I've been messing with ideas for the (I.e., my) ultimate rear bumper, and especially the various carriers. The spare is the biggest challenge. All things seem to respond to that solution. I could roof mount it ala my Wilderness System rack, but that gets removed, is for hauling lumber, etc.
My design concerns/goals are:
- on road retention of rear visibility*
- fits a 37"
- keep weight low for wheeling*
- retain max departure angle (i.e., set by the base custom bumper I have)*
- ladder access up top
- full opening of rear hatch without moving tire if desired*
- mount at least 10gal water + 10gal fuel + straps box + Trasheroo
- my wife or teens can operate it
How's that for a holy grail of criteria?
I think if you've played this design game you've also dreamt of achieving a lot of these. And likely then compromised at least one of the asterisked "major" items.
So here's my latest (and so far only viable) strategy: swing/pivot up tire carrier that mounts to a fixed structure.
Has anyone done/seen such a thing?
My drawings so far use a tube frame welded to the bumper side wings, going up over to do the same on the other side. The crossmembers create the attachment/pivot pt. The spare thus car ride horizontally up there (just high enough for hatch to open) OR be swung down to get a lower CG. The pivot pt isn't in the tire's center to achieve this.
The tube frame has steps to create the ladder and add rigidity.
A low swing away is used to bear the other items. It uses Rotopax units to stay slim/retain departure angle. A top mounted removable Jerry can mount can carry the other (only rarely needed) extra fuel/water.
So with the tire swung up and low swing away you can still see out and open the hatch when doing DD duty.
Thoughts? Examples to share? Sorry I don't yet have my sketches scanned...resorting to words is a weak alternative, I know.
RTC
My design concerns/goals are:
- on road retention of rear visibility*
- fits a 37"
- keep weight low for wheeling*
- retain max departure angle (i.e., set by the base custom bumper I have)*
- ladder access up top
- full opening of rear hatch without moving tire if desired*
- mount at least 10gal water + 10gal fuel + straps box + Trasheroo
- my wife or teens can operate it
How's that for a holy grail of criteria?
I think if you've played this design game you've also dreamt of achieving a lot of these. And likely then compromised at least one of the asterisked "major" items.
So here's my latest (and so far only viable) strategy: swing/pivot up tire carrier that mounts to a fixed structure.
Has anyone done/seen such a thing?
My drawings so far use a tube frame welded to the bumper side wings, going up over to do the same on the other side. The crossmembers create the attachment/pivot pt. The spare thus car ride horizontally up there (just high enough for hatch to open) OR be swung down to get a lower CG. The pivot pt isn't in the tire's center to achieve this.
The tube frame has steps to create the ladder and add rigidity.
A low swing away is used to bear the other items. It uses Rotopax units to stay slim/retain departure angle. A top mounted removable Jerry can mount can carry the other (only rarely needed) extra fuel/water.
So with the tire swung up and low swing away you can still see out and open the hatch when doing DD duty.
Thoughts? Examples to share? Sorry I don't yet have my sketches scanned...resorting to words is a weak alternative, I know.
RTC
