Custom BIKE RACK for a 40

[SLOW LN]

I wanted to build a bike rack and...

was wondering if anyone had seen someone use the three lugs/posts on an FJ40’s spare tire carrier as a starting point...


to explain:

So basically I would make a thick metal disk, put three holes in it and then wrench to the outside of the spare tire. Welded to the circular metal plate would be a hitch receiver (just like the one below a bumper) to which I would be able to put the bike rack on (and off), while leaving the disk/receiver in place.

The point of making it with a receiver hitch on it is so that I can eventually make a vertical snowboard/ski rack sorta thing to swap with the bike rack during the winter months.

As for the rubber straps and the fork looking things that actually hold the bikes, I suppose I would rummage for some old/broken bike racks around town or on craigslist. And just to be clear I'd weld something up to connect the post that goes into the receiver to the 'forks' that actually hold the bikes.


Does anyone have doubts that the factory spare tire holder could carry the weight of a few bikes and the wheel? It seems strong enough, but then again I haven’t stress tested it, nor do I know anyone who has…

Anyway, I just wanted to know it any of you had seen something similar to this idea. Thanks and I'll post a photo or two of the build up once I get around to making the bike rack.

 

[mcewan13]

Metal's metal. If it needs to be stout, break out the welder and make it happen.
I've been hanging a 35" BFG MT off the spare tire carrier on my 40 for a couple of years w/o any problems. I inspect the hinge post and all the weld points whenever I get around to washing it. I haven't seen any signs of overloading yet and that tire's gotta be heavier than most bikes. That said, I wouldn't suggest carrying more than 1-2 bikes out back of the spare tire bc of the weight bouncing around on an extended lever arm.

Strength aside, I think you're not going to like having the bike stick way out past the side of the truck. Using either a post-style or platform rack on a standard, centered hitch receiver is the way to go.

Here's my set up:

 

[davegonz]

I did something similar. I used a receiver tube on my tire carrier and modified a Thule rack.

IH8MUD.com - View Single Post - Bike rack design for 4x4Labs rear bumper

 

[beaufort-fj60]

Metal's metal. If it needs to be stout, break out the welder and make it happen.
I've been hanging a 35" BFG MT off the spare tire carrier on my 40 for a couple of years w/o any problems. I inspect the hinge post and all the weld points whenever I get around to washing it. I haven't seen any signs of overloading yet and that tire's gotta be heavier than most bikes. That said, I wouldn't suggest carrying more than 1-2 bikes out back of the spare tire bc of the weight bouncing around on an extended lever arm.

Strength aside, I think you're not going to like having the bike stick way out past the side of the truck. Using either a post-style or platform rack on a standard, centered hitch receiver is the way to go.

Here's my set up:

nice nipples...