Rancho tire carrier
#21
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: suffolk,ny
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Very cool.
Thanks for the tip on the latch.
I was thinking about cutting the top tab off and using a clasp style latch to hold the carrier to the bumper.
Pretty much letting my fabricator figure it out. lol
My hi-lift didnt have bolts welded to it. One side (closest to the hinge) had a threaded holes that took one of the high grade bolts, and the other side had a slotted bracket welded to it, and I used the 50mm high grade bolt, nut, washer, lock washer to mount it up.
Really solid surprisingly. I put a hose clamp around the handle to the bar as well. So nothing rattles.
I don't care that I need a 3/4" socket to remove the hi-lift. The lug wrench works fine, and at least it's some sort of security for it.
I should actually use a locking wheel lug for the bolt side of the hi-lift just like my spare tire.
And yes, I'm in Suffolk county, LI.
It's my wife's daily driver 07 Red unlimited.
I'll post some pix tonight.
I don't wheel it since I have an 01 Xterra on 35's that's modded quite a bit more than her truck. And it doesn't need to be reliable or be dent free. lol
Thanks for the tip on the latch.
I was thinking about cutting the top tab off and using a clasp style latch to hold the carrier to the bumper.
Pretty much letting my fabricator figure it out. lol
My hi-lift didnt have bolts welded to it. One side (closest to the hinge) had a threaded holes that took one of the high grade bolts, and the other side had a slotted bracket welded to it, and I used the 50mm high grade bolt, nut, washer, lock washer to mount it up.
Really solid surprisingly. I put a hose clamp around the handle to the bar as well. So nothing rattles.
I don't care that I need a 3/4" socket to remove the hi-lift. The lug wrench works fine, and at least it's some sort of security for it.
I should actually use a locking wheel lug for the bolt side of the hi-lift just like my spare tire.
And yes, I'm in Suffolk county, LI.
It's my wife's daily driver 07 Red unlimited.
I'll post some pix tonight.
I don't wheel it since I have an 01 Xterra on 35's that's modded quite a bit more than her truck. And it doesn't need to be reliable or be dent free. lol
#22
JK Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,319
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jeep or not, come by tomorrow night. It's our monthly meeting, part of Long Island Off Road. We do lots of wheeling in PA, NJ, NH, MA, and CT every month. We have 60+ members, with Jeeps, and some without. We love anyone who wheels their rig, period.
http://www.liorclub.org/
Uncle Joe's Pizza
2854 Middle Country Rd
Lake Grove, NY
(631) 981-0690
7PM tomorrow night if you are interested in good wheeling/rock crawling.
-Dimitri
http://www.liorclub.org/
Uncle Joe's Pizza
2854 Middle Country Rd
Lake Grove, NY
(631) 981-0690
7PM tomorrow night if you are interested in good wheeling/rock crawling.
-Dimitri
#23
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: suffolk,ny
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jeep or not, come by tomorrow night. It's our monthly meeting, part of Long Island Off Road. We do lots of wheeling in PA, NJ, NH, MA, and CT every month. We have 60+ members, with Jeeps, and some without. We love anyone who wheels their rig, period.
http://www.liorclub.org/
Uncle Joe's Pizza
2854 Middle Country Rd
Lake Grove, NY
(631) 981-0690
7PM tomorrow night if you are interested in good wheeling/rock crawling.
-Dimitri
http://www.liorclub.org/
Uncle Joe's Pizza
2854 Middle Country Rd
Lake Grove, NY
(631) 981-0690
7PM tomorrow night if you are interested in good wheeling/rock crawling.
-Dimitri
I am a member of LIOR. Just haven't participated in a long time.
I've been wheeling with Nexterra (also a participating club in ECA4WDC)
I'll probably be attending the ECA4WDC meeting this month representing them.
#25
UPDATE:
I installed the bumper saturday.
Surprisingly EVERYTHING cooperated.
The old bumper came off easily.
The new bumper lined up PERFECTLY even with the factory trailer hitch in place.
No washers need at all.
Drilled out the two holes in the frame for the crush sleeves without issues.
Everything lined back up to install the bumper.
The tire carrier required some "adjustment" with a 4x4 in order for the bushings to fit inside the tabs.
After beating it up (without messing up the powdercoat), everything fit nicely with no rattles or play.
The only tricky and pain in the ass part of the install is the latch.
It is TERRIBLE!!!
I couldn't get the pin to align properly, so it took the use of a 1/2" drill bit, mini-sledge hammer, and a lot of trial and error.
It still doesn't work the way I'd like, but it's 100% better and will definitely get better over time as it wears in.
I chopped the endcaps off the old stock bumper and got them to fit pretty well.
I kept the brackets attached to the bumper and used a straight edge to find where I was chopping.
Put some electrical tape where the cut needed to be and used a sawsall with an 8" demo blade.
Cut through it like butter. Cleaned it up a little bit and they bolted right on with no gap.
The hi-lift bolted on with no issues at all. Everything lined up perfectly.
You need to open the tire carrier all the way in order to open the tailgate to 90 degrees.
The plastic hinge cover contacts the base of the hi-lift when open fully.
Without the hi-lift installed. Both will open fully, but the bolt that holds the hilift will hit the metal part of the hatch, causing a small dent and chipped paint. (don't ask me how I know)..
I'll upload pix later tonight.
I took a bunch from all different angles.
The 285/75r16's on Mickey Thompson Classic Lock rims (5 on 4.5 bolt pattern) fit perfectly without the need for longer hardware or the spacer.
I will be taking this to my fabricator to see if he can design a better latching system, and create a mount for my 5lb CO2 tank and bracket. Maybe another bracket for a water tank.
I installed the bumper saturday.
Surprisingly EVERYTHING cooperated.
The old bumper came off easily.
The new bumper lined up PERFECTLY even with the factory trailer hitch in place.
No washers need at all.
Drilled out the two holes in the frame for the crush sleeves without issues.
Everything lined back up to install the bumper.
The tire carrier required some "adjustment" with a 4x4 in order for the bushings to fit inside the tabs.
After beating it up (without messing up the powdercoat), everything fit nicely with no rattles or play.
The only tricky and pain in the ass part of the install is the latch.
It is TERRIBLE!!!
I couldn't get the pin to align properly, so it took the use of a 1/2" drill bit, mini-sledge hammer, and a lot of trial and error.
It still doesn't work the way I'd like, but it's 100% better and will definitely get better over time as it wears in.
I chopped the endcaps off the old stock bumper and got them to fit pretty well.
I kept the brackets attached to the bumper and used a straight edge to find where I was chopping.
Put some electrical tape where the cut needed to be and used a sawsall with an 8" demo blade.
Cut through it like butter. Cleaned it up a little bit and they bolted right on with no gap.
The hi-lift bolted on with no issues at all. Everything lined up perfectly.
You need to open the tire carrier all the way in order to open the tailgate to 90 degrees.
The plastic hinge cover contacts the base of the hi-lift when open fully.
Without the hi-lift installed. Both will open fully, but the bolt that holds the hilift will hit the metal part of the hatch, causing a small dent and chipped paint. (don't ask me how I know)..
I'll upload pix later tonight.
I took a bunch from all different angles.
The 285/75r16's on Mickey Thompson Classic Lock rims (5 on 4.5 bolt pattern) fit perfectly without the need for longer hardware or the spacer.
I will be taking this to my fabricator to see if he can design a better latching system, and create a mount for my 5lb CO2 tank and bracket. Maybe another bracket for a water tank.
#26
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: suffolk,ny
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
yeah yeah yeah, I know I've been lazy with the pix. LOL
Here are some iphone pix.
I'll upload the higher res ones later tonight.
Nevermind my finger blocking the license plate. lol
Here are some iphone pix.
I'll upload the higher res ones later tonight.
Nevermind my finger blocking the license plate. lol
#29
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glad you guys are enjoying it! I put mine on about 6 weeks ago, and I'm still not sure how I like it. The bare corners really bug me (the plastic isn't any better, but at least I couldn't see them).
I've asked before, but AGAIN:
Anybody mod some heavy stock to attach to each of the 2 side mount bolts for corner protection?? 8" out, with some sort of cantilever support?
PS my only problem installing was getting the latch pin holes to line up, and a dremel made that easy. No rattles, tight fit, etc....
so-so pics:
I've asked before, but AGAIN:
Anybody mod some heavy stock to attach to each of the 2 side mount bolts for corner protection?? 8" out, with some sort of cantilever support?
PS my only problem installing was getting the latch pin holes to line up, and a dremel made that easy. No rattles, tight fit, etc....
so-so pics:
Last edited by wilywillie; 11-04-2009 at 06:45 PM.
#30
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Monroe, Connecticut
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts