Roof mounted spare?

[enricosonic]

I'm new to the FJ Cruiser world and have been considering a rear door mounted ladder. When looking, I noticed there was a differentiation between whether I have a rear-mounted or roof-mounted spare tire. This may have been a default question for all off-road vehicles, I don't know - but I haven't seen an FJC with a roof mounted spare yet. Can anyone give me some counseling? I'd be much obliged.

 

[woody]

mmmm....IMO, a spare mounted on the roof...

- looks silly...
- worsens fuel mileage with wind resistance
- raises your center of gravity
- makes it much less convenient to access when needed
- means you are tying it to the rack, and more likely to fly loose...
- looks silly...

keep the stock location spare mount....IMO...

 

[76FJ40]

Did Woody fail to mention that it looks silly? Oh, it also makes you look more like a poser.

 

[enricosonic]

Thanks Woody - I don't plan to mount my spare on the roof - I don't even understand the benefit of that. Your succinct list of 'opinions' successfully point out the drawbacks of a roof-mounted spare.

 

[enricosonic]

Okay, let's see: silly... poser... yup, that's the look I'm going for. Maybe I should have named this thread 'FJC rear ladder'. I've convinced myself - and my wife - that our family and all our gear will fit in this thing - and it will as long as I make good use of the roof rack. I figure a ladder will help me access the contents up there while we're stopped. So I can dig around for my daughter's stuffed animal without untying and removing baggage from a carrier. Or maybe access my stash of cigars or whiskey flask.

 

[enricosonic]

...

 

[adso]

Okay, let's see: silly... poser... yup, that's the look I'm going for. Maybe I should have named this thread 'FJC rear ladder'. I've convinced myself - and my wife - that our family and all our gear will fit in this thing - and it will as long as I make good use of the roof rack. I figure a ladder will help me access the contents up there while we're stopped. So I can dig around for my daughter's stuffed animal without untying and removing baggage from a carrier. Or maybe access my stash of cigars or whiskey flask.

Not that the rear window is useful in any meaningful sense, but the ladders I've seen block the rear window from opening.

 

[enricosonic]

That's what I understand and then I asked myself - 'have I opened that window since I tried it out the first time?' I'm sure there are reasons why I may want that window open but they escape me now. Your right, it's not particularly useful - or so it would seem. Thanks.

 

[woody]

the nice thing about that rear window is you gotta be outside to open it....well, when there's a ladder involved that's nice...lol

I've spotted the Gobi ladders on some rigs and they look pretty clean....not sure of anyone else making them tho...

 

[inthewall]

When I access the roof rack I open rear door and step onto the rear deck or bumper. The only reason I would put a spare on the roof is if the rear door became worn out from the weight of the spare. I can see that happening in the future

 

[LandCruisers4Life]

I am surprised that ARB doesn't offer a rear ladder to go along with their racks. Everyone will be going here and there for everything instead of buying one brand. When I get my ARB roof rack, I will probably look at the Gobi Ladder.

It's common in Australia to throw a couple of spares on the rack, or put a couple on the rear of the vehicle, or both. The spare on the hood of the vehicle always 'looked' cool, but isn't any good to see where you're going!

If I were going somewhere REALLY remote, I might carry two spares. In that case one would be on the rear, and one on the rack.

 

[Blind]

The Cruiser's roofs arnt that strong, If you mount a spare on top you probley wouldnt be able to put anything else up there.

 

[chrismmm]

if u are deadset on puttin that damn thing on your roof. get the ladder too. you wont regret it.

 

[gearguywb]

The Cruiser's roofs arnt that strong, If you mount a spare on top you probley wouldnt be able to put anything else up there.

Where did you get that from? It's not the strength of the "roof" but of the rack and attachment points that count. If you can put a RTT and 2-3 people in it it had better hold more than the weight of a spare tire.

 

[Kona Joe]

Looks silly on the roof, unless you have one of these.


http://www.unicat.net/en/index2-Individual.html


I want one!!!