I wanted to post some pictures and observations of my GGM tire carrier install I completed this weekend. Original thread below in the Vendors' section if you haven't seen this new product yet. This is the first step to someday installing a sub-tank.
forum.ih8mud.com
This tire carirer is awesome. I'm parked next to my neighbor's GX460, which is about the same length as my 80... so you can see how this fits in a standard parking spot. My truck is on 255/85/r16 skinnies and OME "medium" rear springs. My spare is also a 255. This came out great - my pictures, while fresh from the coin car wash, don't do it justice. But with 4:30pm sunset in Denver, it's the best I could do today. Some notes and observations:
-I elected to spray paint rather than powder coat due to the time I had available to install. Parts arrived oil-free and painting was easy. I used Dura-Coat primer and Dura-coat wheel paint, gloss black. Time will tell how the UV fade affects this.
-Unlike a similar product that is not currently manufacturered, the tire sits at an angle instead of parallel to the ground. Everybody has their own opinion here it seems.
-Keep in mind this carrier allows up to a 37" tire, per GGM website. The price you pay for compatibility with bigger tires is my 255s do look a little small. But it kind of evokes the look of the factory JDM carrier to me. From the few pictures I could find, the 35" tires seems to really fill things out aestetically (see Page 7, Post 139 of the Vendor's thread, above) but I'm happy with the result and I love my 255s!
-This is compatible with my no-name, non-factory hitch. The GGM spindle carrier sandwhiches between the hitch and the frame. It replaces the hitch spacers. My hitch spacers were slightly thicker than the 1/4" steel plate used on the spindle carrier, but one washer per bolt solved that prorblem.
-I did not have to drop the hitch to install this, but I did break a frame nut while removing one of the bolts at the hitch (where the factory tow-hook would be). Luckily, you can easily get to the nut from the back of the frame (attached picture). A M12x1.25 bolt & nut, and I am back in business.
-The only thing not included were 12mm X 1.50 lug nuts.
-It sounds like a license plate mount is in the works. I picked this up from Amazon and it did not require any modification. It will do for now:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07T3FC3PS?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
-You can still see the taillights, which I LOVE!!
Bolt on 80 Series Tire Carrier Compatible with Factory Bumper
For those that need a spare tire carrier but don't want to spend thousands on a new bumper, here's the solution. These pictures are of the first prototype, minor changes may be made. This kit is mostly bolt on, a hole will need to be drilled through the bumper plastic and some of the plastic...
forum.ih8mud.com
This tire carirer is awesome. I'm parked next to my neighbor's GX460, which is about the same length as my 80... so you can see how this fits in a standard parking spot. My truck is on 255/85/r16 skinnies and OME "medium" rear springs. My spare is also a 255. This came out great - my pictures, while fresh from the coin car wash, don't do it justice. But with 4:30pm sunset in Denver, it's the best I could do today. Some notes and observations:
-I elected to spray paint rather than powder coat due to the time I had available to install. Parts arrived oil-free and painting was easy. I used Dura-Coat primer and Dura-coat wheel paint, gloss black. Time will tell how the UV fade affects this.
-Unlike a similar product that is not currently manufacturered, the tire sits at an angle instead of parallel to the ground. Everybody has their own opinion here it seems.
-Keep in mind this carrier allows up to a 37" tire, per GGM website. The price you pay for compatibility with bigger tires is my 255s do look a little small. But it kind of evokes the look of the factory JDM carrier to me. From the few pictures I could find, the 35" tires seems to really fill things out aestetically (see Page 7, Post 139 of the Vendor's thread, above) but I'm happy with the result and I love my 255s!
-This is compatible with my no-name, non-factory hitch. The GGM spindle carrier sandwhiches between the hitch and the frame. It replaces the hitch spacers. My hitch spacers were slightly thicker than the 1/4" steel plate used on the spindle carrier, but one washer per bolt solved that prorblem.
-I did not have to drop the hitch to install this, but I did break a frame nut while removing one of the bolts at the hitch (where the factory tow-hook would be). Luckily, you can easily get to the nut from the back of the frame (attached picture). A M12x1.25 bolt & nut, and I am back in business.
-The only thing not included were 12mm X 1.50 lug nuts.
-It sounds like a license plate mount is in the works. I picked this up from Amazon and it did not require any modification. It will do for now:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07T3FC3PS?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
-You can still see the taillights, which I LOVE!!
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