A little trick I just learned

[SNLC]

I have not seen anything about this here on the forum. I am sure some of you know about this though.

To fit a larger tire to the stock tire carrier, flip it over!

This is a 33x10.5r15 and when the tire carrier is mounted normal side up it won't fit. It hits the rear bumper. I used a spacer the last few weeks to fit it but didn't really like the spacer. Standing here thinking about it, I was like hmmmnnnn why not flip the carrier over and try it out.

Sure enough it worked like a charm!

Hope this helps somebody.

Cheers

 

[coldtaco]

yup, found that out a long time ago

 

[Josh NZ]

This works with certain rims and doesn’t with others. It can foul the rear window wiper and cause it to be useless!

 

[umpqua]

Good idea. My concern is a larger tire than originally intended also is heavier. Any concerns for the door hinges with the additional weight?

 

[OGBeno]

Good idea. My concern is a larger tire than originally intended also is heavier. Any concerns for the door hinges with the additional weight?

Yes.

 

[jblueridge]

I worry about the door hinges too.
My spare sits on the bumper a bit. Really have to slam that door to shut it and the chrome gets scuffed. I feel better about the door though.

 

[roscoFJ73]

I thought thats how they were supposed to be fitted, all mine have been on that way. I think the bigger tyre is ok for on road and gentle offroad. I had 33x10.5x15 on my FJ73 for a long time and went offroad a fair bit with no problems with the hinges.
Airing down the tyres and good suspension can take a lot of the punishment off the vehicle in rough conditions.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Premise #1 I'm not a structural engineer.

I've always been under the impression that the bodies framework that surrounds the rear doors provided the bulk of the support when the doors were closed and the majority of the stress on the hinges only occurred when the doors were open.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Premise #1 I'm not a structural engineer.

I've always been under the impression that the bodies framework that surrounds the rear doors provided the bulk of the support when the doors were closed and the majority of the stress on the hinges only occurred when the doors were open.

My thoughts as well.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

My thoughts as well.

Rosco, Agreeing with me on any mechanical issue isn't good for your street creds.

 

[OGBeno]

I’ve been running a Toyo M55 and a Toyo MT 285/75/16 — both on heavy OEM steel wheels—in this configuration for 3 years now, rotating the two and anything more than on road really does do damage to the hinges and the body supports.

My RH spare door is hurting. Shutting the door becomes more and more of an issue. And I can see through the seams that the hinge is tearing away at the body super structure support.

Bumper mounted tyre carrier is my next mod.

 

[Willis]

I've got a steel wheel, 33x10.50 and a trasharoo full of wood hanging off my door. The hinges are dying.

 

[PATHnz]

I also did this today. 33/10.5R15 on a 15x8 steel rim, on the flipped tyre mount on the door. It's heavy, especially with a hi-lift and shovel mounted on there too. A rear bar with wheel carrier is on the way though, so this is only temporary and hopefully my door rattles less once I get it on.

 

[roscoFJ73]

I have the rear Kaymar Bar on my troopy, they cost about $4000 according to the ARB website and I hate it. If you want to get into the back you have to open 2 wheel carriers which have stiff latches, then most of the time you need to open both doors. Then you reverse the process to close the doors. Not much fun on a shopping day when you have 2-3 places to visit. Camping trips are a similar PITA.
It must weigh a 100kgs or more.
I much preferred the OEM bumper with step for climbing and out of the back.

 

[SNLC]

Good idea. My concern is a larger tire than originally intended also is heavier. Any concerns for the door hinges with the additional weight?

No, I am willing to bet my 33" tire and 15" alloy wheel is lighter than a split rim with a 7.5 tire with a tube.

Cheers

 

[roscoFJ73]

There wouldn't be much difference in weight.

 

[Josh NZ]

There’s not much in it, I switched from a 33x10.5x15 to a 750x16 split rim on my rear door. They were almost as hard to lift up as one another. 750x16 at 50 odd kilos was a little heavier.

 

[FJ73Texas]

Too many variables can make the tire and wheel assembly total mass differences. Passenger tire vs Light Truck tire, ply rating, alloy, steel, 15 inch vs 16 inch, etc.

 

[Willis]

Ya'll are real scientists

 

[gkanai]

You can add a spacer to the OEM tire carrier to fit larger wheels/tires. The largest I have on my 76 is 285/75R16.