Which tire carrier for a '76 is best, in your opinion? Tube, box-type, none?
Tire Carrier preference?
- Thread starter Vae Victus
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Stock?
What size tire you plan in putting on it. Might help with the advice you get
What size tire you plan in putting on it. Might help with the advice you get
You'll have to redrill at least two of the 8 holes if you switch from the original box type to the tube carrier. The tube carrier is a bit lighter, but is not a huge upgrade, IMO.
Tire size is the key. A 33x9.5 is about as big as I would go with a stock carrier.
Tire size is the key. A 33x9.5 is about as big as I would go with a stock carrier.
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- #4
Probably in that range. 32x10.5 is likely what will be on this.
The one advantage I can see is the tube style uses a pad on the rear sill while earlier box style goes on the door which normally dents the door and rattles.
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- #6
What years were each of the two types stock?
Let's not forget the holes you will need to drill in the rear sill for the latch and bump stop. I did it in my build thread and since have reverted back to a panel style door with my new to me rig. Overall it is about what you want and if you are willing to drill the new holes to accommodate it.
My '75 has the panel style on the driver's side. It's currently not attached because I don't have a spare tire anyway, and running around with an empty rim bolted to the carrier is a little 
even for me.
even for me.
That would be correct. The ambulance doors started with the 75 model and to work the tire carrier needed to be on the left. THe very few soft top imported in 75 still the carrier on the right but also had a tailgate so which side didn't matter.
Why did you choose to go back to the panel type instead of the tube? I always figured the tube better then the panel on my 76.
Long story in summary: I installed the wrong rear sill on my 75 which forced me to go to the tube style (which I do like better) thus only drilling two new holes to support the top hinge. I also had to shorten the tube where the latch is mounted by roughly 2 inches. I liked the way it looked and the way it secured the spare tire.
Move to current day: the 76 I acquired has a pristine tub that I did not want to drill into and the original sill is in such great shape I did not want to hack it up.
Move to current day: the 76 I acquired has a pristine tub that I did not want to drill into and the original sill is in such great shape I did not want to hack it up.
Tire Carrier
You don't mention how you use your rig. If you do any wheelin' on a regular basis, get it off the tub. Unless you are a purist or doing a resto, no good usually comes from the tire carrier being mounted on the tub. Frame mounted carriers are (IMHO) a better option.
You don't mention how you use your rig. If you do any wheelin' on a regular basis, get it off the tub. Unless you are a purist or doing a resto, no good usually comes from the tire carrier being mounted on the tub. Frame mounted carriers are (IMHO) a better option.
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- #14
You don't mention how you use your rig. If you do any wheelin' on a regular basis, get it off the tub. Unless you are a purist or doing a resto, no good usually comes from the tire carrier being mounted on the tub. Frame mounted carriers are (IMHO) a better option.
Not wheeling - more of a restoration long term. Prob stick to more of period correct carrier. Still deciding though. Will be adding PS and RDBs so it won't be "pure". Could argue for tube therefore.
There's one for sale by a mudder, so trying to decide.
The 40's tire rack design changed in August of 1976. Went from the door style to a tube style, mounted on the drivers side. In December 1974 to January of 1975 the rack went from the passenger side to the drivers side. My tub is an October 1976 ,it came with the tube style carrier.
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- #16
So - asking everyone in general - in terms of model year accuracy for a restoration, would a purchaser desire the Door Style tire carrier (as was used in 10/75 on my "1976" model year), or would they prefer the better designed, more structurally sound and easier on the body, but inaccurate by 10 months, Tube Style that started in 8/76?
I'm not putting OEM stickers in the engine bay. We are not to that level of restoration (today).
From what I have read in your other threads, it seems like you are going for something of a "weekend fun" rig, with a stock look, but modern amenities. You've mentioned several times this won't be a concourse resto. All that said, I think it would be safe to "upgrade" to the admittedly superior tube-style mount (or a swing out rear bumper mount system with jerry can/beer cooler holder, for that matter).
Your rig will already be far enough away from "stock" to turn-off someone looking for a stock FJ40, so I think a few more tasteful updates wouldn't hurt.
I'm going to stick to my panel-style carrier, but that's because I have limited funds and mine is still in pretty good shape. I'm also only running 31's so it should be OK.
Your rig will already be far enough away from "stock" to turn-off someone looking for a stock FJ40, so I think a few more tasteful updates wouldn't hurt.
I'm going to stick to my panel-style carrier, but that's because I have limited funds and mine is still in pretty good shape. I'm also only running 31's so it should be OK.
Another thing to consider. Probably 80% of the people who see your truck, will think it's a Jeep. Of the 20% who know it's a Land Cruiser, only a very small fraction will know anything about the differences in models year over year. Pretty much only MUD members and other Cruiser Heads will know your truck missed the cutoff for the tube-style carrier by 10 months - and probably only a small portion of them will care. 
I've got the flat panel style, and would prefer the tube style for one of the reasons mentioned above. The flat panel flexes quite a bit and dents the door, I've never used the tube but it looks like it would be more ridgid with weight of a tire on there. The problem isn't big enough that I would make an effort to switch, but if starting from scratch that'd be my preference.
The advantage of the flat panels is that it's very easy to add spacers behind the tire bracket to accomodate wider tires, and I can get a matching carrier for the passenger side if I ever want to carry two tires.
The advantage of the flat panels is that it's very easy to add spacers behind the tire bracket to accomodate wider tires, and I can get a matching carrier for the passenger side if I ever want to carry two tires.
Another thing to consider might be that you have more of a restricted view with the spare on the passenger side if you're trying to back up. Might not be a big deal though.