Spare Tire

[stever1000]

What are you using for a spare tire?

Tonight I learned that the spare tire carrier is smaller than I thought. I just installed 30x9.5 tires and CVI said my full-size spare wouldn't fit in the carrier.
Is there a way to modify the stock carrier to fit a bigger tire? Currently I have a 235/XX/15 spare and I worry about the difference in size if I ever get a flat tire and need to use the spare... if possible i want to use my fifth 30x9.5 tire in the stock spot


Thanks!

[Triumph73]

I'll try to post some pics this weekend of my $10 modification to fit a 22575R16 tire underneath with no problems.

I bought Qt 4, 1.5" U bolts. The U bolts come with a flat bridge piece. Throw away the U bolt and keep the 4 bridge pieces.

Crawl under your van and you will find the tire carrier is connected by 2 pins. Remove the tire carrier and place 2 doubled up bridge pieces in between the basket and the chassis bracket. I used a bolt and a Nylon nut and some locktite to ensure it doesn't come apart from vibration. I reused the pins so it still swings free at the chassis side like it originally did.

All you're trying to do is give the tire a bit more room in depth.

Now before I get any comments about buying U bolts.... I know you could drill out your own piece of flat steal. This made it easy so I didn't have to drill through thick steal stock. I also live in a condo and don't have the tools handy that I once did.... this is super quick and easy, and also zinc plated so it should last a while.

Hope that helps

[stever1000]

Excellent information, do you think it would also work for a 30x9.5 tire too?
Pictures underneath would be awesome!!

[stever1000]

Anyone else have an easy solution? I know other people have bigger than stock tires

[Big-Bird]

The plates are the most elegant option and likley the best choice...in fact I run 30's and will probably do this as well. Will likely use stainless plates and drill holes to size. Don't want a loose rack as it will only wiggle and wear out the holes over time. Been there with a SWAY BAR disconnect kit on my previous 4x4. The lock pins in the kit had just enough roof to slip in when new...had oval holes in 5-6 months. What a waste.

Less elegant but cheap!...throw it in the back of the van (takes up space, not secure....uhh why am I putting this as a option?)

Roof rack mounted. Only works if you actually have a roof rack and will impact roof clearance.

Rear Swing Away Carrier. Only works if you have the carrier, makes the van's butt stick out in parking stalls but sure looks cool when done right.

[stever1000]

Thanks Big Bird, I'll take down my spare tire and see about fitting some plates as this seems to be the best overall option at the moment. I would love a swing out tire carrier eventually....

[Krazyistkarl]

I've got a simple plan for those of us with a trailer hitch in the rear. Just bumping this so I can find it on taptalk and post a picture

[Krazyistkarl]

Excuse the poor drawings, done quickly with a stylus on my phone. The tire will sit as low as possible, it looks high in the drawing, and is blocking my reverse light and brake light, it will need to be centred.
Admin: picture resized.

58ad80bdb410a090f79112c5b0 copy.JPG (58.05 KiB) Viewed 6589 times

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

[Krazyistkarl]

well just realized the picture didn't work

[FalcoColumbarius]

The picture files are too big. You need to reduce the file size.

Falco.

[stever1000]

I installed the new tire on my spare and threw it underneath, and I was surprised that it fit in the tire cage and I was able to raise it up. I'm assuming it wont wind up as high as normal, but it seems pretty well tucked in there.

[BCDelica]

The plates are the most elegant option and likley the best choice...in fact I run 30's and will probably do this as well. Will likely use stainless plates and drill holes to size. Don't want a loose rack as it will only wiggle and wear out the holes over time. Been there with a SWAY BAR disconnect kit on my previous 4x4. The lock pins in the kit had just enough roof to slip in when new...had oval holes in 5-6 months. What a waste.

Less elegant but cheap!...throw it in the back of the van (takes up space, not secure....uhh why am I putting this as a option?)

Roof rack mounted. Only works if you actually have a roof rack and will impact roof clearance.

Rear Swing Away Carrier. Only works if you have the carrier, makes the van's butt stick out in parking stalls but sure looks cool when done right.

Could also be bolted to the front bars, seen this a couple of times, but this seem to awkward of a location.

Yes I'm cheap. As the L300 pictured had 3 fuel tanks underneath, and I didn't want a swing away carrier though I'd bought all the fixen's to build one. I did use bolts and bent tubing rod to bolt it tightly to the seat mounts on the rear wheel well. Even bought a vinyl tire cover for it, but preferred covering it with a blanket or quilt, as it was a simple place to store them. If you don't use your back seat than this works. Pictured below with a funky afghan covering.