Hitch Tire Carrier Cargo carrier HELP :D

Madmanmiller802 · 07-21-2010, 07:46 PM

Hitch Tire Carrier Cargo carrier HELP

I have a three week road trip. I have a bed that folds out so I can sleep in the jeep but the tire is in the way. So i took a bike rack and bolted a tire carrier to it. I now am looking into welding a little tray for a 48 gallon action Packer so i can put sleeping stuff and a cooler back there plus it locks.

SO my idea is to have a small piece that levels out the basket because it is a raised hitch. then a piece like in the picture and then two pieces parallel to the bumper. Then I can bolt the box to these bars.

I am wondering if I need any more bracing? or what I can do to make it stronger.

For this three week trip I will have two ratchet straps from the posts where bikes normally hang to the safety chain spots when towing just to keep it static.

Any input would be great.

**Ironworker709** · 07-21-2010, 09:36 PM

I'm really not sure if that Bike carrier will hold the weight of a spare tire/wheel that far out,it will most likely crack and fall off from use on the road and vibrating/flexing up and down.

You could brace that thing to heck and back but the fact is the carrier tube is still insufficient at the hitch receiver with all that weight so far out and creating ALOT of stress from that much leverage of the weight.

I would start from scratch and build something with much thicker and stronger material.

**DannyRoark89** · 07-22-2010, 02:46 AM

Quote:

I'm really not sure if that Bike carrier will hold the weight of a spare tire/wheel that far out,it will most likely crack and fall off from use on the road and vibrating/flexing up and down.

You could brace that thing to heck and back but the fact is the carrier tube is still insufficient at the hitch receiver with all that weight so far out and creating ALOT of stress from that much leverage of the weight.

I would start from scratch and build something with much thicker and stronger material.

ditto man, seen a bike rack fail just with 3 bicycles on it on the back of a wrangler coincidently. built it right or not at all.

Madmanmiller802 · 07-22-2010, 07:42 AM

I have an inch and a quarter hitch right now. I plan to change this in the future, but this trip is in a couple weeks. I have tested the spare tire mount with out anything else. It holds it, but how well I don't know. I just realized I have a nut welded into the bike rack so I can use a bolt to tighten it down in the hitch. This will prevent any movement. I also am using the ratchet straps to take some of that load off of the hinged part of the bike rack. I am thinking that adding the small place for the tote will increase its strength. I am using 1.5" box steel and I won't be putting anything too heavy there.

How should I brace this to increase strength?

I don't have the tools or time to find or make something with a 4" rise off the hitch.

This will be used for three weeks with a tire on it and then never again.

squigy123 · 07-22-2010, 08:45 AM

yea thats just a bad idea

im sorry if i misunderstood your first post but why not keep the tire where it normally is? keeping all the way up against the jeep and the lighter stuff further out. i would be worried vibes during travel tearing that apart and killing the people behind you.

Madmanmiller802 · 07-22-2010, 08:58 AM

I know thats a lot of weight back there but the snowboard rack I use in the winter holds 6 sets of skiis and the thing must weight 20 pounds that goes on this bike rack. I could put the tire lower maybe on the rack.

Its a bed that folds out there.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f176/crazy-idea-sleeping-tj-991935/index5.html

**Ironworker709** · 07-22-2010, 10:04 AM

It's still all a bad idea with the thin material those are made of.

You could keep the tire where it is and buy cheap cargo carrier somewhere that slides directly into you're hitch reciever and be done with and SAFE.

I made this one,but it gives you the idea of what i mean,they sell several places online,walmarts,auto stores..etc

Madmanmiller802 · 07-22-2010, 10:17 AM

Thanks for the responses.
I have looked into hitch carriers. They have a 200-300 lb weight limit for class II recievers(1 1/4").
My issue is that I can't have my spare tire there.
I used it like this weekend on a short trip. Right now I can stand on the rack near the hinge and bounce.
I need an alternative I guess or a recommendation for braces.
I am going to weld the hinged part closed so that it does not hinge. This is the weakest point I think.

I can't really start from scratch because i can't use anything bigger than 1.25" it would be kind of a waste.

Madmanmiller802 · 07-22-2010, 11:17 AM

Okay Let me try this again. I tow the trailer in the last picture with this 1.25" hitch, but that hitch is solid steel. This bike rack is just box steel. Yes it holds the tire there, but how long is the question.

New plan.
What if I get a hitch adapter. 1.25 to 2" these are solid steel. Then a 2" box steel from that up to hold tire.
Then I have 1.5" box steel to make a small tray for my cooler or action packer.
This would beef it up and lower the tire making it safer/

**Targetsfromus** · 07-22-2010, 12:25 PM

this looks much smarter. add some cross braces between the two pieces you have labeled 2 and you should be set.

also try to get the tote more centered on the receiver to help counter act the leverage.

Madmanmiller802 · 07-22-2010, 01:33 PM

Okay I have all the materials . I just need to finish cutting them down and then bring them to get welded. I am going to have little triangles between the 2" that comes out of receiver and the 2" upright post.

Madmanmiller802 · 07-22-2010, 03:03 PM

So with a little help, I think I am going in the right direction now. I think I am going to have two spaces for stuff. so I can have one cooler and a small bin or 2 coolers or w/e. I think I am going to use a piece of flat steel and bend it so it makes a little tray. I am going to have this welded up soon and see how it works first.

**NEVADAGARY** · 07-22-2010, 10:56 PM

Good luck but that tubing is way too flimsy. I made my frist hitch mount tire carrier out of 2 inch square 1/8 wall tubing and it sucked big time...bent, twisted and wobbled all over the place. Even popped open on a trail one time. I re-did it using 2x2by1/4 wall and now it is substantial and I wouldn't hang a tire WAYYY off the back like that. I would mount the tire as cose to the receiver as possible.

Madmanmiller802 · 07-23-2010, 12:00 AM

Hello Nevadagary,
I am curious to where the gen 1 carrier broke. I am gusseting the corner where the 2 2" pieces connect.
I am going to be using this carrier for 21 days and then it will only be used rarely for a camping trip. If it was a DD thing i prob should have used 3/16. I also have a 31" tire not a 33" prob not a ton of difference but maybe some. I am going to give this a shot and see how it goes. If need be I can put a bar from where the receiver is to the top to make a large triangle. I think that this will be a lot better than 1.25 tubing. Maybe it won't be perfect or last for years, but it doesn't need to.

Any input on how I could make this stronger with 1/8" inch would be very helpful

**NEVADAGARY** · 07-23-2010, 12:12 AM

My first one didn't break it twisted and that was 2" tubing. I guess you could weld some 1/8 plate to the side to help stop the twist. My tire is a 33 and it is not real heavy but still substantial. Last thing you want is a tire and bunch of broken steel tubing bouncing into the car behind you. Good luck.

BTW- You're going to need some kind of an anti wobble device. Here's a pic of the one I made. It works great!

07-22-2010, 08:45 AM	#5
squigy123 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: altoona pa Posts: 253 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	yea thats just a bad idea im sorry if i misunderstood your first post but why not keep the tire where it normally is? keeping all the way up against the jeep and the lighter stuff further out. i would be worried vibes during travel tearing that apart and killing the people behind you.