Rugged Ridge XHD rear tire carrier latch
#51
XHD Tire Carrier Latch Failure
Hello, my XHD Tire Carried failed. The carrier swinged out and banged on the side of the vehicle, while in motion. No damages, but it has opened on more occasions.
I have a 2011 2Dr JK and installed the XHD bumpers with tyre carrier from new. Love them. Running 35" tires and 35" spare tire.
I purchased the tailgate/tire carrier linkage but feel it strains the tailgate, so I removed it. Feels like the tailgate piece should be bigger or have more support.
Now I have the tyre carried secured with a tie-down.
Can you assist with a replacement? The catch is I'm all the way in Mozambique, but I can cover the shipping costs. I know it's far out here.
I have a 2011 2Dr JK and installed the XHD bumpers with tyre carrier from new. Love them. Running 35" tires and 35" spare tire.
I purchased the tailgate/tire carrier linkage but feel it strains the tailgate, so I removed it. Feels like the tailgate piece should be bigger or have more support.
Now I have the tyre carried secured with a tie-down.
Can you assist with a replacement? The catch is I'm all the way in Mozambique, but I can cover the shipping costs. I know it's far out here.
#52
Ok I too recently got this unit and had the same problem, it doesn't latch at all and just flys open like the video. I ordered a few days ago so their is still defective latches out there. Anyways I got an entire replacement unit and took the latch off. The newer one (blacker) has less play in it and rests at a much better position than the old one, see below.
When lining them up you can see that the old one sits back further almost to the back of the plate itself.
Now the problem is that even after this my latch is still only held on by a few millimeters. It won't open but I'm not comfortable with that little of a catch preventing this thing from flying open on the road. Since I'm only allowed 5 attachments I'll write a follow up of what's going on.
When lining them up you can see that the old one sits back further almost to the back of the plate itself.
Now the problem is that even after this my latch is still only held on by a few millimeters. It won't open but I'm not comfortable with that little of a catch preventing this thing from flying open on the road. Since I'm only allowed 5 attachments I'll write a follow up of what's going on.
#53
So continuing this topic, both brackets are squeezed as close as the bolts will allow them to the be. I found it odd that the first latch catch came installed from the factory backwards. Ok fine someone just put it on wrong. Then I noticed the 2nd one came on installed backwards as well.
That's the side it comes from the factory mounted.
This is the direction it needs to face.
Notice how its off center by at least a 1/16". I'm starting to think that they were mounted in the wrong direction because they were drilled in the wrong direction. If this item was drilled 1/16 inch from center towards the inside of the vehicle instead of outside of the vehicle like it is, the whole mechanism would be attached much more secure. I'm thinking they were instructed to mount the catch facing the close side, it's just unfortunate that the close side is on the wrong side.
Anyways I'm starting to think I'd rather have a stainless steel U bolt locking latch assembly. I can always make a catch, but I wonder if theirs any latches out their that line up with the existing holes.
That's the side it comes from the factory mounted.
This is the direction it needs to face.
Notice how its off center by at least a 1/16". I'm starting to think that they were mounted in the wrong direction because they were drilled in the wrong direction. If this item was drilled 1/16 inch from center towards the inside of the vehicle instead of outside of the vehicle like it is, the whole mechanism would be attached much more secure. I'm thinking they were instructed to mount the catch facing the close side, it's just unfortunate that the close side is on the wrong side.
Anyways I'm starting to think I'd rather have a stainless steel U bolt locking latch assembly. I can always make a catch, but I wonder if theirs any latches out their that line up with the existing holes.
#54
FYI here is my solution to the warn off powder coating over time. I put a piece of stainless steel over the area, much like the chrome piece they have taped on the right side for the lock pin. I really wish they RR just provided one line this to match the right. Mines a little big because I didn't feel like making more than 1 cut today and that's the size of piece I had.
I also wish the lock pin had a spring to pull it down. I cut a junky one just to see how it works and it works great. Now to find either a high pressure one or do a better job at cutting the proper length.
I also wish the lock pin had a spring to pull it down. I cut a junky one just to see how it works and it works great. Now to find either a high pressure one or do a better job at cutting the proper length.
#55
As it turns out my problems we're all from a defective latch. Apparently I got 2 bad ones, one was better than the first but still bad. After sending videos of the play to RR they sent me out a new one and WOW is it a lot better. My carrier is now solid, there's no way its coming off now.
The difference is that the middle arm had slop in the pin hole, which was fixed in the second one. Plus the 2nd one was way beefier.
Left is the old defective one, Right is the good one. Center arm is much thicker.
Left is the old defective, Right is good one. The latch shouldn't push back, the good one is solid the old one moves back when force is applied.
This all came down to the center arm having an oval hole which allowed for the whole mechanism to move when pressure is applied.
So if your latch pushes back, then you've got a bad latch and I recommend you call them and send them photos.
I highly recommend RR's customer service dept. They are great.
The difference is that the middle arm had slop in the pin hole, which was fixed in the second one. Plus the 2nd one was way beefier.
Left is the old defective one, Right is the good one. Center arm is much thicker.
Left is the old defective, Right is good one. The latch shouldn't push back, the good one is solid the old one moves back when force is applied.
This all came down to the center arm having an oval hole which allowed for the whole mechanism to move when pressure is applied.
So if your latch pushes back, then you've got a bad latch and I recommend you call them and send them photos.
I highly recommend RR's customer service dept. They are great.
#56
Guess my XHD lasted longer than most but have the exact issue that has been highlighted by everyone else. I have called Omix and sent in trouble ticket with appropriate pictures and was told it would be 2-8 WEEKS before someone would be able to address due to COVID-19. It's an email and phone call for a known defective part, shouldn't take 2-8 Weeks to look at an email that everyone working remotely can accomplish and send another email to service to send out the new part.
#57
Problem with latch
Guys... Just give our customer service a call and we will get this taken care of. We did stop shipping the carriers after a couple of reports were sent into us. We checked inventory and replaced latches as needed. Current stock is correct.
We are also working on a new part that will be a reto-fit upgrade to all the older XHD bumpers. It ties the tailgate to the carrier. The tailgate is not used for support but is used to swing the carrier open with the tailgate. You will simply release the carriers latch and then open the tailgate. The carrier swings open in conjuction. To close you simply close the tailgate and the carrier swings back with it. You then simply lock thr latch. You will now have 3 safety measures to insure a carrier does not open on the road.
(1) the latch
(2) latch pin
(3) the tailgate and factory latch
More to come.
We are also working on a new part that will be a reto-fit upgrade to all the older XHD bumpers. It ties the tailgate to the carrier. The tailgate is not used for support but is used to swing the carrier open with the tailgate. You will simply release the carriers latch and then open the tailgate. The carrier swings open in conjuction. To close you simply close the tailgate and the carrier swings back with it. You then simply lock thr latch. You will now have 3 safety measures to insure a carrier does not open on the road.
(1) the latch
(2) latch pin
(3) the tailgate and factory latch
More to come.
Thanks,
#58
JK Jedi
RR has not been around here since 2016. I would reach out to their customer service through contact avenues on their website.