 |
|
|
08-20-2011, 03:51 PM
|
#1
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Valparaiso, Indiana
Posts: 32
|
I am in the market for a swing out tire carrier.
I know all of you have oppinions, and I need to hear them. what's so bad about the smittybuilt's? why are arb's so expensive? I am probably gonna go with a bumper carrier combo. I want to know what yall think is the best one. I am looking to spend about $500. Thanks for your help!
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 03:55 PM
|
#2
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Alabaster, AL
Posts: 8
|
I'll also be in the market soon. I'll be following this thread hoping for some nice recommendations.
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 04:02 PM
|
#3
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Caribbean
Posts: 739
|
I had the RockHard rear bumper with tire carier for 3 years on my 06 Unlimited Rubicon, worked just fine, the new owner still has it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
08 JKU Rubicon
98 TJ fully locked
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 04:07 PM
|
#4
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victorville, CA
Posts: 108
|
I just got the Warn swing out. I love it, easy to install, and seems bullet proof. Had to move the lisence plate holder, it came with the hardware to do it....but i like it.
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 04:07 PM
|
#5
|
|
Web Wheeler
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lee's Summit, MO
Posts: 3,407
|
My LoD has held up great for two years. Tight as a drum!
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 04:13 PM
|
#6
|
|
Watching Big Brother?
Join Date: May 2009
Location: 34*24'N, 119*42'W, SoCal
Posts: 3,893
|
ARB is expensive because of the extra design, material, and labor expense that goes into building a superior product. Hanson makes a beautiful bumper and swing-out and Garvin/Wilderness Systems is what I have, but both are well beyond your proposed budget. Here's a whole thread about Smittybilt's. smittybilt-rear-bumper-tire-carrier I'd personally never own one 'cuz of a couple of reasons (particularly copying others' designs and manufacturing cheap versions of the same product overseas,) but some seem to like 'em.
__________________
Gear-Calculator Stu Can Help You Part Names and Numbers Dealer Supplied Parts and ask for "Jeep Club" Prices
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ron Paul
“Liberty is lost through complacency and a subservient mindset. When we accept or even welcome automobile checkpoints, random searches, mandatory identification cards, and paramilitary police in our streets, we have lost a vital part of our American heritage. America was born of protest, revolution, and mistrust of government. Subservient societies neither maintain nor deserve freedom for long.”
― Ron Paul
|
"Did you exchange your walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?"
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 04:22 PM
|
#7
|
|
Do it right or not at all
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Escondido, California, California
Posts: 57,627
|
Smittybilt's Chinese made junk wouldn't even be on my list of possible spare tire carriers... shiny and pretty when new but short-lived poorly manufactured junk in my opinion.
I've seen a lot of swing-out tire carriers over past 17 years but none have impressed me like the design from Off-Road Fabricators in Arizona.
Bumper mounted carriers rely on just one point of support and that support depends on the bumper. When closed, they have two support points but just one support point when open. ORF's on the other hand has three support points when closed and two when open and all three points are supported by hidden brackets that are bolted to the rollbar bases. You don't get stronger than that. ORF's design does not rely on or even touch the bumper so you can use whatever bumper you like.
I've had two ORF carriers on two different Jeeps and before my first TJ with the ORF carrier was stolen, the carrier was 8 years old and still sag and rattle-free the last time I saw it. That was with having carried not only my 35" tire but two usually full 5 gallon jerry cans. It worked so well that I installed another onto my replacement TJ.
Their website is at http://www.orfab.com/ but don't let the full-retail pricing shown there scare you as it is available heavilydiscounted from Gerald at www.savvyoffroad.com
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 04:25 PM
|
#8
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Valparaiso, Indiana
Posts: 32
|
Thanks, that is just what I needed to see!! I think the smittybuilt is the one for me!! I really need one. If I don't have a spare somehow I will get a flat!
__________________
Indiana's Original Jeep Creep
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 04:30 PM
|
#9
|
|
Do it right or not at all
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Escondido, California, California
Posts: 57,627
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by unklej
Thanks, that is just what I needed to see!! I think the smittybuilt is the one for me!!
|
After reading the above comments, you're kidding right? 
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 04:38 PM
|
#10
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 5,561
|
I have no idea what unklej is talking about but I'm definitely sold on the idea of a tub mounted carrier. Still trying to decide between the OR-FAB and the Bestop though.
In-fact I just pulled a Garvin setup off my rig and it weighed in at 105lbs for the bumper/swingout combo. Not including brackets and hardware.
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 04:44 PM
|
#11
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 939
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 05:39 PM
|
#12
|
|
Self Smarted
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sparks NV
Posts: 2,309
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by thejafe
I have no idea what unklej is talking about but I'm definitely sold on the idea of a tub mounted carrier. Still trying to decide between the OR-FAB and the Bestop though.
In-fact I just pulled a Garvin setup off my rig and it weighed in at 105lbs for the bumper/swingout combo. Not including brackets and hardware.
|
I have the bestop one and do like it. Looking at the or-fab one, I think it looks more stout than the bestop. The bestop one felt kind of light on the tubing thickness when I installed it. Here is my opinion on the bestop one. It just looks like a functional OEM part, it does not add to the "offroad rugged look" if that makes any sense. Just looks like a carrier designed for the given purpose and not much more. Bestop advertises it can hold a 35" tire and 200lb. I am thinking that is a typo, maybe total of 200lb including the tire.
If I had to do over, It would be a tough call to make, I do like the fact that it opens with the tailgate. For that reason alone, and I don't need to mount jerry cans, I'd probably go with the bestop again.
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 06:01 PM
|
#13
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Kinston NC
Posts: 242
|
After hearing about them on here I went with the Crown Tech. Just like the warn without the w cutouts. Good bumper for the money. Bought mine from AtoZ fabrication and it come with the frame tie ins and free shipping.
__________________
33x12.50 Mtz's, Ome lift, 3/4 front spacers, Jks 1.25 bl and mml, Warn 9000, Rockcrawler front and rear bumpers, Warn fog/driving lights, Rubicon flares
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 06:56 PM
|
#14
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 5,561
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by J03_TJ
I have the bestop one and do like it. Looking at the or-fab one, I think it looks more stout than the bestop. The bestop one felt kind of light on the tubing thickness when I installed it. Here is my opinion on the bestop one. It just looks like a functional OEM part, it does not add to the "offroad rugged look" if that makes any sense. Just looks like a carrier designed for the given purpose and not much more. Bestop advertises it can hold a 35" tire and 200lb. I am thinking that is a typo, maybe total of 200lb including the tire.
If I had to do over, It would be a tough call to make, I do like the fact that it opens with the tailgate. For that reason alone, and I don't need to mount jerry cans, I'd probably go with the bestop again.
|
Thanks for your input on the Bestop  . Yeah, they even say in the little youtube video they made that it'll hold a 35" tire. Here you go:
|
|
|
|
|
08-20-2011, 07:38 PM
|
#15
|
|
Mall Crawler
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Posts: 3,979
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 99_TJ_Wyoming
|
That Dirtworks carrier looks really nice. I'd be nervous about carrying gas cans so low though, I'd also be nervous about running any bumper mounted tire carrier. The rear bumper on a TJ is mounted to a very thin cross member. I don't even like the idea of just a plain bumper being mounted to it unless there are frame tie ins to the bolting locations. I'm planning a whole new direction on my rear bumper pretty soon since I recently was made aware of how it mounts. Are you already running frame tie ins? If so you might be alright, but I would still be nervous about being rear ended with those cans so low. Maybe a welded on bit of tube armor for the cans would be a sweet upgrade
|
|
|
|
|
|
>
swing out tire carriers
