spare tire carrier LATCH (4 Viewers)

[visike]

Doing some homework... as I've added the wedges to the body for the doors to better attach, I've reduced rattling to the point where I hear the spare tire carrier rattling around like crazy.
Looking at the piece of steel the carrier latches to, I can see someone has manually shaped it:

Can anyone take a picture of their latch plate/piece for comparison?

Also, what are these little loops for on the back door? they sit high like you could hang something, but the tire is in the way.

 

[Living in the Past]

Doing some homework... as I've added the wedges to the body for the doors to better attach, I've reduced rattling to the point where I hear the spare tire carrier rattling around like crazy.
Looking at the piece of steel the carrier latches to, I can see someone has manually shaped it:
View attachment 3989099
Can anyone take a picture of their latch plate/piece for comparison?

Also, what are these little loops for on the back door? they sit high like you could hang something, but the tire is in the way.View attachment 3989100

Loops are for attaching a factory soft top. Even hard tops had the option of adding a soft top.

 

[firemanj92]

 

[65swb45]

You have perhaps had a sill replacement, as your hook only has two of the four bolts that are required to properly secure it. You should investigate whether you have ordinary hardware behind the sill, or fixed hardware.

Does the latch slide easily into the hook at that location? Does the cam pull down solid in the groove?

On mine, even though it is still in the stock location, I welded up part of the groove and ground down part of the hook so that it would secure exactly where I wanted it to.

Your truck is Pollux orange, a color that was only used in 1973/74. Those tire carriers are weak compared to the 71 and older carriers, and wobble quite a bit with oversized spares, even when properly latched. I have often wondered if welding a diagonal brace across the backside of the carrier would help, but have never actually tried it.

Hth

Mark/marksoffroad.net

 

[SteveH]

Some folks weld metal back to those tire carrier hooks to add beef back to them that has worn away over the years. If you have a welder, it's not a big job. I suspect it's a 'weld-grind-testfit' - and repeat sequence, until it latches firmly.