Should I get rid of my tire carrier?

What should I do about a spare/carrier?

  • Sell the tire carrier, don't bother with a spare

    Votes: 4 17.4%

  • Sell the tire carrier, keep a spare somewhere else

    Votes: 8 34.8%

  • Keep the carrier

    Votes: 11 47.8%
  • Total voters
    23
chupacabrah

chupacabrah

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Location
Kernersville
I am planning on running 37" tires, if not 38s. ...or 39.5s :flipoff2:

Would this tire carrier even be practical/effective with tires >=37"?

Should I even carry a spare?

It's very sturdy, a friend built it over the spring--or maybe it was last summer, I can't remember.

Here is a picture:
alh6.ggpht.com__d4xnJM_h7n4_THnUpLj08YI_AAAAAAAAAD8_zFQT8x4BKmd2b9e4273b7a7a9d366768bb6ad95903.jpg
 
IMO a spare is always necessary. As for where to put it, if you didn't put it on the rear where would you put it?
 
BigClay said:
IMO a spare is always necessary. As for where to put it, if you didn't put it on the rear where would you put it?
Click to expand...

Somewhere else? Preferably in someone else's rig :)

If it's no issue, I'll run it, but I am not sure if a tire hanging off back there would be a pain because of the weight ...or, something else possibly.
 
you should run swampers and just carry a patch kit and tube and ditch the spare tire etc...
 
what is the weight diff. over the tire you been carrying back there? I dont think another 20 LB's is gonna hurt you. Is it?
 
I run a 37" on my carrier. Don't really think the weight has ever been an issue but it has prevented me from rolling over backwards a time or two.
 
bootsyj said:
what is the weight diff. over the tire you been carrying back there? I dont think another 20 LB's is gonna hurt you. Is it?
Click to expand...
well I'm not too sure. the difference between a 37 and a 39 is ike 30 lbs, so between a 33 (what i've had) and a 37 is probably....50lbs? but I'm just guessing.

I don't know if it would matter, or if it would get in the way--that's why I'm asking you guys :)

it would be pretty heavy to lift up there/get off though, lol

spraypaintman said:
you should run swampers and just carry a patch kit and tube and ditch the spare tire etc...
Click to expand...
this is my line of thinking... I have AAA for on the street, not that I drive this thing much or anything.


Rox&Mud said:
I run a 37" on my carrier. Don't really think the weight has ever been an issue but it has prevented me from rolling over backwards a time or two.
Click to expand...
I would think that weight back there would HELP a roll backwards, wouldn't it?
 
I stood my wrangler up on the tire/carrier a couple of times. Had I not had the tire back there I would have gone on over. Not that I planned it that way, it's just how it has happened.
Having your own spare tire is the best. You never know if someone else will have the right size or bolt pattern you need. Even if you someone else agrees to use their spare they may break and not be on the trail with you when you need a spare.
 
Well I have had enough tire issues to carry a spare. I have gone with just carrying a tube and a bunch of plugs in the past. Right now I have 37's. Its an xj and i got rid of my carrier. I carry it inside the back. I truely notice the difference when I had it on the back up high like yours. If you don't need the back seat put it in the back as low as you can.
 
sell the carrier and buy one of those storage drawers for the back and put the tire on top of that.
 
I removed the tire carrier on my CJ and carried the spare 35" in the back while wheeling. Mallcrawling the streets, I left the spare at home.
 
If you have a tow rig I say loose the carrier and keep the spare on your trailer. If your rig is gonna be a dual purpose rig to get you to and from the trails...gotta have a spare! Your setup is probably strong enough to run 40s. But you'll know either the first time you try to swing out the gate or if the tires flops around going down the road. The problem with the swing out tire carriers for large tires is getting the HUGE tire up there...almost a 2person job to get them on and off.

When I did my carrier i did the swing down style, so I could drop the 40 on the ground roll it off and on...so if I had to change in on the side of the road I could by myself. It has shackle bushing as a hinge on my bumper and then tractor pins up on the corner quards to secure it. I tried to keep it as low as possible to keep the center of weight low.

aimg2.imageshack.us_img2_9950_ure10037.jpg



Uploaded with ImageShack.us
 
I've read about people using a narrower tire for their spare to save weight/space. For example, if you are running 33x12/50s, there are 33x10.50 and 33x9.50 available. Also, if you are airing down, that 38 might now be a 35, so you could get by with a fully inflated 35, saving weight/space. You need to match tire diameter as close as possible if you are running lockers...

Although I personally run a full spare, I think this is a valid strategy, because 100% of the time (so far, knock on wood!!) a patch kit has got me home, and if it wouldn't, the spare would just be to get me home until I got a replacement tire.

Not sure if there are any options for narrower tires in the 37"+ range...
 
I say keep the carrier, if it isn't sturdy enough get your friend to brace it to hold the weight.

A swing down carrier is also a good idea.
 
cool, thanks for the ideas and thoughts guys.

I really like that drop-down carrier, mmmkay325! Might have to see about converting this one I have. It'd be a 2 man job to get my tire up on my carrier as it is, haha.

I'll probably have to cut down my bumper or something anyway so I can weld the wayback hangers back there anyhow
 
We could always weld on a drop down mount to place the center of the wheel lower, and then weld a platform on the swing arm to mount a boat winch, and use that to winch the tire up and down into place. Or I could get even more redneck than that.
 
that sounds sweet
lol

I think I'll have to wind up cutting out some sections so that I can weld the wayback shackle hangers back there, that rectangular tube may stick out too far for the hanger to weld straight onto it, but I'll have to do some measuring to be sure
 
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