Spare Tire Dilemma: Tips on how to mount spare?

[leafsprung]

Mounting the tire off the back also helps balance the weight of the truck too which makes a big difference with an 88" that has a 33" spare and a warn with about 100' of wire wrapped around the drum welded to the front.

Generally nose heavy cars climb better because the weight transfers to the rear when climbing anyway . . . Thats why mogs are so excellent at climbing

[LaneRover]

I actually loved having my spare just behind the bulkhead of my right hand drive 109 P-up. Not for any safety or vision reasons but when I had the top off and my dog was with me you really couldn't see where the steering wheel was! So it really looked like she was driving!

Brent

of course if I let her drive I would never let her off her leash..... :P

[leafsprung]

Gregor,

Heres another pic:


They are kind of a one off - non production item.


-Ike

[Tim Smith]

I remember seeing that before Ike. Certainly is nice work.

Although it looks great, do you find that it is weak laterally on the top by only being mounted to the truck on the bottom? Curious as I've been thinking about this a bit lately.

[leafsprung]

do you find that it is weak laterally on the top by only being mounted to the truck on the bottom?

No. You cant see it in the pictures but the spindle is 1.5 inch solid round stock. A hole was machined all the way through the bumperette and the round stock passed through the hole and welded along its length. The bumperette is tied into the cage supports underneath the tub using seven 3/8 grade 8 fasteners (per side). The cage supports span the length of the rear cross-member (which is reinforced) and are secured using twelve grade 8 3/8ths fasteners (per side). I can jump up and down on the carrier (220lbs) in open position while the tire is on it (33 on wolf rim) and its rock solid. It the closed position you could probably recover the truck from the tire carrier. The mantec is a coat hanger in comparison.

[Tim Smith]

No. You cant see it in the pictures but the spindle is 1.5 inch solid round stock. A hole was machined all the way through the bumperette and the round stock passed through the hole and welded along its length. The bumperette is tied into the cage supports underneath the tub using seven 3/8 grade 8 fasteners (per side). The cage supports span the length of the rear cross-member which is reinforced and are secured using twelve grade 8 3/8ths fasteners (per side). I can jump up and down on the carrier (220lbs) in open position while the tire is on it (33 on wolf rim) and its rock solid. It the closed position you could probably recover the truck from the tire carrier. The mantec is a coat hanger in comparison.

Wow!

You've just ended any guessing I might have had about the design.

[greenmeanie]

Gregor,

Heres another pic:


They are kind of a one off - non production item.


-Ike

Cheers Ike,
It gives a man ideas. I'll need to work on my welding skills a bit though.

[S11A]

This one seemed interesting in that you could use it with tailgate, fuull rear door, hard top or soft top:

http://www.safari-equip.co.uk/index.php?page=46

The eye on the left of the carrier goes over the tailgate pin. This is nice in terms of bot having any point fastened to the tailgate or door, but I am somewhat concerned that it might not be the most solid third point... Any thoughts?

[Erin]

I'd like to chime in on the hood mount. You could use a u bolt that goes through the exsisting holes and make a bar out of stock to secure the tire. Thats the route I went. I suppose re-tapping the stock captive nuts would be easy enough as well.
Later,
Erin

[leafsprung]

This one seemed interesting in that you could use it with tailgate, fuull rear door, hard top or soft top

The same is true of the one I made. I think anyone can build one better than the ones that are commercially available, they are generally lame.

[pvkd]

Ike,

This is really nice work! I love proper welded tuff stuff.

Paul

[ShootingCar]

On the hood?

I am thinking of placing my spare on the hood. As a relatively short person at 5'-6" and with short family members at 5'-3", etc. is there a visibility issue with installing the spare on the hood from a safety point of view.
I realize that the tire width may make a difference. So I could go with a narrower spare. What's the opinion?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Tim Smith]

I am thinking of placing my spare on the hood. As a relatively short person at 5'-6" and with short family members at 5'-3", etc. is there a visibility issue with installing the spare on the hood from a safety point of view.
I realize that the tire width may make a difference. So I could go with a narrower spare. What's the opinion?

Thanks,
Jeff

Yes.

I have "curbed it" a number of times and hit about 3 deer with my spare on the hood in the last few years. This was entirely the fault of my spare tire being on the hood!

[ShootingCar]

Tim are you serious?

Tim,
are you being serious or are you just using the spare as an excuse? With all the deer we have up here in Wisc. I can believe that would be easy to happen here. But didn't know if this was a common excuse the series owners use for such problems.

Like SeriesCanuk, I too am new to being a Land Rover Owner and am just starting to learn about this stuff. Thanks for your experience here. I also have appreciated Leafsprungs insight as well so far.

Jeff

[Tim Smith]

Tim,
are you being serious or are you just using the spare as an excuse? With all the deer we have up here in Wisc. I can believe that would be easy to happen here. But didn't know if this was a common excuse the series owners use for such problems.

It's not that bad Jeff.

I'm about 5' 11" and can generally see fine when on the road. Off road however, I do find that it gets in the way and if the trail gets at all technical, then it's just got to come off. Otherwise, you should be fine.

By the way, the deer didn't cause any damage and I think one of the times I curbed it, it centered the steering again.