Tight fitting rear tire carrier design

[Coloradolawdobe]

Hello all,

I am working with a fabrication guy here in Denver to create a rear tire carrier that allows the tire to sit as close to the rear as possible. I have included the picture of the design I came up with and the entire carrier will fold down from the first 90 degree angle coming out of the trailer hitch. The fab guy here is also making it with an anti-rattle device so it should be fairly solid. What does everyone think of this? Just an fyi, its going to run $110 after tax so I figured it would be worth the shot to give me that old blazer type look. I appreciate the comments in advance!

~~Rich

[bartonmd]

Wow, that's cheap!

The only thing I can tell you is to only have it fold down far enough that you can get the hatch open, and to have the glass able to open without touching the carrier... You don't want to mess with the carrier every time you need a strap or can of Coke or something out of the back, and you don't want to have to "pick up" the tire when you open the full hatch... If it just folds down far enough such that you can get the hatch open, you're really more "pushing" it up and forward, vs. actually picking the thing up, if it folds to 90...

I would also have him put a shackle mount or a 2" receiver off the back, so you can have a rear recovery point, without taking the carrier off...

Mike

[Gordinho80]

Looks like the design that Nick worked with Neilage on. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1082

With a cut in like that, you're limited to your tire size.

I will say this. If I were to do a fold down spare carrier like this again, I would bypass sliding something into the receiver and weld the arm to the top of it like Teebes did. I can't find his post now.

[navigator]

I like the concept and I am no welder or structural engineer by any means but is that many turns a good idea? It just seems like with a 32-33 inch tire up there all the time it would risk having an issue.

[Gordinho80]

Found Teebes pics...
viewtopic.php?p=20796#p20796

[bartonmd]

Found Teebes pics...
viewtopic.php?p=20796#p20796

Also, the one I did for MikePeters... His tire could have been closer to the vertical piece, but we wanted to give him as much leeway as possible to change his wheel/tire setup without changing the mount...

Pics.

Needs more triangulation?

[navigator]

that is sweet Mike!

[Trail X]

The problem with it so close to the rear is that it makes access to the tailgate harder.

If I were to do my tire carrier again, I would consider flipping it around, so the tire is facing the tailgate - then have no bends in the arm and it will sit closer. I'd also have it drop down to 90, so it could be used as a work surface at camp... otherwise it's just seriously in the way.

[navigator]

if the fold had two breaks, one at about 45 degrees (enough to open the gate), then one at 90, that might be perfect.

That is what is great about this site, someone posts an idea and others get to chime in and help fine tune it or modify it to best suit their own needs.

[bartonmd]

if the fold had two breaks, one at about 45 degrees (enough to open the gate), then one at 90, that might be perfect.

That is what is great about this site, someone posts an idea and others get to chime in and help fine tune it or modify it to best suit their own needs.

Yes, an internal stop at 90-degrees, then elongating the sides of the part that welds to the hitch, and putting a third hitch pin in there, for the "X"-degree stop to open the tailgate...

Mike

[navigator]

looking at where Mike had it mounted I don't know if there is enough length to have two stops. I can't tell but it looks like maybe his "stop" is the angle the main post is cut resting against the inside of the support channel.

It looks like you would have to come out more like JD mentioned to get it to have two stops.

Here is a crude paint version of one I was kind of thinking in my head.

[bartonmd]

You could still have the regular sized welded section on top of the hitch, but it could come out as you got up above the hitch.

Mike

[Gordinho80]

I think, Mike, you are referring to something like this?

Triangle piece would be used as pin hole for the 45 degree open... then 90 degree would be just letting it sit all the way open.

James, you can still do a table style work area for a carrier like this. Start with a table material, plywood or something else. 2 pieces of angle that would wrap around the upright of the carrier, maybe a cotter pin or 2 through the angle and upright.

[navigator]

Mario, you borrowed my paint job, I'm honored!

Here is kind of what I was thinking James was thinking.

[Gordinho80]

I'm pretty sure that is what he was thinking as well... my point is that you can keep the tire facing out and still make a "table" for it. As long as the carrier folds down to be as level as possible, you can take a piece of plywood(BROWNISH) and make a table that sits on the backside of the carrier. Using aluminum angle(GREEN) to straddle the upright(GREY) and a cotter pin to secure it in place, you can have a pretty solid and sturdy table. You can even use 2x4s or something to stabilize the able on the tire.

Imagine this... viewing carrier from the rear while folded down.

[bartonmd]

I think, Mike, you are referring to something like this?

Triangle piece would be used as pin hole for the 45 degree open... then 90 degree would be just letting it sit all the way open.

Exactly.

Mike

[Trail X]

Mario, you borrowed my paint job, I'm honored!

Here is kind of what I was thinking James was thinking.

Exactly. I know it may not look as normal being flipped (I'm more of a function over form sorta guy anyways), but if you welded a couple plates to the sides of the upright, you could easily mount a shovel and a hilift, or maybe an ammo can or something to the plate, and it all could be tucked in pretty tight. I think it would work much better on a 02-05 model though, due to the changed rear bumper.

[bartonmd]

Mario, you borrowed my paint job, I'm honored!

Here is kind of what I was thinking James was thinking.

Exactly. I know it may not look as normal being flipped (I'm more of a function over form sorta guy anyways), but if you welded a couple plates to the sides of the upright, you could easily mount a shovel and a hilift, or maybe an ammo can or something to the plate, and it all could be tucked in pretty tight. I think it would work much better on a 02-05 model though, due to the changed rear bumper.

Later LS rear bumpers are like the older style... Mine is...

Mike

[c bausch]

Looks great sign me up! What kind of rims are those and what size? There just what im looking for!

[bartonmd]

Looks great sign me up! What kind of rims are those and what size? There just what im looking for!

The TB posted is MikePeters' TB that got stolen. I was just posting it in this thread to illustrate what I was talking about with the tire carrier. Let's not hijack the OP's thread with it. I think MikePeters has a build thread, or at the very least, it's all in his "cross country build trip" thread...

Mike