Notices
Modified JK Tech Tech related bulletin board forum regarding subjects such as suspension, tires & wheels, steering, bumpers, skid plates, drive train, cages, on-board air and other useful modifications that will help improve the performance and protection of your Jeep JK Wrangler (Rubicon, Sahara, Unlimited and X) on the trail.

PLEASE DO NOT START SHOW & TELL TYPE THREADS IN THIS FORUM

Spare on tailgate - lets settle this once and for all

Thread Tools
 
Old 07-16-2008, 07:01 PM
  #1  
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
FunWagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: central, NJ
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Spare on tailgate - lets settle this once and for all

OK guys lets settle this once and for all. Can folks with a 35" or bigger spare on the tailgate say:

1. What parts/products they used to make room for the bigger tires and accomodate a 3rd brake light,

2. How long they ran with this setup (time or miles)

3. What kind of abuse has it been getting over this time (highway, off-road)

4. Any side effects to date? Deformation of tailgate, bends, dents, etc.

Here are some solutions I thought of that allow for oversized spare on tailgate AND accomodate for a 3rd brake light:

Bestop HighRock 4X4 Oversize Tire Carrier
(up to 37" tire and 200lbs)


Tomken machine spare tire relocation bracket PLUS Warrior third brake light bracket
(moves tire out 2.5" and up 1.5". according to my measurements a 12.50 wide tire is roughly 1.5" wider than stock rubicon tires)



Another bracket that can be uses is the AtoZ fabricaion spare tire adapter that can convert between various bolt patterns:


Mopar spare tire carrier
(this is the carrier w/o the bumper. can it be mounted on the stock bumper? up to 35" tire)


There may be tire carriers by other manufacturers that can be installed on stock bumper, not just their bumper. I remember at least one manufacturer stating so in their product description.

rampage products spare tire mount extender
(I am not sure if this replaces the stock tire mount or extends it. if replaces then it would not allow the use of the Warrior braket to extend the brake light)


Thats all I have.
Old 07-16-2008, 08:06 PM
  #2  
JK Freak
 
husker_shoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

very nice write-up man! Good info for everyone
Old 07-16-2008, 08:10 PM
  #3  
JK Freak
 
tkob1060's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hangin in the sunshine state....staging forum..
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

1. What parts/products they used to make room for the bigger tires and accomodate a 3rd brake light,

2. How long they ran with this setup (time or miles)

3. What kind of abuse has it been getting over this time (highway, off-road)

4. Any side effects to date? Deformation of tailgate, bends, dents, etc.

Here are some solutions I thought of that allow for oversized spare on tailgate AND accomodate for a 3rd brake light:

1. 35's here and didnt need any change to brake light or carrier, tire fit fine on stock carrier.

2. 6500mi and now I have Pure jeep rear bumper and tire carrier, just because I wanted it, it looks cool and that stock bumper is nothing but a plastic cover.

3. I wheeled with the stock alot and I do like to fly thru my mudholes.

4. No effects for the time I had it on stock.

I think the stock is fine for the 35's but you are pushing it mounting a 37 on the tailgate no matter what bracket you use for it.

I have the teraflex extended 3rd brakelight I needed it with the tire carrier

When you going to join us on a pine barrons run?
http://www.teraflexplus.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=179

Last edited by toad; 07-16-2008 at 10:14 PM. Reason: Please refrain from direct links to non-sponsored vendors. :) Thank you!
Old 07-16-2008, 10:07 PM
  #4  
JK Enthusiast
 
Fishin'jeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Crosby, Texas
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default 35"...no problems to date

My 35" spare has been mounted since last September with no problems to date. The "cyclops" light remains oem & is still visible. My tires are mounted on the stock rims so I had to add a 1.5" spacer to the spare mount, the same as I did with my other 4. The bolts were too short. My spare barely clears the molded tire section of the bumper. No way a 37" would fiton the stock spare tire carrier...top or bottom, unless it was pushed out more than mine. I will try and find a pic to post, if not I'll try and take a couple if you need them.
Old 07-17-2008, 03:25 AM
  #5  
JK Enthusiast
 
Bunker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Port Arthur, TX
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I bought the Rough Country Spacer for mine:



it worked great for a few months but this last week before my last run, I took it off. I was getting some "flex" on the tailgate with a resulting "thump" whenever I hit a bump.

I wheel semi-aggressively I guess and that along with the added weight and the Spacer extending the tire away from the tailgate even further, caused just to much stress.

I just turned 4500 miles (lift and tires went on at 900) so about 3500 miles without to much issue.

IMO you use the Spacers to buy you some time before you get a real Tire Carrier, unless your a mall crawler in which case you'll probably never need to upgrade.
Old 07-17-2008, 03:28 AM
  #6  
JK Enthusiast
 
CrunchyOatmeal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I have been running 35" Toyo M/Ts on my Jeep for about 6 months. I didn't have to use any adapters to put the spare on the tailgate. It was working great until I went to Moab. While I was in Moab, the spare took some hits when going over some large drop offs. My tailgate is now bent a little. Nothing serious, but enough that I ordered the LoD rear bumper with tire carrier to get the spare off the tailgate and raise it a few inches as well.
Old 07-17-2008, 12:33 PM
  #7  
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
FunWagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: central, NJ
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by tkob1060
When you going to join us on a pine barrons run?
As soon as we go. When are we going? I've been to the pines the day after picking my Jeep up with the lift. I am waiting to go to Rauch Creek. I just don't have a spare mounted, so unless I can leave it at their staging area they may not let me in.

Last edited by FunWagon; 07-17-2008 at 12:42 PM.
Old 07-17-2008, 12:39 PM
  #8  
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
FunWagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: central, NJ
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by Bunker
IMO you use the Spacers to buy you some time before you get a real Tire Carrier, unless your a mall crawler in which case you'll probably never need to upgrade.
I don't even want to mount my full size spare. I like the visibility in the back. I am thinking of a simple custom bracket to just mount the brake light (required in NJ) w/o the stock tire carrier (until I work up a budget for a rear bumper... why are they so expensive?), but don't have the tools or parts. Its just that the private off-road parks around here require a full size spare to wheel.

Last edited by FunWagon; 07-17-2008 at 12:43 PM.
Old 07-17-2008, 12:49 PM
  #9  
JK Jedi
 
armycop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 5,350
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by SilverRubi2
OK guys lets settle this once and for all. Can folks with a 35" or bigger spare on the tailgate say:

1. What parts/products they used to make room for the bigger tires and accomodate a 3rd brake light,

2. How long they ran with this setup (time or miles)

3. What kind of abuse has it been getting over this time (highway, off-road)

4. Any side effects to date? Deformation of tailgate, bends, dents, etc.
So far:

1. Just a Cragar wheel with 5" of backspacing (315/75R16), and my tire touches the rubber nubs.

2. Since October 2007.

3. Been off-road a few times, Disney, SMORR

4. NO.
Old 07-17-2008, 03:47 PM
  #10  
JK Super Freak
 
JulietKilo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WV relocated 2 Dyess AFB, TX
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

My 35 is on a 17x8.5 inch wheel with 5.75 inch backspacing. I used one 1.5 inch spidertrax wheel spacer. The bottom of the tire sitson the edge of the bumper recess.

The CHMSL is still fully viewable without modification and looks like the 35 came that way stock.



Quick Reply: Spare on tailgate - lets settle this once and for all



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:35 AM.