4+PLUS Tire/Cooler Carrier Install- FJ40

[DomSmith]

Here are the final install pictures, wired up and working. I was lucky that the carrier is grounded but we'll see if it is intermittent or not. I was thinking between the pin and the grease I may run into a problem in the future.

I used flatter carrier bolts for the lower mounts to help reduce the interference with the license plate. As you can see the plate does press against them and there are tiny bows in the plate at that spot but very minimal.

Now I need to figure out reverse lighting...

[LakeNorman_FJ40]

Has anyone come up with something to lock the basket side of the carrier open at 90* or 135*? Was thinking about drilling and tapping the hinge for a spring loaded pin...

The tire side isn't a problem as it will open until the tire touches the quarter panel. But, open the basket side while on a hilly trail and it could swing open and whack the passenger side of the tub.

[1973Guppie]

dom, looks good! when we going wheeling?

[crazylandcruiser]

I will have to agree the latch is a bit wierd. i really liked mine but now im having some problems saying i cant get my spare 39 on the back so im modifing my cooler so that i can fit a 39 up on the back of the rig. Good write up the pictures are very well done with arrows etc. overall the put together wasnt to bad when i did it but this would have given a little help that for sure! looks good on the rig!

[DomSmith]

Almost forgot... added the best part yesterday...

[DomSmith]

Anyone know what size STAINLESS cooler fits these?


My Coleman is just too big...

[Poser]

Originally Posted by crazylandcruiser

I will have to agree the latch is a bit wierd. i really liked mine but now im having some problems saying i cant get my spare 39 on the back so im modifing my cooler so that i can fit a 39 up on the back of the rig. Good write up the pictures are very well done with arrows etc. overall the put together wasnt to bad when i did it but this would have given a little help that for sure! looks good on the rig!

I have a 15x42x15 swamper on a 10" steel wheel that has been mounted on mine...


What is in the way?

[Panzer]

Originally Posted by DomSmith

Anyone know what size STAINLESS cooler fits these?


My Coleman is just too big...

Nooooooooo!
It won't fit, that sucks.
I just bought a red coleman to match the 40 with the future plan of putting it on a MAF cooler/tire combo carrier.

[Poser]

The basket is now a modular design folks. Make your own to fit whatever you want to carry, and bolt it to the rack.


Right after the manufacture of this would change the basket to accommodate whatever cooler was the one that everyone wanted to use; the cooler manufacture would change the dims on the cooler, and make it so that it would not fit the re-designed basket, and we would be right back to where we are right now.


It never ends folks.


There is no way a license plate lamp, or a metal cooler would have survived on the rear of my junk since 1998....there are not any cooler manufactures out there that offer anything near as stout as the carrier.



That lamp set-up looks nice Dom.



Good thread guys!

It is in the FAQ.


I will be modifying some older 4+ carrier units with the new, modular-style cooler basket, adding grease fittings, and modifying the bushings so that the grease flows around the spindle, and will update this thread with the information when I do this.

[DomSmith]

Just added a ghetto fabulous tractor light as a backup light. I've been looking all over for something a little more flush/clean without luck. I'll probably head back to the Peterbuilt place one of these days. Met a dude there with a Cruiser and turned him on to MUD. I had this light sitting around for awhile and thought I'd use it for now. It's not super clean as I didn't want to drill into the frame again so I just used one of the existing frame holes (bumperette spot) and tapped into the backup wire at the left rear well.

[67azcruizr]

Originally Posted by DomSmith

Anyone know what size STAINLESS cooler fits these?


My Coleman is just too big...

the round basket that you have there isn't specific to any cooler size that I know of, however MAF sells another basket that Dave from 4-PLUS makes out of flat stock that accepts an ARB (Engel) DC frig perfectly.

[DomSmith]

Poser-

Good point about the coolers. I'll keep looking or just make something different. That's the nice thing about this re-design, the rack unbolts for removal unlike the previous model. Although nothing stops the guys with serious skills.

The license light works great except that the 5 watt Hella bulb is WEAK. I replaced it today with a 10 watt dome light so we'll see how that does. I had to squeeze the inner tabs a little closer together to fit the slightly shorter bulb...

EDIT: Yes the 10 watter is a HUGE improvement...

[REZARF]

Steve-

Any pics of that new cooler carrier?

Sounds like a good idea.

Rezarf <><

Originally Posted by Poser

The basket is now a modular design folks. Make your own to fit whatever you want to carry, and bolt it to the rack.


Right after the manufacture of this would change the basket to accommodate whatever cooler was the one that everyone wanted to use; the cooler manufacture would change the dims on the cooler, and make it so that it would not fit the re-designed basket, and we would be right back to where we are right now.


It never ends folks.


There is no way a license plate lamp, or a metal cooler would have survived on the rear of my junk since 1998....there are not any cooler manufactures out there that offer anything near as stout as the carrier.



That lamp set-up looks nice Dom.



Good thread guys!

It is in the FAQ.


I will be modifying some older 4+ carrier units with the new, modular-style cooler basket, adding grease fittings, and modifying the bushings so that the grease flows around the spindle, and will update this thread with the information when I do this.

[Poser]

Originally Posted by REZARF

Steve-

Any pics of that new cooler carrier?

Sounds like a good idea.

Rezarf <><

Ummmm

Drew, this whole thread is about it.

Dom has pictures of the new carrier/cooler rack set up in the thread.

[crazylandcruiser]

Originally Posted by Poser

I have a 15x42x15 swamper on a 10" steel wheel that has been mounted on mine...


What is in the way?

Well it says on the site it will fit up to a 37 but after you said that i went and put mine up and its going to clear i might have to remove the hi lift holder but i sure hope it works out!

[LakeNorman_FJ40]

Per my prior post, here's a pic with my rear auxilary lights installed:



Drilled no holes and used existed threaded holes...routes wires just above through other unused holes. These are basic small rectangular driving lights (H3 55 watt bulbs I think) from Autozone...got them on sale. Probably one of the best things I've added to the FJ40...the extra lighting works great when camping off-road (i.e., setting up tent at night) and as a back-up light.

My tire/cooler carrier now has ~1,500 miles and 2 weekends of hard trails offroad use & camping. Used a couple of motorcycle straps to secure the cooler. Works great with zero rattles or complaints.

[DomSmith]

Thanks for posting Norman. Any chance you can post pics of the brackets that mount the light to the bumper? Maybe a part#? Thanks. Looks good.

[LakeNorman_FJ40]

Here you go Dom...from Autozone's website:



Pilot Automotive Wangs PIL / Clear Rectangle Lens, White Beam Driving Light Kit (1-7/8" x 5").
About this product:

• Clear Lens/Clear Beam
• 55 Watt Halogen Bulb
• Fuse Included
• Illuminated Rocker Switch

Part Number:PL-1055C

Don't expect PIAA/Cibie/IPF quality. They are OK quality. At $19.99 for the light output, brackets, switches, and compact size/dimensions it's a good deal. At $19.99 you can bust them up on the trail and not worry.

[hudyhue]

dude that is nice i likey......i wondered how they looked...perfect

[UltraFJ]

Nice write up. I also agree to what Lake Norman used for back up lighting. I have that exact pair on my 100.



One other thing, why would M-A-F still not put a grease fitting on that thing? Mine was frozen in the shut position and it was a real PITA to get it open (but only once).




Have you placed fittings on it yet?

[wantatlc]

Originally Posted by DomSmith

I painted the aluminum bracket, soldered some electrical connectors to the light and wiring (black) and attached it all with black zip ties to try to keep it all low profile. I also used a few adhesive zip tie mounts (we'll see how long those last) on the flat surfaces of the swing arm and bumper and routed the wiring just above the tail light and down behind the rear quarter panel. I found an unused "green" wire with connector that was a part of the rear wiring harness and plugged it in.

nice. very clean. well done. I did a similar light setup on my carrier as it did not have one. You might want to consider some split loom to cover that wire as (1) it looks super clean as compared to exposed wire and (2) just an added level of protection for the wire when you put items in the basket.

[inthewall]

I have the older style manfre carrier. I have to lubricate the hinges yearly or it will freeze up. One of these days I will drill and tap for some zerks. I wish they had raised the basket before I bought mine. It gets hung up now and then.

[alf]

Great job on the write up.

According to AL at MAF the 1045 and 1046 are the same base bumper the only difference is the cooler rack that bolts onto the base. The 1045 is tubular and the 1046 is flat stock. I believe the 1046 can hold a larger cooler aka ARB Fridge as the corners do not have a radius.

I like the tubular rack for looks but space is always a concern so I may opt for the flat stock cooler carrier 1046

Anyone know if MAF ever puts this stuff on sale.


Alf

[pbgbottle]

there's pics of flat stock cooler carrier on MAF's site see