Aftermarket/Custom Tire Carrier?

[Polka Dot]

Greetings everyone.

I'm still in the phase where I owe too much on my 03 TJ that I'm a bit gun shy when it comes to hitting serious trails and have yet to truly experience off roading in Arizona. Although, I have owned the typical Midwest rust bucket CJs and YJs that were fun in the mud and snow.

While building and planning for the near future when I become a little less concerned with body damage and my Lien, I am concerned with the benefits of an aftermarket/custom tire carrier and wanted everyones' input.

I purchased a custom fabricated front and rear bumpers a while back from from Steve's Jeep Fab (out of state) and opted for a rear bumper w/o the spare tire carrier. I am running BFG 33's atm and the spare's weight and size is similar.

What benefits have you found to be noticible on the rocky trails of AZ of a rear tire carrier similar to the set up of Warn's typical swing triangle with Jerry Can mounts on either side? Is it merely for looks or does it actually increase the functionality at all?

I really appreciate any and all opinions. If I decide to go this route, I'll probably have to find a local custom fabricator to modify my current rear bumper.

Thanks.

Dan

[jpotts]

Honestly, I am considering getting rid of my rear tire carrier. With the tire on it, it sticks out just far enough to hang my up on some rocks when climbing steep obstacles. It also increases the overall length of the Jeep, so it makes it harder to get in and out of many tight spots. One other thing is the extra weight of the tire can cause stress fractures in the rear crossmember.

I know several others on here who have removed them altogether. The problem then is whether to carry a tire or not. If you do, you lose rear passenger/cargo space. If you don't, you can get stuck with an irreparable tire on a trail.

[Xiled1]

I went with a tire carrier with Trail Rack and Gas Can holder combo. The carrier was a necessity since the rear cargo door was already starting to get bent out of shape with only a 31. I wanted the extra carrying capacity of the trail rack and gas can holders. The thing is, with a full load in the rack and two full gas cans, the jeep is way too heavy in the rear. I disliked the ride enough to remove the gas can holders. I will only use them when I absolutely need them. So something to consider when purchasing.

[Wayco]

Keeping this in your perspective, a custom rear tire carrier would be acceptable. Just the statement that you have yet to experience the trails in AZ gives me pause.... Even a stock Jeep can do forest roads without damage. There are thousands of miles of dirt roads in our state that can be wheeled with nothing more than some AZ pin striping to account for.
The length issue is only a factor when doing difficult trails, but we all pay a penalty for heavy rigs. I'm guilty of this, with all the armor on my Jeep, I get lousy gas mileage and probably push the max GVWR with just two people on board. That being said, I pay the price gladly for the security and function that the extra stuff gives me. Lots of hardcore wheelers hit trails without a spare, most of them are good enough with tire placement to come out unscathed. I'm not, my spare has been used twice in the last two years. Both were on 3.5 trails, and both were from poor tire placement.
I have a 35" spare on the back of my rig, and it occasionally affects the performance on the trails that I like to do. I wouldn't add more weight (like gas cans) to the rear of my Jeep because I'm already pushing the envelope of what I can carry now. There are several good fab shops that are forum sponsors that will do this job correctly, or you can buy a complete set-up and bolt it on yourself. Regardless of your route, you need to overcome this fear of offroading your Jeep. Get out and wheel it, we have lots of "stocker" runs that will introduce you to our world without the danger of breakage. Participating in these runs will allow you to see what others have and discuss what works and doesn't with people who are out there doing it. This is the best way to make these decisions. Posting up a question such as this on this board will give you all kinds of answers from all different perspectives, some of which are not relevant to your type of wheeling. Get out and pull the lever all the way back, you will learn more from that than all the "experienced" wheelers comments that you get here.
Don't be afraid of breaking it, it's a Jeep! Now pin striping, on the other hand, is inevitable.... :D

[Kelly P]

I went with a tire carrier with Trail Rack and Gas Can holder combo. The carrier was a necessity since the rear cargo door was already starting to get bent out of shape with only a 31. I wanted the extra carrying capacity of the trail rack and gas can holders. The thing is, with a full load in the rack and two full gas cans, the jeep is way too heavy in the rear. I disliked the ride enough to remove the gas can holders. I will only use them when I absolutely need them. So something to consider when purchasing.

Its good to take the weight off the tub, after a while the stock carrier will do some damage. Especially with the larger tires. I went with the bumper/tire carrier combo and am very happy with it.

[Polka Dot]

Thanks for the responses thus far. Just to clarify, I have taken this vehicle off road since I've owned it, but nothing that I would consider serious... The typical family drives up to 4-Peaks, Apache Trail run and some trails in the Slide Rock/Sedona area.

It's more the issue that it is still my daily driver and mechanical (not too concerned with cosmetic) breakdowns would put my family in a tough spot. I've broken U-Joints and stock axles before out East and on other rigs in the past.

My main concern with the tire carrier set up was the weight distribution and angle of incline limitations if I were to start tackling moderate rock crawling and more agressive trails, since at this time I am not seeing a whole lot of benefits from a swing tire carrier over the stock other than maybe a higher carrying capacity or cosmetic since at this time, the stock tire carrier seems to work just fine.

Thanks again folks.

Dan

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

I am in the same boat! My tire carrier is about to break carying a 37" tire around and hiting on the rocks. I need to find a way to move it up! With 33's your fine on the tailgate, just watch out for ledges..you will bend the stock gate with ease!

Jason

[GRUNT]

After years, my 31" spare was tearing up my tailgate... It will happen eventually. Unless you are getting crazy, crazy with wheeling you won't hang up your tire carrier. I got mine from 4Wheelers and I love it! It keeps the spare sitting high up. Contact Cole at 4Wheelers for info. After doing my research I was told tire carriers with 35" or smaller will not hurt your rear cross member, but going to 37 and up or add gas cans and it will eventually take its toll.

Actually I was going to say everything exactly and as articulately as Wayco but he beat me to it... Yeah, right....

[DesertX04]

I had a 33" spare on for over a year and it worked fine. I cut up some hockey pucks as to make spacers for the rubber isolators. That way the tire doesn't rattle. On the '03 and newer TJ's it should be fine. My 35" spare wouldn't fit w/the stock bumper so I purchased a bestop oversized tire carrier for considerably less than a bumper mounted carrier. I saw too many spare tires on bumper mounted carriers simply get pushed into the tailgate to waste money on one. I thought about just airing down my 35" spare to get it to fit on the spare tire carrier but thought that might be pushing it.

[Allen]

I'm building a rack to go on top of the tub. I want to carry a spare, but dont want the $400 bumper version. 35"s dont fit the stock carrier on the tailgate, so I'm relocating the stock tire carrier! I'll post pics when it's done!

[Stomper]

I have seen some nice set ups with spares in the rear tub. If jkdup and I did not have six dogs I would look into one. I never have the rear seat in anyway.

[lancetkenyon]

See here....

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=26512

[p14175]

One thing you might want to take into consideration when looking at aftermarket or custom swing-away tire carriers is how much they weigh -- and then how much the tire, jack, full gas/water cans, and whatever else you plan on carrying on the carrier weighs. In fact, it might be a good idea to figure out how much weight it might be carrying first. TJs don't have a lot of payload capacity.

Good luck!

[Texas]

I have a 33" on an extender deal attached to the tail gate. Tail gate still works, but you can tell it is starting to take its toll. So I'm looking to get a tire carrier so that I have a better bumper, angle of attack, and move the tire carrier off of the gate.

Unless you plan on getting crazy stupid, you'll be hard pressed to have your spare tire placement on a tire carrier be an issue. Then again, I got pics to show you how to do it...

[lancetkenyon]

I have a 33" on an extender deal attached to the tail gate. Tail gate still works, but you can tell it is starting to take its toll. So I'm looking to get a tire carrier so that I have a better bumper, angle of attack, and move the tire carrier off of the gate.

Unless you plan on getting crazy stupid, you'll be hard pressed to have your spare tire placement on a tire carrier be an issue. Then again, I got pics to show you how to do it...

I guess you have never wheeled with me or my crazy buddies.:D