Tub vs. Bumper mounted spare

[mJUSTINm]

I need a new way to mount my spare. I'm running 33x12.5s and I have a rugged ridge spare mount for the tailgate, but I hate my tire hanging off of it. It's OK for driving around town, but when it's time to go off roading I pull it off and strap it down inside the tub.

What are your opinions on a tub mounted carrier (Treks, OR Fab, or eventual Savvy carriers) vs a more traditional bumper mounted system (I've been eyeballing the Jeeperman with corner returns). How do the tub mounted ones mount? Is there any problem with coming down onto the tire and it possibly damaging the tub where it's mounted?

Thanks

[Dukes69]

Out of curiosity what is wrong with leaving it on the tailgate? Besides not liking it?

[bails85]

are u talking about mounting inside the tub like in the cargo area or under the tub like on a pickup? i personally dontlike the tailgate either. i like my rear window to be open with nothing blocking my view. i have seen some guys mount the spare in the rear cargo area using a prerunner type spare mount for like a ranger. i like them but then u compromise losing your cargo space.

[lakev2]

The stock tailgate mounts are intended for 28"? tires. When i got my jeep the tailgate was already deformed from the 31" tire the previous owner had on it.

I assume he wants an aftermarket tire carrier that will hold up to bigger meats and if he happens to back into something on the trail, wont damage the tub or come apart to where he has to find a place to carry the spare.

Out of curiosity what is wrong with leaving it on the tailgate? Besides not liking it?

[OU812]

I have a dirtworx bumper and tire carrier. It is OK. But with the tire and some fuel cans and my HiLift it is too much weight to be held securely on the rear cross member. When I drive down the highway or washboard roads the whole thing moves back and forth flexing the rear cross member. My bumper has 2 framrail tie-ins and that is still not enough. My next tire carrier will be tub mounted for sure. I really like the ORFab carrier. And I am not going to wait for this bumper to need replacing. I’m going to take it off and sell it in order to buy a tub mounted tire carrier.

[mJUSTINm]

Out of curiosity what is wrong with leaving it on the tailgate? Besides not liking it?

The weight. I can already see it flexing.

are u talking about mounting inside the tub like in the cargo area or under the tub like on a pickup? i personally dontlike the tailgate either. i like my rear window to be open with nothing blocking my view. i have seen some guys mount the spare in the rear cargo area using a prerunner type spare mount for like a ranger. i like them but then u compromise losing your cargo space.

Nope, a tire carrier like this one from Treks (formerly TnT)

[mJUSTINm]

The stock tailgate mounts are intended for 28"? tires. When i got my jeep the tailgate was already deformed from the 31" tire the previous owner had on it.

I assume he wants an aftermarket tire carrier that will hold up to bigger meats and if he happens to back into something on the trail, wont damage the tub or come apart to where he has to find a place to carry the spare.

Exactly. My 30x9.5 was fine on there. A week after driving with the 33x12.5 on there and it's strarting to pull at the hinges and latch. Not cool!

[mJUSTINm]

I have a dirtworx bumper and tire carrier. It is OK. But with the tire and some fuel cans and my HiLift it is too much weight to be held securely on the rear cross member. When I drive down the highway or washboard roads the whole thing moves back and forth flexing the rear cross member. My bumper has 2 framrail tie-ins and that is still not enough. My next tire carrier will be tub mounted for sure. I really like the ORFab carrier. And I am not going to wait for this bumper to need replacing. I’m going to take it off and sell it in order to buy a tub mounted tire carrier.

That's what I'm afraid of, all that weight bouncing around. All I would hang off the back is the tire and a hi lift if I can. As far as Jerry cans, I'm thinking about getting those newer flat style ones (I can't remember what they were called or who made them at the moment) and mounting them inside somewhere in the cargo area.

[Dukes69]

The weight. I can already see it flexing.

Which part is flexing?

The stock carrier can hold a 33" tire with no problem. It begins to become an issue when you space it out off the rubber bumpers on the tailgate.

If your worried about weight, the stock carrier is the lightest you'll find.

[mJUSTINm]

It's pulling the tailgate forward and down. I'm worried about the weight of a 33 on the stock tailgate as it is, not the weight of adding a bumper/tire carrier.

[6spdYJ]

Even worse than pulling the hinges apart, when I had a stock spare, on pavement it tore up my lock and jammed it. I couldn't open the tailgate. Do anything but mount it to the tailgate no matter what size tire you're running.

[Dukes69]

It's pulling the tailgate forward and down. I'm worried about the weight of a 33 on the stock tailgate as it is, not the weight of adding a bumper/tire carrier.

Must be an 03 and up thing.

I've been privy to the Savvy design idea, mostly in brainstorming. It's going to be pretty cool, but it might take a while to become reality. Whatever you do make sure the swing part tucks up tight to the tailgate and hits on some rubber stoppers or something. That'll go a long way to keeping it rattle free.

[Materdaddy]

I have a 33 on the stock carrier and it hasn't been sagging my tailgate at all. After upgrading tires, I made sure the 33 was still hitting the rubber stoppers on the tailgate to avoid excessive vibration of the mount, and the bottom of the tire actually fits perfectly to rest on the bumper enough to rub the paint off that portion of the bumper, but not cause any difficulty closing the tailgate.

[mJUSTINm]

Yea, I've heard of some people having good luck with it and some not. I haven't noticed any real damage YET but why risk it?

I'd love to go with Savvy as I like the products, and Blaine and Gerald are good people, but I'm not entirely sold on a tub mounted swing yet.. especially since I don't have corner armor. If I did it would be a different story.

[NAILER341]

When you guys with the stock carriers get your replacement, I'd like to have one of the OEM carriers and the rubber spacers, so please don't throw them away.
I have a 33 I'd like to mount on the tailgate.