To Swing or Not to Swing… (1 Viewer)

[FIDO96]

All you swingers who like to put in the bumper, sell me on this being the best way to go. Right now mine is on the bottom and just lays there until it has to be used.

I get it’s sexy when it’s tight and hugs the body. Looks are important. Some people really like having a big bumper capable of hauling a lot of junk, but simple can be great too. But let’s be honest, none of us like OEM as much as we do the big and over-sized aftermarket ones. At some point is it a hassle having to work it each and everytime you want something or just need to get inside for a few seconds. And when you do have the rare chance to take it for a spin, does it suck dealing with it afterwards. Usually you just want to roll it away and deal with it later.

So tell me, is putting your spare tire on a bumper swing-arm worth it, or should I just leave it how God intended. On her back and underneath.

 

[BILT4ME]

All you swingers who like to put in the bumper, sell me on this being the best way to go. Right now mine is on the bottom and just lays there until it has to be used.

I get it’s sexy when it’s tight and hugs the body. Looks are important. Some people really like having a big bumper capable of hauling a lot of junk, but simple can be great too. But let’s be honest, none of us like OEM as much as we do the big and over-sized aftermarket ones. At some point is it a hassle having to work it each and everytime you want something or just need to get inside for a few seconds. And when you do have the rare chance to take it for a spin, does it suck dealing with it afterwards. Usually you just want to roll it away and deal with it later.

So tell me, is putting your spare tire on a bumper swing-arm worth it, or should I just leave it how God intended. On her back and underneath.

I don't have a tire swing out, but I do use a wheelchair lift swing out.

This is the reason I will never do a tire swing out.

It's a huge PITA to release it, seeing out, open your gate, get a Chiclet, close the gate, close the swing out, and lock it down again.

The wheelchair lift is even fancier that the tires ones because it has an actual latch, but you must safety pin it every time, so about equal.

As often as I get in the back of my truck, it's a hell no to a swing out for me. Yeah, it looks cool, but that's about it unless you're doing serious off roading that you need it up there.

There are a few on here that will remove the swing out unless they're going on a trip.

 

[CruiserDave]

On my dobinsons rear bumper i only have to open the tire swing out to open the top part of the hatch. For me it was worth it to keep from banging the tire on the ground while on the trail. Now that I have 35" tires no way would I keep it underneath the truck. You lose way to much ground clearance

 

[thegadgetguy]

When I am on the trail camping and I need the room inside and clearance underneath, it's great. 100% of the rest of the time it is just annoying.

 

[Mark W]

A spare tire under the rig is a terrible idea if you need it anywhere but on pavement. Regardless of what Mr Toyoda might have thought, that space is intended for extra fuel tanks and/or rear winches.

Rear bumper swing outs are a little bit PITA when you have to get into the rear of the rig on any regular basis in your daily grocery getting routine.

Tire repair kits are cheap and easy to use.

Take the tire/swing out off when you are playing at being Clark Kent and know that you can deal with 99.999% of the flat tire scenarios you may encounter within that environment without need to swap the tire/wheel.

When it is time to road trip or trail ride, put the swingarm and tire back on and go leap all those tall buildings.

Mark...

 

[CharlieS]

Agree, underneath is a clearance killer. I have had swingouts, always in the way. Good for offroad clearance, horrible in every other way. I like the Bellfab internal tire carrier a lot for my 80.

 

[bicycleagent003]

I've considered a swing out for years and concluded I don't want to spend the money, add the weight, or deal with the inconvenience. I'm an overlander/explorer. If I were a rock crawler, I'd get a swing out. Just my two cents.

 

[Idaho Savage]

Another place that under tires suck is in snow. They drag in deep snow and are anchors should you slide off the road. Also, have fun dealing with it if you need your spare and it's coated in black ice.

That said, swing outs are indeed a pain in the ass. I have a sing swing out with an easy latch and that definitely makes it easier.

 

[Mark W]

Agree, underneath is a clearance killer. I have had swingouts, always in the way. Good for offroad clearance, horrible in every other way. I like the Bellfab internal tire carrier a lot for my 80.

In my world, my interior space is much more valuable to me than any exterior stowage. My rear seat is set aside for the dog (only one these days and only 50lbs, but he still needs some room) and whatever daily gear that may be along on any trip whether it is a run into town or a day on the road. The area behind the back seat cargo barrier holds the more serious gear. I use the rig beyond errands and grocery getting enough that I always have at least 125-150 lbs of tools, parts and maintenance supplies, another 50 lbs or so of recovery gear and around probably about the same amount in terms of "people stuff"... Seasonal clothes and gear, backpacks, emergency rations and water and stuff like that. Some gear that is "seasonally always" in the rig would be snow chains, snow shoes cold weather overclothes and stuff along those lines. In terms of volume, all of this comes out to *about* the equivalent of about maybe 10 milk crates. I try to keep it all loaded as low as I can so as to not impact visibility out the back nay more than I have to. The majority of the above mentioned junk is actually in the rig full time. When I head out into the field, or even just up the highway out of town, there will be more (coolers, stove, tent and sleeping bags more clothes... whatever.

Point being... Stowing a 35 inch tire in the rig is a non-starter for me. It is outside or not at all. Running around town every day, "not at all" and keep the tire kit in the rig is what works for me. Even some highway runs get that approach. Longer runs that take me over rougher roads or into the back country... or just into the middle of the emptiness in the middle of winter... the spare goes too. Just not inside.

I've considered a swing out for years and concluded I don't want to spend the money, add the weight, or deal with the inconvenience. I'm an overlander/explorer. If I were a rock crawler, I'd get a swing out. Just my two cents.

To my way of thinking Road Tripping is where the swing out shines. I mean, the bumper is to protect the rig from collision damage more than anything else (those stupid plastic covers over the corners do nothing of course and by the time a tailgater contacts that rear crossmember that the Japanese designers felt was enough "bumper" you are already ****ed), so the weight and the cost have already happened.

When you hit the road, put the swing out on to carry the spare. It is not like the extra effort to get into the back of the rig a couple/few times a day for a few days... or even a couple of weeks/a month is gonna detract from your fun to any real degree or be the type of aggravation it would be running around town chores day in and day out.
Even if you do not have a fuel tank or winch under the butt end of the rig... have you ever really LOOKED at how big a 35 inch tire is hanging down back there?!?!?!

Mark...

 

[smorkington]

how often do you open the trunk?

 

[Shoredreamer]

My 80 does all things but is built as a backcountry adventure 4x4 and part time wheeler.
I remember back when I purchased my rear bumper and carrier the reasons were:
-35” tire doesnt fit under the truck (even if it did it really is low hanging and can get destroyed when off roading)
-I wanted some reassurance that in a minor rear end collision I’d have minimal damage
-my 2nd kid was on the way and we needed maximum storage so we moved water out of the interior
-safest place to stow extra gas cans, propane, hi lift

With that said, yes it does add some hassle when needing to grab something in back and it does add lots of weight to your cruiser. Side gullwing windows help by allowing you access to both sides without opening the back of the truck. Slippery slope haha

 

[CharlieS]

In my world, my interior space is much more valuable to me than any exterior stowage.

Space isn't really an issue for me. Here it is unloaded.

 

[NeverFinis]

The proposition of this thread was to Sell OP on a swing out. Rubs me the wrong way and I wasn't going to respond but here I am responding to replies, not to OP

What are people using for swing outs that is such a pain to open or close? I mean, I can open and close my @Delta VS swing out, with a 35" tire mounted, with one finger. I think my 4 yo grandson can close and open the swing out latch on the bumper.

I have opened my swing outs probably hundreds of times while working on my truck. Never once have I thought it was hassle.

The spare tire had to go from its stock location because I am running an Aux Fuel Tank there.

I have drawer slides, and a refrigerator inside. This rules out putting the spare inside.

Nothing about looking "Sexy". It is all about function.

 

[CharlieS]

I ran a Dissent on my 200 for a long time. It isn't that it is hard as in difficult, it is just extra hassle when used on a day to day basis (especially in and out a lot with kid activities). And isn't a one handed operation (at least it wasn't on mine). Plus if you use it in any parallel parking situations, you need more room to access the cargo area.

 

[mudgudgeon]

What are people using for swing outs that is such a pain to open or close? I mean, I can open and close my @Delta VS swing out, with a 35" tire mounted, with one finger. I think my 4 yo grandson can close and open the swing out latch on the bumper.

There it is.

Many swing outs are poorly designed/ cheaply made.
They can be designed and built to operate easily.
Gas struts, and single action latch release/automatic closing latches make a big difference.
The price of some of these is more than most cruisers!

With a well designed latch, you still have 3 or 4 actions to get into the back. Release swing out, swing out swing out, pop the upper tailgate, lower the tailgate.
3 actions to close it all. Slam tailgate, slam upper hatch, slam swing out. Done.

Then open it all agaiin, coz you forgot


I built a swingout for a previous rig that had the pivot axle leaned outward a few degrees, the weight of the tire would automatically make the arm swing out, and stay open even with a slight slope.
It needed some refinement. It required more effort to push it closed.
I had intended to add a bear claw double locking burst proof latch on it (same locking action as your car door, with a single action to release it) but the rig went on to drive sunny trails in the sky before it happened.
This type of latch makes it a one handed operation for anyone to open/ close.
They can also reduce rattles.
Just take a bit more effort to set up than a crude over centre lever type latch

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

I went with dual swings and short bars so when they're swung open, they don't extend much beyond the tailgate and I can still have access when parked in the city

Had planned on installing short gas struts, but never really felt the need

 

[jonheld]

So you're saying that the extra 7 seconds it takes to open my dual swingouts to access the rear cargo area is a problem?
You folks must really be in a hurry.
FWIW, I have no issues with getting in and out of the rear cargo area, my wife has no issues with being able to open and close them and has never complained. Although she does struggle with closing the lower tailgate due to all the crap I keep in there.

Slow down and enjoy the little things.