Bumper/nerf bar/rock slider design exercise

[rallypanam]

And yes, generally a 33" will fit in stock location, and if it doesn't a quick grinding job on one of the tabs will allow it to fit.

EDIT: With Class 4 hitch installed.

[Glider]

Originally Posted by MountainBikeRoamer

Hey, nice it fits!
Do you currently have a rear trailer-hitch installed? (An aftermarket, frame-mounted one with a solid cross-member)?

I'm guessing it's only possible without an aftermarket frame-mount hitch....but that's still good dimensional info to know.

Your 285/70R17 tires are right in the same 33" OD camp as the 285/75R16 tire, both of which seem to be a pretty darn common size for a lot of SMB builds around here (2WD or 4WD both.) So it's cool to know that a 33" tire can be fit underneath in at least some cases.

But just thinking of more of those tradeoffs, tradeoffs:
It's probably the case that not everyone wants to let their more-expensive-and-pretty spare wheel/tire getting steadily made ever-more-filthy under their van.....(and there must be some instances where getting that tire out, while off-road somewhere and with perhaps a flat rear tire, might not be someone's favorite solution....)

Believe it or not, I do have a frame-mounted, cross-membered, aftermarket trailer hitch. After I get my van back from John, I'll send you some pics of the whole setup.

You make a good point about letting a spendy-and-pretty wheel get dusted to death under the van...as well as the challenges associated with rescuing said wheel and tire when the van has a flat and is buried up to the axle in a hole somewhere in the middle of nowhere. More tradeoffs...

[Jsweezy]

One of these must be incorporated...

[Ben10281]

Rally, I think if the nerf bars had a mounting system similar to these:

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=9J6zxPd07Cw

that would cover many different vans, however I don't think you are getting any protection with a mounting system like this. It doesn't seem strong enough, it would have to be purely a step.



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[rallypanam]

Originally Posted by Ben10281

Rally, I think if the nerf bars had a mounting system similar to these:

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=9J6zxPd07Cw

that would cover many different vans, however I don't think you are getting any protection with a mounting system like this. It doesn't seem strong enough, it would have to be purely a step.

Yeah, a mounting system like that would work for most, but as you say, those are no protection.

[boywonder]

...There was no way my 285/70-17 would fit under the van with the trailer hitch......I tried a few times......

[rallypanam]

Originally Posted by boywonder

...There was no way my 285/70-17 would fit under the van with the trailer hitch......I tried a few times......

Weird. Must be that new-fangled van of yours.

[MountainBikeRoamer]

Originally Posted by rallypanam

And yes, generally a 33" will fit in stock location, and if it doesn't a quick grinding job on one of the tabs will allow it to fit.

EDIT: With Class 4 hitch installed.

Originally Posted by boywonder

...There was no way my 285/70-17 would fit under the van with the trailer hitch......I tried a few times......

I'm recollecting now that even my 225/75R16 original dirty spare just *barely* fit in the space under the rear end. Had to snug it up right against the back-side of the frame-mount trailer hitch crossbeam. And even then it didn't leave a ton of room between the tire and the rear axle's differential housing. No way would I be able to fit my new 33" tire under there either.

But I think I've solved this mystery:
boywonder (and I) both have RB-length vans.
(short rear overhang / short distance underneath van between rear axle and rear bumper.)

(and, conversely....)
rallypanam and Glider both have EB-length vans.
(Longer rear overhang / longer distance between rear axle and rear bumper.)

Makes sense that there'd be more room under the EB van to load a larger-OD tire in there.

[rallypanam]

Ah yes, that's probably it.

[Ben10281]

I have an RB and my 285 tire fit in the stock location. I also have a tow hitch. My hitch is curved however, so that may be why the tire fits. I can take a pic tomorrow if anyone cares to see.