[Leans93]

When I went to 33" tires the spare wouldn't fit in the stock location. I bought a TeraFlex extension that attached to the stock mount. This lasted for about a week and it was loud and pretty much trashed my tailgate. I took it off and threw the spare in the back and its been taking up valuable real estate for over a year now.

I had been thinking about a swing out carrier for quite some time but wasn't sure exactly what I wanted and the ones on the market are quite more expensive than I wanted to pay. I decided I may as well put my tools to use and build one.

I ordered up the hinge/pivot and the latch from A to Z Fabrication. I used the TeraFlex extension and also bought some 2"x2"x3/16". I used my existing Smittybuilt rock crusher style bumper since I already had it and it matches the front (which really doesn't matter to me) but it saved me from having to build the bumper also.

Thanks to BESRK and others for their assistance and threads that helped me complete my build. Well it's not actually complete yet I still have some grinding to do and then paint. I'll talk about some of the build in the pictures below and then I'll put up some more pictures when I get it painted and installed.

Here's a picture from the front, my welds aren't cleaned up yet but it was getting late.



Here's the latch, it bolts through to a plate on the back. It came with a "T" style handle to weld to the bolt but I'm contemplating leaving it like this to make it harder for anyone who may want to mess with it.



Here's the plate and studs for the tire to bolt up to, I just cut and ground down the TeraFlex extension and just used the plate. I put a gusset under the neck for more support.



And finally here's the hinge/pivot. This was a royal PITA because the top of the bumper is flat and the bottom portion I needed to weld to was at an angle. It took a little while to get the bottom hole lined up and sized up. It turned out really good though.



I used a Lincoln 180HD with flux cord, a chop saw to make the cuts, an angle grinder, and then your basic levels and squares.

Thanks for looking. Any comments are welcome! And my welds aren't that pretty I already know that lol.

[RubiconR6]

Looks like it will do the job. i made one just about like that. i done the t style handle that bolts through for my latch it works it shelf lose some times.

[Ironworker709]

looks GOOD!!
I also have the Lincoln 180,great machine,only problem i've had was my own fault..lol,i put it in a box when we went on vacation up north because my brother needed some welding done,i ended up unkowingly setting the machine on part of the gun hose,smashed the inside sleeve a little and wouldn't run for nothing right,last night finaly figured out why and pulled the sleeve out and fixed it,runs great again,if it starts runnin bad i'll just get another sleeve for it.

Little advice on the latch bolt,get a small aircraft cable and washer and weld to it,they seem to get lost easily..lol..i was washing the jeep one day and had the gate open to clean back there,seen a freind go by and hopped in the jeep to go talk to him about something, forgetting the bolt wasn't in and lost the bolt,had to make another one for it..lol

[Leans93]

Thanks guys!

I'll have to keep my eye on the latch bolt.

I finished painting etc. today. I'll get some pics up here in a minute.

[Leans93]

Alright here's the finished product all painted and mounted up. I think it turned out pretty good!

[Ironworker709]

Originally Posted by Leans93

Alright here's the finished product all painted and mounted up. I think it turned out pretty good!

Looks Good!
You done a FINE job

[churchofjt]

Looks good. You may want to consider putting some kind of isolator between the carrier and the tailgate if it bounces into it.

[BESRK]

Nice job!!

[Bigboyky]

looks good man

[Leans93]

Thanks for the kind words!

I've taken her out on the street and she seems solid. It doesn't really wiggle or make any noise, those rubber tire stops shouldn't be needed right?

Also what do you guys torque your hinge/pivot bolt to? This thing didn't come with any instructions and the video on their website just says to torque to "spec". I used a large torque wrench set to 80 ft.lbs. and tightened until it was pretty hard to turn and it didn't even click so I know its less than 80 right now. I just don't want it coming off nor do I want to damage it by tightening it too tight.

[Ironworker709]

Don't torque it,they are just like the axle spindles on cars,you only need to snug them up until all slop is gone,then maybe a 1/4 turn and put the pin in,done deal.
Too tight will ruin the bearings in them

[Bigbob]

Originally Posted by Leans93

Also what do you guys torque your hinge/pivot bolt to? This thing didn't come with any instructions and the video on their website just says to torque to "spec". I used a large torque wrench set to 80 ft.lbs. and tightened until it was pretty hard to turn and it didn't even click so I know its less than 80 right now. I just don't want it coming off nor do I want to damage it by tightening it too tight.

Being it does not move much you can tighten it a bit more than what you would a wheel bearing. Make sure you have no play in it.

2 suggestions.

I like to have the latch or left side sit on a rest of sorts to help take some of the strain off the spindle. With the bolt deal on yours that may not be needed.

You may want to put one of the old rubber tire bumpers between the swing and tailgate just to prevent it from hitting. Also in the event the spindle should ever break it would protect the tailgate and give you a stop to tie the swing to so you can limp home.

Looks good.

[green89yj]

Sweet. I am looking into doing something eerily similar. I will try to scan my sketch in and submit it for criticism.

[WCoon]

Looks good! BTW, where's your gas tank?

[Leans93]

Originally Posted by WCoon

Looks good! BTW, where's your gas tank?

Lol, it was just to the right out of the camera view. Much easier to bolt up the bumper with the gas tank out of the way.