Lately, there's been a lot of talk and threads on rear bumpers and swing out spare carriers & attachments. Let's hear opinions both ways on this. It might help some who are undecided to understand what's involved, both good & bad. I'll start:
Anybody that has had to deal with the stock spare setup on the 80 and other rigs that have a similar setup in bad weather or wet and sloppy road conditions can relate to my first reason to get spare out from under the rear: Convenience. Second: Room in two categories. 1. Ground clearance/departure angle. 2. Room to add an aux fuel tank or rear winch or both.
OK, so we got the spare out from underneath - What to do with it? Put it in luggage compartment or on roof rack? That's OK for short trips or outings where not much gear is carried or for temporary spare storage. But what about expedition type trips that require a more permanent and convenient place? Which brings us to the swing out rack either JDM or after market setups, hitch or bumper mounted. This was my dilemma until I sat down and reasoned it out.
My vote is for the rear bumper mounted swing out for these reasons: Strength, convenience, and room. Most after market bumpers with the spare swing out option are far stronger and offer better protection than the OEM setup including the JDM swing out body mounted spare tire holder. For having to change a flat, no option that I can think of puts the spare in a more convenient place, without intruding into the cargo area inside or on roof rack, than the swing out carrier. True, it can be inconvenient on a DD or grocery getter to have to deal with the swing out. This actually, I think, is the biggest hurdle most have to deal with when deciding on a swing out or not. Having a swing out, is a more efficient use of space or room. Some may also choose not to go swing out for extreme clearance purposes such as rock crawling requirements with departure angle.
One nice thing, that some may not have thought of with the spare on the swing out is it gives you a very convenient place to hang your tire chains after using them until they dry out or get washed off, if you've been using them in the mud. Just clip them on your spare when your done with them out on the trail, and if you need them again before you get home, they're right there. If not, leave them on until you get home to help keep the interior dryer and/or cleaner.
Let's hear your inputs!
Anybody that has had to deal with the stock spare setup on the 80 and other rigs that have a similar setup in bad weather or wet and sloppy road conditions can relate to my first reason to get spare out from under the rear: Convenience. Second: Room in two categories. 1. Ground clearance/departure angle. 2. Room to add an aux fuel tank or rear winch or both.
OK, so we got the spare out from underneath - What to do with it? Put it in luggage compartment or on roof rack? That's OK for short trips or outings where not much gear is carried or for temporary spare storage. But what about expedition type trips that require a more permanent and convenient place? Which brings us to the swing out rack either JDM or after market setups, hitch or bumper mounted. This was my dilemma until I sat down and reasoned it out.
My vote is for the rear bumper mounted swing out for these reasons: Strength, convenience, and room. Most after market bumpers with the spare swing out option are far stronger and offer better protection than the OEM setup including the JDM swing out body mounted spare tire holder. For having to change a flat, no option that I can think of puts the spare in a more convenient place, without intruding into the cargo area inside or on roof rack, than the swing out carrier. True, it can be inconvenient on a DD or grocery getter to have to deal with the swing out. This actually, I think, is the biggest hurdle most have to deal with when deciding on a swing out or not. Having a swing out, is a more efficient use of space or room. Some may also choose not to go swing out for extreme clearance purposes such as rock crawling requirements with departure angle.
One nice thing, that some may not have thought of with the spare on the swing out is it gives you a very convenient place to hang your tire chains after using them until they dry out or get washed off, if you've been using them in the mud. Just clip them on your spare when your done with them out on the trail, and if you need them again before you get home, they're right there. If not, leave them on until you get home to help keep the interior dryer and/or cleaner.
Let's hear your inputs!
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It made it off of the trail and the ~100 mile highway trip home, but could have been a real pickle. It was new years, so nobody open, we were in the middle of podunk, among 17 rigs his was the only one with that weird 5 bolt pattern, so were looking at swapping a tire onto one of his rims on the trail. On the same run a year ago that rig blew the front diff and had to be dragged off of the trail, big fun!
who don't even have 3rd rows 
. That's after she threatened to just leave it unlatched and let 'r buck. The point that I really hadn't put much credo to originally, was from wussyPup in post#7 about which side to put tire swing out on. When I ordered mine, I remembered seeing pics of the JDM and did the same. But I think you would have better visability if spare was behind driver. Good discussion so far! Let's hear some more. 
