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tire carrier questions

6K views 47 replies 23 participants last post by  PuNiShErR 
#1 ·
i am upgrading my rims and tires and getting 35in tires and have heard a lot about tailgate sag so my question is what is better to handle the new tire weight the teraflex hd hinge carrier kit or a rear bumper with a tire carrier installed i want to maintain the normal swing action i don't want to have to open one than the other so i am looking at the smittybilt gen2 bumper with tire carrier or the teraflex to handle the weight is there anyone better than the other are there pros and cons to either whats the best route to go

thank you
 
#2 ·
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#38 ·
I say AEV...
I have the AEV rear bumper and Tire Carrier with 35's and although the door is a bit on the heavy side being able to just open the door is great seeing as we are in and out of the back with baseball season and beaches and such.
 
#4 ·
#7 · (Edited)
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#5 ·
With the Smittybilt you save hundreds of dollars and in turn get a stronger more refined product. I'm glad I went with the Smittybilt over the Teraflex. It's an excellent product and anyone who tells you different is probably just trying to cover their frustration of being fished into going the other way.
 
#6 ·
The Teraflex (new) squeaks horribly. Its sealed so appears there is no way to get at the cause. Customer service isn't very good, which is too bad cause the carrier itself is solid. Just my experience. My main concern (other than supporting the weight of the wheel), was the winter climate around here. Yet to see how the Teraflex holds up.
 
#11 ·
A good friend and I both have had horrible experiences with Teraflex's customer service. Starts off good chatting with them but once you show the defective product you don't exist to them anymore
My lift looks like it's been on for 10 years (only 2 years old) springs have sagged, shocks are blown and now in the process of changing it all out


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#9 ·
I've got the MORryde hinges, haven't ungraded to the rest of the carrier but with just the hinges alone it is quite impressive
I have just a cheap extender and ran my 35 on the stock hinges for a bit till it rattled like crazy
The hinges alone took away a lot of the rattle, still hear a rattle over hard drops



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#10 ·
I have the Teraflex and I have no noise coming from it. The tire is very snug against the carrier and it's not moving. The install was easy just follow the instructions to a tee. When you open and close the rear with a heavy 35" tire you can definately feel the weight so IMHO this is a must upgrade. I have no experience with the other carriers so sorry can't help you there.
 
#12 ·
I have the JCR Shield carrier which bolts up to your choice of their mid or full width rear bumpers https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/JKBmp/JKSC2.html The shield is link to the rear gate so they open as one. It's been working great for well over a year now.
 
#13 ·
As I kind of expected no one really answered your question in regards to advantages but provided what they got and why. So let me try.

The bumper mount carriers will typically hold more weight, which is a plus. However, you have to have a bumper with the hole in it to mount it which can be a minus. Putting the load on the bumper also makes it better for wheeling on bumpy terrains with a 37+ tire on it since the force of the wheel bouncing will transfer to the bumper which mounts directly to the frame. It's not transferring into hinges and tailgate.

The TF carrier doesn't require a special bumper. It is also lighter, than the bumper mount carriers, therefore reducing the amount of weight you're adding to the rear of your JK and therefore maintaining more rear lift/clearance and better gas mileage. Then there's the looks preference. The TF retains the OEM look while the bumper carrier obviously doesn't. The TF is easier to install and less likely to rattle. Many bumper carriers are prone to rattles if not fully mounted/installed correctly.

The best route is for you to decide what is more important to you.

There.....tried to answer your question without even saying which I decided to get. Maybe others will add to things I may have overlooked or forgotten. ;)
 
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#18 ·
I have almost 100,000 miles on my Tera Flex hinge (I have used the same hinge on 3 jeeps) it has carried a heavy tire most of its life and still solid and no squeaks or rattles.

in a couple of days I will add even more weight as I got the Teraflex alta cargo rack.
 
#19 ·
I've got the Teraflex hinge,it is a stellar piece of hardware,solid and very smooth...got the Hi-lift mount as well. I like TF stuff ,it is well made and comes with torque specs for everything and the instructions are step by step,well illustrated,and the text makes sense and flows along with the install nicely.

The TF adjustable spare tire mount is coming next.. (I should have just ordered them together)..but with the addition of a 5 Gallon Jerrycan and mount and holder,that I'll use on extended adventures...well..I thought I'd better get the heavier duty adjustable spare mount.....as well,in the future if I should go to a 35" tire,I'll be all set.

Land vehicle Tire Vehicle Car Automotive tire


Above the HD TF hinge

Tire Automotive tire Auto part Automotive exterior Vehicle


HD hinge with TF Hi-Lift Jack mount sans Hi-lift,and my 5 gallon Jerrycan fuel set up..(you can get the Rotopax mount for a couple gallons of fuel,mounts to the Hi-lift Jack)..
...I wanted the 5 gallon Jerrycan. Also the bolts that hold the Hi-Lift in place are the same thread pitch and size as the wheel lugs,you can use locking wheel lugs to hold the Hi-lift in place...pretty neat anti-theft feature,and since I have aftermarket wheels and lugs,I used my stock locking lugs on the Hi-lift mount bolts,as can be seen in the pic.

This is all added weight,weight that the TF stuff can handle with 0 problems. Total peace of mind with this set up.
 
#22 ·
I've got the Teraflex hinge,it is a stellar piece of hardware,solid and very smooth...got the Hi-lift mount as well. I like TF stuff ,it is well made and comes with torque specs for everything and the instructions are step by step,well illustrated,and the text makes sense and flows along with the install nicely.

The TF adjustable spare tire mount is coming next.. (I should have just ordered them together)..but with the addition of a 5 Gallon Jerrycan and mount and holder,that I'll use on extended adventures...well..I thought I'd better get the heavier duty adjustable spare mount.....as well,in the future if I should go to a 35" tire,I'll be all set.

View attachment 3610009

Above the HD TF hinge

View attachment 3610017

HD hinge with TF Hi-Lift Jack mount sans Hi-lift,and my 5 gallon Jerrycan fuel set up..(you can get the Rotopax mount for a couple gallons of fuel,mounts to the Hi-lift Jack)..
...I wanted the 5 gallon Jerrycan. Also the bolts that hold the Hi-Lift in place are the same thread pitch and size as the wheel lugs,you can use locking wheel lugs to hold the Hi-lift in place...pretty neat anti-theft feature,and since I have aftermarket wheels and lugs,I used my stock locking lugs on the Hi-lift mount bolts,as can be seen in the pic.

This is all added weight,weight that the TF stuff can handle with 0 problems. Total peace of mind with this set up.
Does the new TF Hi Lift Accessory Mount have a CB Antenna mounting hole like the old one?
 
#21 ·
I've been running the Smitty Gen II XRC bumper w/mount for a year. Here's some pros n cons..
Pros:
-love the look of it, matches my jeep perfectly
-solid as hell
-room to put a 37+
-I like flying flags, so makes mounting easy
-powder coating has held up , no rust or flaking
- retains stock tail gate one motion access. Don't have to open carrier and gate separately.
-adjustable mount for wheel height.

CONS:
- It's HEAVY...
-Instructions SUCKED
-I do get some rattle on bumps, but I attribute that to needing to tighten up tailgate mount.
-because of the shitty instructions I never installed the crush washers, so the pin will back out slightly after opening tail multiple times. I have the washers finally and I'm putting them on in the near future.
-rear window view is obscured greatly depending on how high you mount the wheel.(nature of the game )





 
#29 ·
Whollly sheite!!!! :doh:

It probably isn't making a noise from inside the pin and bushing on the hinge...it is probably making a noise at the hinge washers where some weight bares down on the outer hinge on those washers....THAT...can get dry and grit infested clean and hit with penetrating lube or one of the other recommendations.

pics of area that could make noise lower hinge area both upper hinge and lower hinge and washers..easy cure lube 'er up.
 

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#30 ·
Whollly sheite!!!! :doh:

It probably isn't making a noise from inside the pin and bushing on the hinge...it is probably making a noise at the hinge washers where some weight bares down on the outer hinge on those washers....THAT...can get dry and grit infested clean and hit with penetrating lube or one of the other recommendations. I wouldn't use WD-40,as it contains water...learned that from a snowmobile'r.

pics of area that could make noise lower hinge area both upper hinge and lower hinge and washers..easy cure lube 'er up.
fact check on the wd40, it does not contain water.
https://wd40.com/faqs
 
#34 ·
MORryde system here - I have the hinges and tailgate reinforcement so my stock wheel/tire does not rattle and clears my Rock Hard 4x4 bumper. With a bigger tire you will also need the tire mount.

No rattles, no squeaks (you can lube the hinges too), Made in the USA, competitively priced and designed by our very own jscherb.

What's not to like.
 

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#37 ·
I've heard good things about the MORryde hinge and have nothing against it, but to answer your question of what's not to like? From the photos you posted, I'm looking at what looks like zinc coated bolts that are used to mount the hinge assembly and from my experience, those zinc coated bolts typically don't hold up too well in the rust belt states where I live and end up being covered in rust within 2 years and looking like poo.
 
#40 ·
last night added the Alta rack. certainly will add to my poser status :).

 
#44 ·
Nice!!! Definitely gonna be a lot of uses for that picking up stuff from the mall and carrying the groceries. You'll definitely want to re-gear now. ;) My wife just checked your rack out and gave me the the thumbs up approval to get one. Said she could likely fit at least 15 Michael Kors purses on that thing from the mall. Now, I'm unsure which is gonna cost me more....the rack, or all the stuff she's planning to put on it :D
 
#42 ·
yes
 
#46 ·
That rack would be a great addition for an overland-Safari type adventure,for the extra gear hauling capacity.

I really like TF stuff,it is well packaged and the instructions are well thought out,and in-particular, I like the torque specs that come with the easy to read and understand instructions.

It does not surprise me that TF is all over it when it comes to customer support,and righting a "wrong packaged" issue, or any other issue for that matter.

I have a few items from TF and they are all top shelf in every way.
 
#47 ·
My experience with TF is that they do have the best CS in the industry.:winner:
 
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