Swing Out Tire Carrier with 60 Stock Bumper (2 Viewers)

[gvtxcruiser]

I've searched extensively for folks that have made a custom swing out tire carrier for their 60 series, while maintaining their stock chrome bumper. I've seen some good YouTube videos, but they pretty much just provide help with the fabrication work itself. Corsetti Cruisers has a build that they've fab'd a tire carrier with the stock bumper, but it doesn't show much on how they did it. Their build looks like the black bumper endcap is actually fab'd out of metal, and the spindle is welded to the end cap, and the cap is bolted to the bumper through the stock bumper bolt holes. It's cool, but there's no way that I can fab that level of piece.

I was able to mount a winch on the front of my cruiser, while mantaining the stock chrome bumper, and only pushing the bumper out by 2 3/4", then cutting the top of the bumper around the winch. Worked great. Winch mounted on 60 series with stock bumper

Now, it's time for the back. This may be a long thread, as I mock up the build, and then work evenings and weekends to complete the build. But, I hope at least that it helps others, the way this forum has helped me. Or, maybe I can get some feedback.

So, here goes. . . .

 

[gvtxcruiser]

The worst part of this project so far, has been removing the rear bumper. The rig has a trailer hitch receiver on it, that I have no idea when it went on. I'ts safe to say that the bumper has not been removed since then. That being said, the bolts were complete locked up and rusted. I used a number of products to help break them free, but in the end, i used an angle grinder and cut the bolts off. I scored the top of the chrome domed carriage bolts in the top of the bumper, and unfortunately scored the chrome in the bumper a little. But, it's 40 years old, so I think I'll live with it.

So the bumper is off, but that opens up some more 40 year old "problems". The frame behind the bumper is rusted a bit, so I will need to reinforce it with some flat stock, or some rectangle tubing, when I start the actual fab work. But also, due to the age, and rust, I am going to take the opportunity to clean up the frame and undercarriage and spray it with something like Eastwood Rust Encapsulator. I'll try and show some of that in this thread, or make another one. Also, one of the bumper brackets is rusted and weakened more than I want, so I will consider that during the fab process.

 

[gvtxcruiser]

Just sharing the following sketch in case it is of any value to anyone else. I sketched up a couple of options for the build. One is similar to what the Corsetti build looks like, where the endcap is actually the structural piece. I have resolved to that NOT being the direction that I can go. The other one is using rectagular tubing, and welding it to the frame, where the bumper brackets are. That is what I have started fab'ing up with wood and PVC, prior to pulling the trigger on welding.

 

[gvtxcruiser]

Next step, for me, is to mock up the spindle for the driver side tire carrier (jerry can on the passenger side). I cut some scrap lumber to mimic a 2x5 rectangular tubing. I've seen a couple spindles, one on Amazon and at TMR. Both have a 1 1/2" base shaft and the top is about the size of an aluminum can. So, I used a 1 1/2" pvc and an aluminum can to mimic the spindle for now. My thoughts are to weld the tubing to the bumper bracket/frame, cutting a window out of the backside of the tubing for access to install bumper bolts. I also cut the end of the tubing at an angle to fit inside the bumper end caps.
As for the endcaps themselves, since my are pretty much shot. The bolt assemblies on the backs are totally rusted out. So, I think I'm going to try and cut the top of the endcaps to fit over the spindle, and then come up with a nice way to bolt them in place.

 

[gvtxcruiser]

For the tire carrier itself, I am thinking 2x3 tubing. For my mock-up, I used a piece of 2x3 lumber, (which means it will be 1/2" smaller in each dimension.)

I am currently running 33x12.5x15 Toyo Open Country MTs. They look great on the truck. They stand 33" high. I am setting the carrier up for up to a 34" high tire, based on where it shows on the bumper, at the tail light and through the window. I ran the vertical support for the carrier to be just a tad bit taller than the tire, in case i want to put a platform or something on it.
The carrier tubing will not be welded "on center" of the spindle, but rather justified to the outside. This is the only way I can ensure that the carrier doesn't hit to tailgate. I have some foam material zip-tied to it to ensure my spacing. I also have a 1 1/2" spacer between the bumper and the carrier.

 

[IronNam]

I like where this is going.
I'll probably do something similar, but I do want to retain use the original Toyota bumper endcaps.

 

[gvtxcruiser]

I like where this is going.
I'll probably do something similar, but I do want to retain use the original Toyota bumper endcaps.

Agreed. That’s my ultimate plan as well. I just need to come up with a means of attachment that does t look like Frankenstein.