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why is there only one option???

3K views 31 replies 15 participants last post by  03 RUBI 
#1 ·
I love the way my TJ looks without all that spare tire crap on the tailgate. Why is this the only option for storing the spare. I'm looking for some creative ideas anybody has for how they store there spare. Or. A good affordable spare mount that looks good.
 
#7 ·
Mounting a Tire up front would bad... If you put it on the hood then you'd create a blind spot directly in front of you. If you put it on a bumper then you'd restrict air flow into your radiator and probably overheat your engine.

A viable option would be to buy a roof rack and bolt the tire on top like cherokees do
 
#8 ·
Build a rack where it sits on the inside of the rear gate. When you open rear gate the tire comes out with it. It would block your rear view though.
 
#9 ·
Jeeps are so small, that there isn't a lot of available space on or in them. Weight distribution and convenience should be taken into consideration when mounting your spare.

On the gate, they are cumbersome and depending on the size of the tire can cause problems with the gate.

Rear swing away or drop down carriers are popular because they offer strength and ease of access to the cargo area and permit the use of the rear seat when necessary. These are by and far the best overall application for most people. Although they also have drawbacks. Drop down tire carriers are somewhat heavy. The bigger the tire, the heavier they become. For a smaller framed person, it may be difficult or impossible to operate. On the trail, it's possible that on a steep incline the rear mounted spare can create drag and decrease your angle of approach.

Top mounted spare tires can open up a whole can of worms.
-Additional wind drag
-Interference with the top(s) removal and installation.
-Hard to reach when you actually need it, and having someone with the height and strength to drop it or lift it from that location
-Added weight to the top of the vehicle making it more top heavy than it already is.

Inside the tub is a safer bet but it adds additional weight to one side of the vehicle or another. Spare tire and driver on one side could make the Jeep list a bit. It will also make it impossible to mount your back seat and will gobble up your already minuscule cargo area.

Front mounting should not be considered at all, for all of the reasons listed above.

It's YOUR Jeep, you can do whatever you want with it, but when you make the decision on where you want to place it, look forward and consider all of the repercussions of that particular location before making the move permanent.
 
#10 ·
Remove it completely. I see several Jeeps running around in my area that have removed their spare tire and supporting hardware. It's kind of a different look and risky if you have a flat, But I also know a few that run around without a jack that is capable of lifting the vehicle if they have a flat, so the spare is useless, unless they have some type of road side assistance plan.
 
#11 ·
OK, I might come across as just a WEE bit harsh here.
Well, maybe quite harsh.

(entirely directed at those who would remove their spare for looks)

What the hell are they thinking???
That's completely self absorbed and stupid.

Say you're out on the trail and you get a flat.
How are you going to fix it? How are you going to get back the 10-15-50-100 miles to where your spare is?

By relying other people, that's how. By using THEIR time, THEIR vehicle, THEIR spare and THEIR resources.

If I went wheelin with someone who was stupid enough to cast out their spare for the sake of looks I sure as hell wouldn't loan them mine and chances are good I'd make them walk their dumb ass back to wherever they needed to go to get it.

If you get a flat on a highway, you're going to have to call someone to bring you your spare because you wanted your Jeep to "look good" so you didn't carry it. AAA isn't going to have a spare 33-35" tire on the truck, so you're going to pay through the nose for one or have your rig towed because you got a flat.

It's an inconceivable, irresponsible and inconsiderate concept. :doh:
 
#12 ·
if you dont care about having a back seat, you can always just throw you spare in the back. just lay it down on the floor and run some straps across it. thats also something ive seen done by a few members of the forum who have a spare that is to big to put in the stock tire carrier, but dont have an aftermarket one.
 
#15 ·
... and find a way to SECURE it WELL, because it can be a major projectile in an accident, in an off road situation.:doh:
 
#17 ·
Neither my Lotus or my BMW has a spare....In all honesty I don't think a spare is "necessary" if you take 1/2 decent care (on road)...and apparently neither does BMW/Chevy/Lotus/etc(they all make cars that don't come w/ Spare tires). Offroad a good spare and a way to change it is necessary.

Anywho, I was actually posting to say there is a k5 blazer here with his spare on the front bumper....I'll take a pic next time I see it. its hilarious.

and swing away is the best option IMO. (My jeep has a 31'' spare that matches my 31'' tires on the ground).
 
#20 ·
other ways to get around not having a spare is to have a puncture repair kit and a way to air up. so if you have on board air, and a puncture kit. then in theory, you dont need to carry a spare. now true, this doesnt help is your tire is all slashed up. but for normal street driving it should get you by just fine. besides, any one who goes off roading with out a spare at least near by(back at camp, on the trailer, etc) is clearly not thinking things through.
 
#24 ·
I don't like having to depend on others when I'm out on the trail. (If there's even anybody around) Relying on someone else because you don't like the "look" of a spare is selfish and inconsiderate IMO.
 
#32 ·
Sometimes, as with anything else, sacrifices and/or compromises have to be made. If you need more space maybe a bigger vehicle is needed. Weight? The vehicle was designed to carry a spare or maybe you are carrying to much stuff. Overhang and departure angles? My spare sits approx. 30" off the ground. If I hit that it means I probably was someplace or doing something I had no business messing with. As I said, IMO not carrying a spare for silly a$$ reasons places the burden for YOUR well being on someone else. People need to place responsibility for themselves on themselves.
 
#26 ·
Wow this thread took off lol. I agree, a spare is a must have. No matter what ur doing. I have taken my spare off the tailgate mount and the sucker weighs almost 80lbs. And u can see the effects of the weight on my tailgate. And to my surprise, taking that weight off the very back of my TJ has improve My road walk and ride quality. Enough to where I noticed. I saw a guy who took the mount off the back and bolted it to the floor where the seat goes. Works but there is little space left. It would he easy to just un bolt the whole thing and put it back onto the tailgate when I go on a trip and need the space back there again. That is what I'm going to do.
 
#27 ·
So...I've been wanting to figure out a way to mount my spare inside the rear (rear-seat removed) at an angle...kinda like you see on the baja race trucks and stuff.

I've also been toying with the idea of putting subs in my Jeep because I used to have subs in my old truck and I miss having that lil extra thump...I just came up with an interesting plan perhaps. If I were to build a box right...I could build a wedge box that goes across the Jeep and has 2 10" subs facing upward on each side, leaving an open space in between them. The amp would mount most likely on the front side of the box. In the open space between the subs, I would then mount a hub with wheel studs and I would have it set far enough out so that the spare does not make contact with the subs but doesn't allow much room to get your hands underneath it either (for protection from my stupidity if I ever need to change a tire, I'd probably also put some kind of grills over them...or at the very least, flush mount the subs).

The box would bolt through the tub from inside the box so that it could not easily be stolen...and to prevent the subs from easily being stolen, I would use a wheel lock so the spare could not be easily removed blocking the subs in...even if they were able to unscrew them from the box.

The amp would be the most vulnerable...but perhaps using torx screws or square head or something along those lines would help...that or bolting the amp through the box with carriage bolts...and once again, with the spare on there, they won't be able to access the inside of the box.

Here's a rough idea I scribbled up (without my contacts in nonetheless)...

The angle is a little too steep plus the side the amp is on would actually be vertical, but you get my idea. The purple which was actually a BLUE marker is the spare tire...



Edit: Also, if I had to raise the box up higher to prevent a large tire from hitting the bottom of the tub, then that would give me plenty of room to do a downfired setup as well.
 
#28 ·
That looks like it has the potential for a really good idea! Once you get the bugs out, you'll have to do a write up on the build.

I've got a small "all in one" sub/amp combo in the back of mine and although it did greatly improve the sound quality, I find that I am wanting MUCH more now. I've been trying to figure out how to incorporate a box in the back that will be inobtrusive, and functional.

So far, everything I have seen is a complete no-go.
I would like to have a sub on each side in the rear, leaving the center open and have considered doing something above the wheel wells.

One of these days I guess I'll really sit down and do some designing - when I get the $$$ to finance the equipment.
 
#29 ·
Thanks... while I've got the extra cash, I may start piecing together this build. The biggest downfall I think I'm gonna run into is chambering the inside of the box to fit the space requirements of my subs unless I end up building a 3 piece box. I'm an Elemental Designs freak...so if I do it, I'll put my two 11Kv.2 subs in it (laying in the shed from my old truck) and I'll pick up an Elemental Designs NINe.2 amp to power em.

Here's an idea for you...

I used to run this setup in my old truck and you'd be amazed at the sound these suckers can put out...IMO, they could easily compete with a 10" sub...and I've run both.

Elemental Designs

These are approximately a 6.5" sub and not super deep (measurement wise)...but don't let their size fool you. They can hit the low frequencies quite nicely without distorting and they're actually designed to do best in small boxes. All they need is a .2-.3 cu. ft. box...any bigger and you're gonna start losing sound quality. I ran 2 of them in a downfiring box in my old truck...and WOW.

I powered em with an eD NINe.2 amp as well...
Elemental Designs

Anyway...back to the topic at hand (sorry...got kinda carried away)...I think the only other issue I'll run into with a custom box/spare tire holder would be reinforcing the wheel hub to handle the weight of the spare without cracking the wood. Might have to get some fairly thick metal and attach it at numerous points on the wood so it would help evenly distribute all that weight...might handle a 31" okay, but I plan on upgrading to a 33" in the near future.
 
#31 ·
Believe it or not...
That is the sub I used to replace the one in my center console. It was like wrastlin a cat into a wash tub, but it worked pretty well with the OEM head unit & amp until I changed my head unit, then it really lost output.
That's why I added the VR3 sub/amp combo package until I could upgrade. Thanks for the suggestion on the amp!

I wasn't quite sure what to use. I'm FAR from an audiophile. Hell, I can't even get music loaded onto my silly iPod the way I want it! Stupid thing! (certainly can't be the idiot behind the keyboard, can it? :rofl:)

Wow, we did a GREAT job of hijacking this thread! :punk:

With the tire mount, what if you built something out of steel, and incorporated it into the box, or over it?
 
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