DIY: Spare Tire Carrier - Hitch Mounted

[CarolinaGX]

Now that I have 33's, i can't fit a spare under the body in the factory position. I do not have bumpers yet so I had to think of a way to care a spare with the resources I have on hand. So, I decided to make a hitch mounted spare tire carrier. The foundation is a 2" extension from HF. I am using a 4x2x1/8 base tube with a 3x1.5x1/8 boom arm hinged on weather resistant bronze bushes with an ID of 3/4" and a 3/4" stainless bolt. The bushings are rated to 2500lbs both radially and thrust. I will post more pictures as I progress. Please feel free to add suggestions and criticisms as it will help me make a better piece.

The notch is where the hitch extension will fit. Gussets will follow upon final welding.

Hitch extension with anti-wiggle device. Basically, i cut it at 45 degrees and added a threaded hinge clevis so the M8 bolt will pull the two halves together to take up the slack.

Tire support arm is mounted at 12 degrees to move the weight more toward the truck.

Spare tire simply hanging on the support arm for illustration and perspective. The top of the tire is lower than the wiper arm so it will not affect vision out of the back (I tried to mount it as low as feasible).

 

[4Point7Lucky]

Digging the utilitarian look and ease of use. I know it'll eventually get sprayed or painted but Black Rust-Oleum ( Or the likes) would be great on this. But yes, looks good and does not obstruct the rear window/view.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

I’m not a fabricator, but how safe/strong is the post holding the tire? Seems like all the weight and dynamic force will be on those weld points. From the photo, it just doesn’t seem that safe. Or maybe that’s what you meant gussets.

Other than that, kudos for making your own tire holder. I’m still trying to figure out a few things like how to hang a NATO gas can safely on a ladder and how to solve the overlap on my slider leg and transfer case bracket.

I just don’t have fabricator skills nor fabricator tools.

 

[CarolinaGX]

I'm not a fabricator either. I will add tubes from the main tube, near the hinge, up to the tube carrying the tire at a 45* angle. I will also add a gusset in the 90* part where the carrier tube goes from vertical to horizontal. I plan to use a flange from a junkyard axle to attach the wheel.

Please feel free to ask questions, criticize and make suggestions!

 

[CarolinaGX]

I made some design changes to the carrier today. Namely, I decided to use a front hub/flange to mount the wheel instead of making one from plate. By doing this it means I have 6 spare lug nuts and 6 spare lug bolts while on the trail. I also changed the angle of the vertical tube back to 90* instead of inclining and mounted the hub at 10* onto the horizontal tube. Then I added side braces as I had planned. Lastly, I added a diagonal tube to the hub. This diagonal tube mounts to the back of the hub flange, not the tube, in an effort to strengthen the wheel mount.

Please feel free to ask questions, criticize and make suggestions!

 

[CarolinaGX]

It is only tack welded in a few spots but holds the tire just fine. Now I need to install the latch and the stop to prevent it from opening past 100*.