Stock Tire Carrier and Large Tire

I've read a few discussions about this but I just need to clarify. Will I be ok using the stock tire carrier with a 33x12.50 tire? I do not plan on rock climbing or any significant trail riding, if that makes a difference. Basically a weekend cruiser. Is there anything I should do to beefup the carrier (modify hanger or tailgate mount)? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I would really like to keep the stock look and custom bumpers can be expensive.
Thanks,
Bob

I'm sure I'll get some arguement here but here goes...
The origonal swing out tire carrier works great with a stock size tire. Anything heavier and you'll start pulling the body seams apart at the quarter panel. It's not so much the static weight but the dynamic weight of the whome thing bouncing down the trail. I've seen fixes where the tire weight isn't supported by the carrier but it sits in a small platform attached to the bumper. A lot of trouble just to keep the spare on and always in the way. I just mounted mine inside.

The stock carrier is capable of holding a 33" tires, just not capable of holding it safely while trying to drive the vehicle. A lot also has to do with the weight of the tire and rim. The lighter the better. I have done a lot of tires over the years and some hearly need a forklift to pick up and others are one handers, size is not the determining factor oddly enough. Stock Superdutys are amazingly light while some half ton trucks are not. So just saying you want a 33" tire back there isn't a good realistic benchmark.

Personally I had issues with a 31" on a steel wheel on the stock carrier. This was simply driving around town. I ended up rigging a bungee cord as a backup plan to the latch. when the latch would let loose (which it did often) the bungee would catch it and slam it back into the tailgate. That was my cue to go back and reset the latch again. On the trail I was doing the fix every 20 minutes, and by trail I mean a dirt road you could drive any normal car down on a good day. Thankfully my latching issues forced me into a real bumper mounted spare tire carrier before I had body issues. I have seen Broncos that went and super reinforced the latch only for the bed corner to start coming loose from the quarter panel.

While I've never had latch issues I've run a 33x9.50 spare on my carrier for years and like was said you will pull the body seams part over time. So yes it will do it but at a cost.

Im running a 35x12.50-15 spare on my stock carrier, and i have no issues, but then again i dont wheel her or trail.




you should tack weld the OEM latch where the bends are. and The PO welded a small 3/4 inch tupe running horizontally from the lower carrier tube towards the tailgate (with a rubber bushing on the end). it's works as a lower support for the carrier. and you can see it unless you swing open the carrier.

i put the stock tire carrier on mine with no tire
everything was fine until a week later, the body seam cracked from the top to the bottom
i only drove it 20 miles or less
again, i was running it with no tire!
i like to do things once so this has really pissed me off
so now im going BIG;D;D

The PO added this bracket to the tailgate. It seems to be OK for the street,but i'm thinking it will be a problem offroad.

My support is similar to Mikee's but its reversed. mine s welded to the actual carrier (no need to drill the tailgate) and i welded an upper and lower tab on the latch to support it from bending open

this might help a little. (or confuse you because of my quick editing skills)