Swing DOWN tire carrier in rear hitch?

rob_gendreau · 01-18-2014, 04:58 PM

Racy (or racy-looking) rigs I've been with have these rear tire carriers that are essentially stinger-shaped (sort of inverted V) with the arms of the V mounted to bolts on the bumper so that they pivot. The tire is mounted across the V and attached to the body or frame or whatever on the sides or at the top. The whole things just pivots down to the ground when released.

I was wondering if anyone used something like this on their van. Seems simpler and easier to fabricate than the side-arm type pivots many have. And because of my bumper and other things that option isn't easily available to me.

What I'd like, ideally, is something that could mount in the hitch. I think maybe a horizontal bar of ?" 2" tubing, with flanges on top for two bolts. Then another horizontal bar between those two points that could rotate, attached to a vertical arm with the tire mounted on it. It could secure to another vertical arm.

A simple version of said is pictured here, although I think I'd want two pivots, not one (but that may be overkill): http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/hitch-m ... ier-13432/

The other tweak is that it would have to be offset from the hitch to the left about 13". Since that would add too much rotational force to the hitch, I'd brace it on the other side (sorta like those 3-pronged trailer hitches that are out there).

Any ideas? criticisms? hoots of laughter?

Ford_6L_E350 · 01-18-2014, 05:21 PM

I like the idea. It might, however, tend to block the license plate if the wheel is centered on the van.

Mike

larrie · 01-18-2014, 05:22 PM

Looks like a good alternative to the pivoting Aluminess style. Since you have to move it off center using a second receiver hitch would definitely stabilize it and allow for a second hinge point. It would also do a better job of distributing the weight.

**BroncoHauler** · 01-18-2014, 05:31 PM

Definitely do-able, but some things to keep in mind;

- You need to keep free quite a bit of distance behind your SMB every time you want to open the rear doors. Someone parks behind you in a parking lot, and you won't be using the rear doors.

- Without some sort of hydraulic assist ram or something, that weight will want to come down to the ground in a hurry.

- Lowering and lifting that spare tire weight will get tiring. Good workout though.

- Seems that all that weight on a single point (the hitch) is asking for trouble. Back and forth movement, and side to side movement will cause a lot of stress.

Herb

rob_gendreau · 01-18-2014, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

Definitely do-able, but some things to keep in mind;

- You need to keep free quite a bit of distance behind your SMB every time you want to open the rear doors. Someone parks behind you in a parking lot, and you won't be using the rear doors.

- Without some sort of hydraulic assist ram or something, that weight will want to come down to the ground in a hurry.

- Lowering and lifting that spare tire weight will get tiring. Good workout though.

- Seems that all that weight on a single point (the hitch) is asking for trouble. Back and forth movement, and side to side movement will cause a lot of stress.

I can weld a second receiver at the same height on the left side of my existing receiver, so you're right, probably two points are better if it's offset, which it has to be.

No problem on accessing the rear; I only need the rear doors open to access a solar panel and couple of other things that only come out in a campsite. Still, it is gonna be about 65lbs. It's right behind the ladder though, so just brainstorming it would be pretty easy to use a rope to lower it, maybe even a pulley on the top rung. It'll easily handle my weight so the tire would be easy.

Already had to move my license plate; the rear right door is blocked by swingout ammo cans. See here:

Now that I'm thinking of that, it probably would be nice if I used bolts on the plate where the tire fastens so that they could be undone from the rear. So you could drop the tire down to almost flat and then undo it, saving lifting it off the bolts some 3' off the ground. That'll take some thought...

boywonder · 01-18-2014, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

- Without some sort of hydraulic assist ram or something, that weight will want to come down to the ground in a hurry.

Herb

Here is some raw material for the hydraulic assist idea; it's a motorcycle hitch hauler that lifts up and down with a bottle jack.

REF · 01-19-2014, 07:26 AM

Or you could get a side mount ladder and free up the space on your bumper for the tire......

**daveb** · 01-21-2014, 10:29 PM

There is something like that in this post but don't know if it's home built or purchased.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=752&start=15

An idea anyway.

boywonder · 01-22-2014, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveb

There is something like that in this post but don't know if it's home built or purchased.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=752&start=15

An idea anyway.

That's a moto jack rack, also known as an ultimate hauler that has been adapted to carry a spare, same as my post above . The one in Twolost's thread has the optional gas can holder as well.

Coincidentally, I have a friend who is selling one of these for fairly cheap, and it has a new bottle jack as well.

E350 · 01-22-2014, 08:42 AM

Interesting idea. My 2 ¢:

Why not put a 2x1 sq tube inverted V-frame on the outside of the tire. With the tire over the bumper (leaving the frame exposed for hanging more stuff?), so that when the tire rack is down on the ground, the tire is facing up (so easy to attach and detach) and when the tire is up the lug nuts securing it are facing inwards and inaccessible?

With a structural bumper couldn't the inverted V-frame need nothing more than a pin hinge off of some 2" square tube welded onto the bumper where the bumper attaches to the frame? (I.e., one of the legs of the ^ would be longer and bent down and under the passenger side rear door to attach to some 2" square tube welded onto the bumper where the bumper attaches to the frame on the passenger side?)