4x4coaster
Adventurer
Just found this while looking for wheel carrier ideas and thought it was worth its own thread for others to contribute too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGJbgE1O30Y
The spare tyre carrier consists of two steel wheel cradles which are triangular in shape. A steel-framed arm supports each cradle which holds the spare tyre. The tyre is held in place by a threaded steel clamp.
A single winch, powered by the truck's battery and located between the spare tyres, is used to operate both cradles. Each cradle operates independently of the other by using a single, three position winch controller, which can be plugged into either one of two winch plugs, located on either side of the front of the tray.
The cradle is locked into the arm by a spring latch (spring-loaded latch) which is released by the operator when the tyre is ready to be lowered. It also has a safety cut out switch on the tyre release lever, making it super safe.
Attached to the arm is a secondary locking device. That device is a lever-operated spring latch which positively locks the arm into the tray. The arm has a secondary function as an electrical cut-out to the winch. This prevents the winch being operated inadvertently. The tyre carrier cannot be lowered unless the lever is pulled and the spring latch is released.
The tyre cradle is lowered by the aid of a spring in a slide track and the cradle descent is then controlled by the winch cable. As the arm travels from its stowed position it allows the cradle to rotate on its pivot shaft, keeping it upright until the cradle makes contact with the ground.
To stow, the operator reverses the winch operation allowing the main arm to be lifted by the winch until it is secured back into the stowed position. As this happens, the cradle pivots allowing it to rotate back into its lock up position.
The two spring latches automatically secure themselves cutting all power to the winch.
The design team also fitted a microswitch to the tyre carrier frame and a buzzer in the cab to alert the driver if either of the tyre cradles is not fully stowed.
Finally, a long electric winch controller lead allows the operator to stand well back for safety.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGJbgE1O30Y
The spare tyre carrier consists of two steel wheel cradles which are triangular in shape. A steel-framed arm supports each cradle which holds the spare tyre. The tyre is held in place by a threaded steel clamp.
A single winch, powered by the truck's battery and located between the spare tyres, is used to operate both cradles. Each cradle operates independently of the other by using a single, three position winch controller, which can be plugged into either one of two winch plugs, located on either side of the front of the tray.
The cradle is locked into the arm by a spring latch (spring-loaded latch) which is released by the operator when the tyre is ready to be lowered. It also has a safety cut out switch on the tyre release lever, making it super safe.
Attached to the arm is a secondary locking device. That device is a lever-operated spring latch which positively locks the arm into the tray. The arm has a secondary function as an electrical cut-out to the winch. This prevents the winch being operated inadvertently. The tyre carrier cannot be lowered unless the lever is pulled and the spring latch is released.
The tyre cradle is lowered by the aid of a spring in a slide track and the cradle descent is then controlled by the winch cable. As the arm travels from its stowed position it allows the cradle to rotate on its pivot shaft, keeping it upright until the cradle makes contact with the ground.
To stow, the operator reverses the winch operation allowing the main arm to be lifted by the winch until it is secured back into the stowed position. As this happens, the cradle pivots allowing it to rotate back into its lock up position.
The two spring latches automatically secure themselves cutting all power to the winch.
The design team also fitted a microswitch to the tyre carrier frame and a buzzer in the cab to alert the driver if either of the tyre cradles is not fully stowed.
Finally, a long electric winch controller lead allows the operator to stand well back for safety.