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Old 07-11-2018, 10:23 AM   #1
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Fix for alumness tire rack?

Any fixes for the rear tire carrier on E vans? I bought a new Alumness tire rack and hardly drive it, but rattle gets worse and worse. Have already added a top support bracket. Tires is a 275x70R18.

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Old 07-11-2018, 11:25 AM   #2
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Check to see if yours has a round plastic "guide plate" (at bumper height on the frame) that the inboard end of the swing-arm rests on when it is in the closed position. Is it actually resting on it? If not, you might need to shim it up a bit higher (or adjust it in some other directions) to get the swing arm to "wedge" onto it when you close/latch the arm.

I found mine rattled a lot too at first (and still does a little bit), but getting that lower support disc to be a snug tolerance when the arm is closed will do two things --- 1) take some of the load off the hinges and 2) make the latch mechanism a bit tighter when it's closed.

EDIT --
Also, check all those bolts at the top of the main upright for tightness! The bolt in particular that threads down into the support strap and anchors it to the rack is very prone to loosening. Get some threadlock on that, or it **will** wiggle/rattle loose on the trail.
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Old 07-11-2018, 11:33 AM   #3
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Thanks did all those things. Called Aluminess they responded with We will look into it.
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Old 07-11-2018, 11:36 AM   #4
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Some pics may help us offer some suggestions.


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Old 07-11-2018, 11:47 AM   #5
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Here ya go. Washer was under round disk
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Old 07-11-2018, 12:05 PM   #6
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If the swingarm is not resting on the delrin spacer you can also remove material from the delrin washer below each hinge......easier to remove material than add it.
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Old 07-11-2018, 01:50 PM   #7
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I had to convert mine from 8x165 to 8x170. When I did I made it so the tire was actually resting on the bumper so not all the weight of a heavy 9” rim and a 35” tire weren’t just floating. It’s cut down how often I have to retighten all the bolts.

I am going to try that washer trick though for a more secure latch. Thanks for the tip langan!
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Old 07-11-2018, 02:22 PM   #8
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I like that sitting tire on bumper idea. Thanks
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Old 07-19-2018, 01:06 PM   #9
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does rack block access to original spare?

I am considering an Aluminess tire rack for my 2012 E250 to carry a second spare (2x, original wheel/tire size). Does the rack block the hole used for the crank to lower/raise the undermount factory spare? I asked Aluminess this question and their answer was rather useless - "maybe". thx
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Old 07-19-2018, 01:21 PM   #10
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On my van --- YES.
It absolutely blocks that hole.

IIRC, it looked like you could probably modify the Aluminess structure around the bumper area to fix this (less elegantly-put: drill/grind a big access hole in it) but you'd want to do that before you did your final bolting-down of the rack. I'll take another look at mine this afternoon to confirm how much material you would need to remove. (Or if it potentially can't easily be done.)
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