Hitch mounted spare carrier

[Potshot]

I'd like to keep the stock bumpers on my 70 Bronco sport and have been looking at receiver mounted carriers. I've seen a number that are at a price point that's comfortable (e.g. Wilco), but they all seem to jump up in price when I look for one that's biased towards the driver's side (I like that for visibility). Has anyone one seen a vendor that offers something like that for less than $750? I like to think I'm pretty good at searches but I'm coming up empty.

 

[serial car restorer]

I don't think there are many driver's side carriers because the license plate mounts on the driver's side. So center or right mount are/were the norm. I considered aftermarket carriers, but in the end I retrofitted the factory swing-away mount to mine instead.

 

[Shimmy]

how about this one?

https://www.rathaprecisiondesign.co...utm_campaign=storeya60&utm_term=&gad_source=1

 

[Steve83]

What do you mean by "biased"? A long arm hinged on the right (passenger) side that stretches across the truck with the spare at the far end? That puts a LOT of leverage on the 2" receiver, and on the arm, even when closed. And even more when swung open.

Or do you mean hinged on the left (driver's) side? Then you'd have to walk around it, and if you're parallel-parked, it would swing into traffic.

 

[nvrstuk]

I'd like to keep the stock bumpers on my 70 Bronco sport and have been looking at receiver mounted carriers. I've seen a number that are at a price point that's comfortable (e.g. Wilco), but they all seem to jump up in price when I look for one that's biased towards the driver's side (I like that for visibility). Has anyone one seen a vendor that offers something like that for less than $750? I like to think I'm pretty good at searches but I'm coming up empty.

My .02???

You won't miss the visibility loss at all compared to the likelihood of the tire swinging into traffic either from behind when opening the tailgate OR accidentally when driving & it swings into an opposing car- SEEN IT!

Mount it on the right realizing that in the receiver it's going to move some OR make it look stock & mount the tire in the OE stock swing a way tire carrier which worked for everyone (for decades & decades) I knew that had a Bronco.

No way would I want it to swing to the DS...

 

[CatskillCruiser]

Duff Tuff is your answer for a stock bumper....

https://dufftuff.com/catalog/early-bronco-heavy-duty-stock-bumper-tire-carrier/

 

[Broncobowsher]

Sounds like you are wanting a spare that plugs into a receiver hitch. Couple things to think about. One is weight is NOT an issue. Leverage is. Tongue weight figures forces on a stick a couple inches off the end of the hitch, not a couple feet out.

Now it sounds like you not only want to mount the spare, but now offset it to the side as well. That makes the leverage even longer. That is one of the reasons the price really spikes when you are looking that way, needs to be a LOT stronger the longer the arm.

The one you like and can accept the price on. Probably centered on the tailgate because the hitch is centered. You can have a second receiver hitch welded on that is offset. Now your affordable hitch mounted spare can be installed offset.

 

[DirtDonk]

Another thing to think about, is that most hitch mounted accessories (including spare tire carriers), shake and rattle something fierce.
You’ll spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to make the interface tighter and quieter.

 

[ntsqd]

I have dual swingers on the FSB. Spare on the left, jack and fuel cans on the right. The only one that has ever popped loose and swung out is the right side swinger.

I have drilled several receiver hitches for a second pin. The second hole is vertical, usually spaced to the rear of the 'normal' pin as far as it can reasonably be put and that takes all of the movement and rattle out of the system. For a 2" socket receiver the pin is Ø5/8" and I usually use a Ø3/8" or a Ø1/2" bolt for this second pin.
The other option is to build a sliding tapered tail-end on the slider that tensions with a bolt. Much like how the gooseneck in your old BMX bike was held in place. I did that with the swing-away spare fuel can carrier that I expected to use on many different vehicles - some possibly not mine.

A simple RoT to give you a rough idea of what the weight on the end of the lever is going to be like is to multiply the actual weight of the spare times 3. This isn't a class in dynamics, I'm not qualified to teach it even if it was, but can use this 'tool' to give a rough idea of what the forces are going to be on the mount. Say the spare weighs 75 lbs. and the lever places it 30" offset. That's 563 lbs-ft of torque on the receiver. It's also 225 lbs of "weight" that the structure has to be able to support indefinitely.

 

[nvrstuk]

Thx for helping people understand the "leverage factor".

Like Paul said, hitches rattle.

I hate rattles & hitch slop so I weld & grind down small beads I put in the receiver so the stinger slides in but can't rattle.

I never do it on the stinger so if it needs to fit another buddy's truck then it's still a universal fit.

 

[dmoses42]

Or you could use an original one that mounts on the inside to the tailgate. It mounts in the center, but I would imagine with some creativity you could move it to the left. Not feasible if you have a large spare tire though.

 

[nvrstuk]

Has the OP "Potshot" responded?

Thoughts?

 

[Potshot]

There's a lot to read through here. I have absolutely thought, read about and considered leverage, rattles and all that stuff so not a whole lot of these conversations covered new ground for me.

I was just looking for something that would place the tire closer to the driver's side because I'm familiar with having to look over a wheel on a rear tire carrier before, but it looks like that's mostly just driven conversation and not pointed to a good option. I'll read through the thread again, I may have missed something. My spare is a 33, so I'm not so sure the stock swing out will hold it. I might just have to save my money for the Duff Tuff version and deal with however it turns out.

 

[nvrstuk]

I ran a thirty three inch tire after running from a G78x15" spare for 25 yrs & then 32"s, then 33"s.

Not one issue with support. Guys that know me know I wheel a lot & use my rig a lot.

Only saying this to help you feel confident that you can have a 33" on a stock tire carrier and be fine!

 

[Potshot]

I ran a thirty three inch tire after running from a G78x15" spare for 25 yrs & then 32"s, then 33"s.

Not one issue with support. Guys that know me know I wheel a lot & use my rig a lot.

Only saying this to help you feel confident that you can have a 33" on a stock tire carrier and be fine!

Thanks and understood.

I'll take a look at the stock option. If it's given you good service over that lifespan.... that's a stout testimonial

 

[nvrstuk]

That's why I mentioned it. My Dad ran his for 186,000+ miles (bought it new in '69 and sold it in '86) and the body lines on his tailgate and top looked as perfect as Ford ever got them. lol

Mine definitely took more abuse but it's a dependable low buck option that looks stock, works and if you go that route make SURE you put the cable on it that keeps it from swinging past 95deg or so...