[XmuthJ]

Hey guys,
Got sick of having my 31" spare sitting flat in my trunk, and decided to fab something together to mount it to my Coleman roof rack.

Parts:
3/4" U-Bolts w/Lock Washers - 4 @ $0.91 = $3.64
4" Beam Support for Concrete = $13.69
TOTAL (After Tax) = $18.73





I had to use a 1/4" bit to make the holes on the beam support big enough for the U-Bolts to fit through:


After that I attached the beam support to the rack using the u-bolts. It wasn't an exact fit, so the beam support legs bent out a bit, and the rack rails bent a bit too:




Then I put the tire up there. To tighten it down, I used the OEM plastic semisphere that used to hold my tiny spare inside the car. I just took a 3/4" wood bore to it to make it fit, then I secured it down:



The Finished Product:


For less than $20 I think it works pretty well. It's secure and doesn't move at all.

[76ANTHONY]

hey thats a cool idea....

[Arbslikewhoa]

I keep seeing different ways of doing this haha. I'd probably clean the rim out as good as possible cause as soon as that rain hits it, all the nasty black dust is going to get all over your white jeep!!!

[XmuthJ]

Originally Posted by Arbslikewhoa

I keep seeing different ways of doing this haha. I'd probably clean the rim out as good as possible cause as soon as that rain hits it, all the nasty black dust is going to get all over your white jeep!!!

This is true, I painted the otherside of the rim with a rattlecan when i threw it in the trunk, but of course it won't fit that way up there. I'll definitely take it down and clean/paint the other side!

[Calvin4186]

Not to hijack, but...

I thought about going this route, but then thought about what if you didn't have your tire in there for a while and you'd have that vertical bolt just chillin up there... so I put the bolt side on the rack:

[kg4kzv]

Wow, You guys might inspire me to get rid of the ratchet straps holding my 35 to my wildness rack.



I keep wanting to build something like a fold up crane to lift /lower that monster from the roof rack. It to me and my daughter standing on the back of a F/S chevy to put that 35 up there.


Chris.

[Arbslikewhoa]

Maybe something like this that just rotates on a top rail?
Idk, just thinking outloud with my paint skills :P

[kg4kzv]

Originally Posted by Arbslikewhoa

Maybe something like this that just rotates on a top rail?
Idk, just thinking outloud with my paint skills :P

That's cool but a 35 would still be a bear. I was thinking something like a receiver set up mounted vertically on the floor of the rack. This could serve as a mount for the spare and a place set a swing arm with a cheap small 12v winch. the winch could be easily stowed inside. the swing arm removed from the receiver and mounted to the rack floor or on the rails going round a corner.


I know I'm a hi-tech redneck.


Chris.

[XmuthJ]

I like that idea for putting the bolt side on the rack itself, but when i saw that post thingy at home depot, i figured it'd be stronger than anything i was planning to make. and i just painted the inside of the rim, so it's sitting on the floor, and without a tire it kind of looks like a lightning rod up there

[Vassago]

Originally Posted by kg4kzv

That's cool but a 35 would still be a bear. I was thinking something like a receiver set up mounted vertically on the floor of the rack. This could serve as a mount for the spare and a place set a swing arm with a cheap small 12v winch. the winch could be easily stowed inside. the swing arm removed from the receiver and mounted to the rack floor or on the rails going round a corner.


I know I'm a hi-tech redneck.


Chris.

that sounds wayy to overly complicated. i'm a afirm believer in simplicity is key, less moving parts = less stuff to go wrong