for one, would love to SEE some of what you have done. I suspect that we may be a bit far apart to bump into each other on the trail somewhere.

 

[chasespeed]

I dont even think abilities come into play, as much as tire/wheel size and weight, and the overall design of the vehicle. I had a roof rack on my Rodeo, was great, would put plenty up there, and the noise wasnt any more powerfull than tires....

BUT, there was no easy and SAFE way to get the tire up and down. it was just too tall, the rear door opened, wasnt a tailgate, etc.... It WAS up there, but, was a PAIN. And I am NOW 30, and still in damn good shape..... this was a couple years ago, and I was in even better shape... though, I am 5'8...so, maybe height was a factor....

The current truck will be getting a swing out tire rack mounted on the rear bumper...

Just my humble 2 cents....

Chase

 

[alexrex20]

Well...... I am a disabled Vietnam combat veteran, RVN, A co., 6/31 inf., 9th inf. div. 1699/70. I was born in 1948... you do the math. Sooooo lets not be hasty in saying that someone may be something they are not or not be able to do something or not. I can and have put my P 255/70R16 on my roof basket on the cab of my truck topper on my Ford Range super cab 4x4 by lifting it on to the tailgate then when standing on the tailgate lifting then to the basket, then stand on the rear tire and lift/slide/flat/sideways it to the front of my basket, not a problem, lift with my legs, no bending no over stretching, no hurry here! I also have L/R 20 ltr. gas cans mounted on the out board ends of two Thule racks on my cab, again by lifting carefully I can mount/dismount them using the side steps with the 2 doors open with no problems. Yep, off-camber could be a problem, then again we must know our trucks and our limitations as to what we can travel over safely. I have done a lot of testing and thinking about outfitting my truck for overland trips and have found most of my ideas work for me (James Bay Region (x2) to the end, Wemendji, Chissasiba (Cree nation villages) TTR, NR and back (x2) also many trips into northern NYS's Adk. mtns. camping/exploring, for the last 30 yrs or so. Oh! I also go alone, if I don't..... I would not be able to go, lots of thought, planing and a VERY understanding wife also help, Please do not any of this in the wrong way, Hell... I wish I was 30 again... no not really, but I have to go now.... or go never. stay safe, mjmcdowell

umm, nobody questioned your manhood, or that of any sexagenarian, but... a 255/70-16 isn't exactly a big tire.

 

[I Leak Oil]

Sounds like the guy is just trying to pass on an idea that works for him and hopes it might be useful to someone else too.

 

[mjmcdowell]

My manhood??????

alexrex20...... Sorry if you think that I might be trying to "show my manhood" I have never given that a thought at any point in my life....... but now that you mention it I think I shall get a whopping big 40 size tire and see if I am " man enough" to get it up into my roof basket!!...........:hehe: stay safe mjmcdowell

 

[mhiscox]

The current truck will be getting a swing out tire rack mounted on the rear bumper. Chase

Depends on the specifics of the situation, I suppose, but I moved my XV-JP's spare from the bumper-mounted rear rack to the roof because it was a royal pain swinging away the rack every time I wanted to get in the rear.

The way the math worked out for me, I figured it was needing the spare once every year or two versus getting in the back of the Jeep multiple times a day. So the spare went onto the roof rack:

.

Four things help make this practical:

-- I can stand securely on the roof,

-- I can lower the tire with a strap tied to the wheel that mkes it pretty easy to lower,

-- the spare (not the one in the picture) I use now is full diameter, but not full width--a trick I learned when the builder did that on my Mog camper--and thus it weighs less, and

-- I can store the bad tire inside and so don't have to get it back in the basket until after it's fixed and convenient to get it up there.

If I'd had one of the few carriers that opened as a unit with my tailgate, I might have left the tire on the rear. As it is, though, I feel good about my decision every time I open the back. And with the ultra-sturdy suspension that's holding up the rest of the porker truck, the fifty or so extra pounds up high has no identifable impact on handling.

 

[brianjwilson]

Four things help make this practical:

-- I can stand securely on the roof,

-- I can lower the tire with a strap tied to the wheel that mkes it pretty easy to lower,

-- the spare (not the one in the picture) I use now is full diameter, but not full width--a trick I learned when the builder did that on my Mog camper--and thus it weighs less, and

-- I can store the bad tire inside and so don't have to get it back in the basket until after it's fixed and convenient to get it up there.

If I'd had one of the few carriers that opened as a unit with my tailgate, I might have left the tire on the rear. As it is, though, I feel good about my decision every time I open the back. And with the ultra-sturdy suspension that's holding up the rest of the porker truck, the fifty or so extra pounds up high has no identifable impact on handling.

I pretty much felt the same with my Sport Trac. A 33" spare did not fit underneath. I could either mount one inside the bed (takes a lot of space in a small bed), make a swing out carrier (adds length and would constantly get in the way) or throw it on the roof. I put a Yakima megawarrior basket on the roof and it was plenty sturdy enough for me to stand on it. I used a 33x9.50 spare rather than a 33x12.50 so it was lower profile and a little lighter. I couldn't tell any difference with the tire there or without as far as weight or drag. Even driven around on the street with both sway bars disconnected, the weight made no noticeable difference.