My Rear Tyre Carrier build up - woooh!!

[romey]

man, nice work so far! (if had time and money, i'd take a diploma in welding and fabrication!). i can certainly appreciate the simplicity and the need for it w/o busting the bank on a labs or hanna or slee . . . but then again, you can pretty much do your own bumper anyway, no?

the idea works for a can carrier too which i would consider (since i already have a stock swing out). thanks for sharing!

 

[akarilo]

Nice and innovative but you're still dealing with the vulnerabilty of the factory bumper. As you probably already know, if you even breathe on it bends/tears/deforms, etc. If your rig never leaves the pavement then it was a worthwhile project, otherwise, good luck with that.

Good fab skills never-the-less

 

[joedm]

yes you are correct, this method is only as good as the factory bumper.. not the plastic bits that fall off when you rub against a tree, but more the steel bumper under that.

If I do any wheeling that rips the factory steel bumper off then I guess I may be replacing not just the bumper...

I don't intend to do "THAT" kind of wheeling... ;p

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[fj40z]

Nice and innovative but you're still dealing with the vulnerabilty of the factory bumper. As you probably already know, if you even breathe on it bends/tears/deforms, etc. If your rig never leaves the pavement then it was a worthwhile project, otherwise, good luck with that.

Good fab skills never-the-less

I do agree that the stock bumper leaves alot to be desired, and is vulnerable, but I can assure you that is very possible to wheel youre 80 with the stock bumper in place. I have seen alot of 80's wheeled hard with the stock bumper. Im not arguing that youre not better protected with an aftermarket bumper, or that you dont get a better departure angle, just that even with the the puny plastic factory bumper the 80 is still plenty comforatable off the pavement. Just my 2 cents.

 

[lenross1]

thanks mate.

I did think of the second swing arm and that's part of the reason why my current arm extends to halfway over the tow hitch point (i.e. the centre). If I did decide to build the second arm then it should meet up in the middle.

Unfortunately I haven't had time to progress on the build. And stupid me did not cover the spindle and now there is some surface rust on it. I'll get back to it hopefully this w/e and add somemore pics.

Keep the pics coming! I am working on mine now as well.

 

[fj40z]

Keep the pics coming! I am working on mine now as well.

x 2. If I had any fab skills I would be all over this as well.

 

[joedm]

ok... I was able to spend some time today on my tyre carrier.

Started off by test fitting the latch. After a few different configurations, and mainly due to the size of the latch, I had to settle with a horizontal config.



Then I drilled some holes in some square plate:



And then cut off some excess corners (yeah I know it's different from my original sliding design but i figured that I could just make an extension onto it if I needed):



Added some bracing - gusset plate style:



Tacked up and test fitting yet again:



Here it is all welded up:



And now with the tyre on




ok, the plan for tomorrow is:

1. finish welding the ends for the square tubing
2. weld support for latch.
3. weld latch and locking plate.
4. remove plastic bumper and weld more bracing for the spindle.
5. Clean and prime!!!

As per number 4, when test fitting with the tyre, I noticed some movement when applying pressure horizontally on the tyre. Could be the spindle or could be the fact that the locking mechanism was not finished and not latched, however just to be sure I will be removing the plastic bumper and adding more bracing to the angle and the spindle.

Stay tuned

 

[fj40z]

Looks good!

 

[metaljong]

Where are you going to put your license plate? You'll be up for a yellow sticker for sure if you don't move it.

 

[joedm]

Where are you going to put your license plate? You'll be up for a yellow sticker for sure if you don't move it.

hehe...

Yes I thought of that previously but wasn't too sure about what I would prefer.
I've seen cruisers with the number plate attached to the arm under the tyre but not sure whether I like that idea.

I was always going to use a bit of aluminium flat bar to extend the number plate out to the side, just until I decided on a more permanent idea... that may end up being the permanent option

Anyway, got everything done today except for the priming...
will have to continue tomorrow.

Also, in one of my previous posts I mentioned a bit of movement in the carrier.
This is what I was talking about:



It only moves if I put pressure... I can move it back and forth within an inch. Having said that, I went for a short drive over speed bumps etc. and the carrier doesn't even budge at all. I put it down to the fact that there is no movement/give whatsoever in the up-down direction as the tyre carrier rests largely on the rear bumper (through tow point) and partly on the spindle (which I reinforced today).

Anyone else have this type of flex in their carriers? whether aftermarket or diy?

 

[jlbuk]

The OEM (JDM) version uses a receiver and catch mounted on the rear door, which makes things much stronger and more secure (instead of all the force going back to the main hinge). I'd definately want something like that in place given the option. Sitting on the bumper/hitch is fine, but leaves the top relatively free. OEM catch is almost central to the wheel.

 

[joedm]

yeah I was considering the OEM version as an option however it required the extra bracing in the rear pillar that mine didn't have.

Apparently in some countries the LC's shipped with the extra bracing from the factory. Obviously not in Australia.

Anyway, managed to get the extra bracing on today.
I still need to put another bolt into the brace.
yes I know... looks ugly but it's all covered up by the plastic bumper...

Here it is all primed up.

 

[jlbuk]

Yep, there is bracing under the corners - but I wasn't refering so much to these as the concept of having the tailgate mounted lock/receiver to support the wheel centrally.

Nice build BTW

 

[lenross1]

Interested in how & where u mount the latch. I am fitting a swing away tire carrier to my kaymar bumper. I got the swing arm from man-a- fre. It's made to fit over stock bumper. I had trouble finding a spindle & bearings to match what came on kaymar bumper. This one come with 2 sets of bearings. Just need to find a mounting point that will fit my needs.

 

[joedm]

You probably need to make a hole in the kaymar bumper and weld the spindle into the hole.

As for the latch, I've mounted mine as below:

 

[lenross1]

You probably need to make a hole in the kaymar bumper and weld the spindle into the hole.

As for the latch, I've mounted mine as below:

fortunately the spindle was already welded to bumper when i got it! bonus! thanks for the pic of the latch really helps out.

 

[joedm]

I'm sooooo..... glad!!!!

I finally finished this project.

Ended up using a gas strut which I think is a bit overkill...

Cable routing:

Closeup of numberplate holder and lock/theft deterrent.

more pics:



The finished job:

Thanks to you guys on this forum and your great designs and ideas, and thanks to those who gave me feedback.

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Looks killer! I really think IPOR, Slee, 4x4labs, or others should design somthing along these lines for guys like me on a budget. I don't rockcrawl or anything, I just need clearance so the stupid tire doesn't catch on snow or ruts.
Great job man!

TK

 

[KurtKuhn]

Nicely done!

-KK

 

[joebarbarian1]

Original, yet modified!... I like the look!! ..Keep up the good work!... I really like the way you try and stay stock looking(CLEAN)..yet meet your off roading requirement needs. NICE!

Joeb