Any reason an off center tire carrier would be "bad"?

Tech11

Tech11

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Joined
Dec 7, 2007
Location
Greensboro
I've been kicking around an idea for a new rear bumper for my LJ. I have a half hard top, and the bed is line-x'd. (pics in my profile)I'm wanting something different/unique, but still functional. Not screwing up departure angles or anything like that.

I have another idea(s) that involve getting rid of the tailgate but I wanted input on this idea first, keeping the tailgate.

Would there be a downfall to having the spare tire mounted NOT centered? I'm thinking to the passenger side. In this case, I would LOSE the OEM tail lights, and incorporate a rectangular style LED S/T/T set up, that would be white/red/amber.

The tire carrier would set above the S/T/Ts and the tire would sit to the passenger side with the edge of the tire not sticking out further than the sliders/tube flares. Opposite the spare could be a jerry can, or a jerry can sized box, possibly a hi-lift mount also.

Also a hitch, 2 d-rings/shackle points, and HD frame tie ins.

The bed isn't long enough to mount the spare on the side of the body like the old gaucho trucks in the 70's or I'd go that route, or something similar. I'm looking for input on wether or not this would work, or fall apart, or cause huge problems for a reason I've overlooked.

Thanks!:beer:
 
Placing the spare in the center optimizes the "dovetail' affect. The corners are most likely to come in contact with trees, rocks, etc., so offsetting the spare to one side increases the odds you'll drag it on something in tight quarters.
For something different, how about building a shelf or tubework mounting the spare flat on the wheelwells...or upright standing behind the drivers seat. Of course this won't work if yuo have a rear seat.
 
Off Sides *

I would want the carrier, supported buy the left side, or middle, when in closed/travel position. Take the strain of the mounting points. Will probably squat a little on right side, unless Jerry can balances the off set weight. Or maybe a small spring helper?

Come on you guys, with the BFHs, chime in!! :alien:
 
other idea is like this:
 

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rodney eppes said:
I would want the carrier, supported buy the left side, or middle, when in closed/travel position. Take the strain of the mounting points. Will probably squat a little on right side, unless Jerry can balances the off set weight. Or maybe a small spring helper?

Come on you guys, with the BFHs, chime in!! :alien:
Click to expand...

Eh, unless we're talking a truly HUGE tire, or a ridiculously soft suspension, there won't be enough weight there to noticibly squat the suspension. The typical spare tire and rim weighs under 100 pounds, and that's just not enough to make a hill of beans difference to the suspension in most cases. I'm also pretty sure that you wouldn't be able to find a helper spring that could fine tune it to that degree.
 
Consider this...
All old jeeps had the tire on the right side.
You weigh...what...150#. You sit on the left side. Does it squat the springs? Does the tire weigh 150 +/-? Worst case, it will probably balance your weight!
Oh...and I had a 33" tire on a steel wheel offset to the right in my old little Jeep!
ai242.photobucket.com_albums_ff284_OlJeeps_Misc_20Jeep_20Pics_finished3.jpg
 
my spare is to the right,the gerry can is to the left.Stock from the factory this way.I would highly advise against mounting the spare on the side of the body.It will catch everything.
 
Okay I'm leaning towards something of a combination of these two.
The MOUNTED OUTWARD option.

aimg850.imageshack.us_img850_2761_25173828.jpg

But not sticking out quite so far.

Rigged up to swing out on the OEM hinges LIKE THIS as seen BELOW:

aimg835.imageshack.us_img835_5412_192nqb.jpg


Tailgate would be gone.

How about that?
 
I've got PJ at M&M doing something else FIRST. :bounce2:
 
I am not a fan of a spare carrier on the right side because of the blind spot it creates if you DD it even a little. Not a fan of using the stock hinges for an over sized tire because it is all supported and braced to the sheet metal of the tub.(at least it was in a CJ.) One bump on either side of the body and you run the risk of not being able to close/latch it back shut.
No tailgate really limits you as to what you can haul, I know I have picked enough junk up behind the ones without a tailgate, and, didn't know how to pack a rig. Also not a fan of a very much larger than stock spare off the back. What ever the tire weighs, that weight can be multiplied because of the leverage it creates. You will notice this when trying to go up a muddy hill, or loose rocky hill. The leverage will pull on the back and lift the front tires, killing traction.
What I have seen that works well is a hinged carried off the bottom, mounted to the bumper that swings down to give easy access to the tire, and folds forward to place the tire more to the center of the axle tube, creating less leverage, and more traction. If you do hang it out on the back, use the trailer axle type mount. It won't give, it serviceable and will take a licking.
Just what I have experienced, hope it helps
 
upnover said:
What I have seen that works well is a hinged carried off the bottom, mounted to the bumper that swings down to give easy access to the tire, and folds forward to place the tire more to the center of the axle tube, creating less leverage, and more traction. If you do hang it out on the back, use the trailer axle type mount. It won't give, it serviceable and will take a licking.
Just what I have experienced, hope it helps
Click to expand...

Are you talking like a poison spyder drop down stinger carrier?

http://shop.poisonspyder.com/TJ-LJ-Jeep-Rear-Stinger-Tire-Carrier-p/14-13-020.htm

Or can can you link me an example?
 
OOOOOH!!!!
I found something I like a lot and should work with my current bumper, I can mod to work with my jeep as it is now and I think can make all around awesome. Check this out, I found it at pirate4x4.
aimg688.imageshack.us_img688_1041_swing20down203.jpg
aimg853.imageshack.us_img853_7581_swing20down204.jpg
aimg405.imageshack.us_img405_8954_swing20down205.jpg
aimg30.imageshack.us_img30_8533_swing20down206.jpg
aimg705.imageshack.us_img705_7172_swing20down201.jpg
aimg718.imageshack.us_img718_9008_swing20down202.jpg
 
HEY, that's pretty darn slick. Personally, I think I would put the T -bar hold down, or what ever U use, on the inside of the tire. That way, you can lay it on the ground, & mount/dismount it.
 
Yeah I'm trying to figure a few things out, like that Rodney.

I like the way it drops down with the tire in place, I was toying with adding some sort of material on the back and then having a drop down table, cause I could always unmount and flop the tire out since I don't plan on going bigger than 35's.

Decisions decisions.:lol:
 
That's the kewl part of building something, you can use someone else's idea, change it to fit your needs, and make it your own. I like Rodney's idea about putting the T bar to where it's up, when the tire carrier is down. Easy enough really, just take a nut that is big enough for the T bar to thread into, and weld it to something that is the shape of the inside of the wheel.
I would also make a barrier for behind the seats, and in the back, so that smaller loose stuff would not or could not roll to the front, under your feet, or out the back, littering or lost forever.
This set up would allow you a lot more storage room, putting the might needs under the rack, and the gonna need stuff on top for easy access.
When you get it made please post pics!
 
aimg88.imageshack.us_img88_8594_20110417133647.jpg
aimg651.imageshack.us_img651_4360_20100927173739.jpg

Heres some shots showing the back of my jeep, showing what I'd be working with. Lose the tail gate, add my modded swing down to my current rear bumper. I think it would work quite nicely.
 
well shoot, with no back seat, I'd just stand it up behind the drivers seat, ratchet strap it to something when you need it, leave it @home while cruising the mall.
 
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