My YJ came with 18" newer JK rims I think. The tire measures 31" overall and I have all 5 of them. I feel like the spare is too big for the rack though and bounces when I hit bumps. I also feel like for wheeling the added weight will make a backwards roll more likely.
I'm just wondering how many people drive without them. I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos and see a lot of jeeps running without. I figure I can leave it in the trailer and go get it if needed while wheeling.
Get a better bumper with tire carrier, when I go wheeling I'm a few hours from anywhere driving, a flat out there would be a half day adventure rather then a less then 30 minute fix and back to wheeling, but I geuss it depends on where you go.
My spare rest on my rear bumper so it does not bounce at all. When I bought my yj the PO had a spacer on the spare that made it stick out about 4 inches and bounced like crazy so in turn was destroying my tailgate, I took the spacer off and now it rides very well. Check and make sure this is not your case. I can't imagine leaving anywhere without my spare, call me to lazy to walk back I guess!
I took mine off because the tailgate was twisted and difficult to close. I plan on getting a bumper/tire carrier in the fall so I can carry the spare.. Might replace the tailgate if SWMBO allows.
My YJ has been a trailer queen since ~1999. It was around that time that I typically wouldn't carry a spare *depending on where I was going wheeling at and who else was going*.
Most of the folks I wheeled with for several years, ran 35x12.50x15 MT/R's with 5x4.5 WBP wheels. A couple in the group would bring a spare and most of the time those people would have them mounted in the tub out of the way. These days, those same 35" tires are considered dinky on the same trails.
Yes, we carried top quality plugs/patches and most had some sort of OBA, so even if we did get a slice or puncture (which commonly happened), most of the time the spare was not needed and we could plug a tire in a difficult spot quickly & safely.
I carry a can of fix-a-flat or some filler stuff, because I'm too cheap to buy a full size spare. The can says it will reinflate the tire and seal the hole, with any luck I won't have to call AAA to come tow me out.
I ride with my spare, even though I don't run big tires. I just prefer the look of a YJ with a spare on the back, so long as you don't have that third tail light.
I have a smittybilt xrc bumper...i always carry my spare when wheeling...i'd rather rely on me than the generosity of others...just sayin! Be prepared!
I have no spare. I keep a plug kit and OBA for the minor stuff. I like the slick back look. Lots of people are going spareless. They even make tailgate kits now to cover the the spare tire mount area. My tailgate holes were filled in before I got the jeep. I think it looks good. I have/know enough people that could bring a spare in a pinch if needed. But I don't really do anything that's gonna shred a tire or knock it off the bead.
I have no spare. I keep a plug kit and OBA for the minor stuff. I like the slick back look. Lots of people are going spareless. They even make tailgate kits now to cover the the spare tire mount area. My tailgate holes were filled in before I got the jeep. I think it looks good. I have/know enough people that could bring a spare in a pinch if needed. But I don't really do anything that's gonna shred a tire or knock it off the bead.
That looks awesome!! Rubber stops gone and all. Looks like it came smooth.
I go same way, but haven't removed the rubber stops as it's a rough rig and the paint sucks anyway!
I roll no spare either, but it's a "beach, and mostly football and baseball practices with the kids cruiser" anyway!
Guess mine is more of a daily driver and after 9 hours out in the 90 degree sun or -30 degree winters I don't feel like messin with plugs and fix a flat on my way home
Some people will just take the spare tire off the tailgate and remove the back seat and put the spare in the back of their jeep. That way you get the look of a clean and smooth tailgate along with still having a spare tire, you just can't take more than one other person for a ride very easily.
I also feel like for wheeling the added weight will make a backwards roll more likely.
I'm just wondering how many people drive without them. I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos and see a lot of jeeps running without. I figure I can leave it in the trailer and go get it if needed while wheeling.
No offense, OP, but I feel like "Spareless = Careless." (Or you could put me in the "too lazy to walk out camp").
But if you feel that "the added weight will make a backwards roll more likely...", then you are either some WRC-qualifed expert, or probably should be watching what you eat for breakfast, on wheelin' days.
I just can't believe that you can choose, accurately, the types of scenarios where the weight of a spare tire, mounted low-down (relatively-speaking, to a Jeep that's about to do a "BLOW OVER)", is going to make a REAL WORLD difference.
Theoretical, sure.
But, to say "I only didn't go over backwards because I deleted my spare..." seems like you either have car control skills FAR in excess of the rest of us, or, possibly, over-estimate the effect of the weight of the spare. JMO.
If anything, I think a stronger argument could be made that it raises your C of G, in a potential ROLLOVER, more significantly than it might affect a "BLOW OVER."
I am very new to the 4 x 4 scene but not to driving. These were just passing thoughts I was having one day. I'm really just more annoyed at the bouncing of the tire and threw out the backwards roll as an idea. I'm still thinking about deleting it if I can't figure out how to stop it from bouncing so much. I have figured out the reason it's bouncing is because the original tire on there was smaller and had a different bolt pattern. When they put on the 18" JK rim, they rigged up a chinsy bracket to hold the spare, making it stick further out the back.
The added weight and the fact that it's back a few inches more than it should be, coupled with YouTube videos of Jeeps rolling backwards on steep inclines just made me wonder. Thanks for clearing it up for me. It seems the added weight of a spare tire has never been the straw that tipped a Jeep.
The real problem with using the stock tire carrier is that the YJ tailgate isn't designed to handle the weight of an oversized tire. Sooner or later the steel will start to tear, and it will make you mad enough to take it out to the desert and shoot it.
Also, YJ tailgates will not protect you in a gunfight.
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