Why do swing out spare carriers seem so rare?- 4Runners
#24
Contributing Member
I think the OEM design is actually very strong. Putting all that weight just off the bumper really adds some serious stress to your pivot and can create all sorts of funky flex issues.
If you already have the OEM rack, give the 37 a shot. If you have an issue, then start building up a new bumper.
#25
Registered User
Has anyone ever put one of these on a 1st gen? My bumper is aftermarket and pretty sturdy so I am thinking of making a hoop on the sides to give the rear quarter panels some more protection and then using the rear vertical post of the hoop to act as the mount for the hinged portion.
If anyone has seen something like this done, please post up. thanks
If anyone has seen something like this done, please post up. thanks
#26
Registered User
I feel kinda privileged now to know I have one of these.
When i got the truck the carrier was in the back of it and so was the spare tire.
I get it home and start looking. can't find any holes in the right rear fender for the brackets that the carrier mounts to.
next time i'm at a junkyard I examine things on a truck that has one. sure enough they should be right where I'm looking.
go back to my truck and I notice that the paint looks a little brighter in that spot than anywhere else.
take a screwdriver to it and out comes the bondo.
the previous owner had converted it over completely.
I had to
pry out all that bondo
clean up the threads
fix the wiring for the license plate lights
take off the license plate light bracket that was on the bumper
and when i did that I saw what olharleyman mentioned earlier. the tailgates are actually different between the runners equipped with carries and the runners without. so to get the lights for the w/out license plate frame to fit the previous guy had taken a dremel to the tailgate and cut holes in it.
next I go to put the bracket on which mounts to the tailgate
the bracket is held on with stud which have also been ground off and bondoed over to fit the license plate frame. drills nuts and bolts later and finally the spare tire carrier is on.
add to that trying to get that bracket to mount securely with out anything hitting the electric rear window.
It was a royal pain. and my truck had it originally to. it would be alot of work to mount one a to a vehicle that never had it.
When i got the truck the carrier was in the back of it and so was the spare tire.
I get it home and start looking. can't find any holes in the right rear fender for the brackets that the carrier mounts to.
next time i'm at a junkyard I examine things on a truck that has one. sure enough they should be right where I'm looking.
go back to my truck and I notice that the paint looks a little brighter in that spot than anywhere else.
take a screwdriver to it and out comes the bondo.
the previous owner had converted it over completely.
I had to
pry out all that bondo
clean up the threads
fix the wiring for the license plate lights
take off the license plate light bracket that was on the bumper
and when i did that I saw what olharleyman mentioned earlier. the tailgates are actually different between the runners equipped with carries and the runners without. so to get the lights for the w/out license plate frame to fit the previous guy had taken a dremel to the tailgate and cut holes in it.
next I go to put the bracket on which mounts to the tailgate
the bracket is held on with stud which have also been ground off and bondoed over to fit the license plate frame. drills nuts and bolts later and finally the spare tire carrier is on.
add to that trying to get that bracket to mount securely with out anything hitting the electric rear window.
It was a royal pain. and my truck had it originally to. it would be alot of work to mount one a to a vehicle that never had it.
Last edited by machabees; 03-30-2008 at 08:49 PM.
#27
Registered User
I had one on mine & ditched it. Couldn't see squat out back, couldn't carry anything in the back that hung out. Now I keep it inside the truck w/straps on the floor. I also welded 2 nuts to the roof & carry 2 long bolts. If I need the cargo space, I throw the tire on the roof. 30 seconds to move the tire, and 100% better functionality of the truck the rest of the time. I don't keep it up there though... I'd need to reinforce the panel to take the beating offroad.
#29
Registered User
I converted mine over completely, but I cheated. I got a parts truck that someone else had already sourced a clean tailgate and a matching tire carrier. So all I had to do was, paint it to match my truck (was the original color of my truck also) mount it, reinforce the mount, and rewire it. done..
#31
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904runner2dr, The rules clearly state "if one does not post pics of their 2dr 2nd gen it will be forfeit to the first to ask (where's the pics)". Wheres the Pics? Just kidding.........but seroiusly where's the pics???
#32
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Just thought I would mention something I saw in an earlier post. They were in fact sold in america. My father bought one in 1990 with a spare tire carrier in Gilroy, California. Secondly, in a couple weeks I am chopping the back off of mine to make it a pickup so I will find out what kind of enforcement they have inside the quarterpanel. If I feel its not enough I will be adding more. Mainly because I plan on having: a 35" tire on it, 2x 5 gallon gas tank and my Hi-lift jack. And probably my CB antenna too. So its gonna need to be really strong. My thread is "90 4runner build" if anyone is interested in this later to see how its reinforced inside i'll have pics. Oh and heres a shot of my spare tire carrier
Its the only pic I have of it currently, I took off that vinyl cover though and it looks so much better
Its the only pic I have of it currently, I took off that vinyl cover though and it looks so much better
#33
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#34
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I think they came 90-95 but don't quote me on that I know they didn't only come on 90-91. I just think it was an option not many dealerships ordered, and back then ordering custom from the factory was a lot more rare.
#35
Contributing Member
Just thought I would mention something I saw in an earlier post. They were in fact sold in america. My father bought one in 1990 with a spare tire carrier in Gilroy, California. Secondly, in a couple weeks I am chopping the back off of mine to make it a pickup so I will find out what kind of enforcement they have inside the quarterpanel. If I feel its not enough I will be adding more. Mainly because I plan on having: a 35" tire on it, 2x 5 gallon gas tank and my Hi-lift jack. And probably my CB antenna too. So its gonna need to be really strong. My thread is "90 4runner build" if anyone is interested in this later to see how its reinforced inside i'll have pics. Oh and heres a shot of my spare tire carrier
Its the only pic I have of it currently, I took off that vinyl cover though and it looks so much better
Its the only pic I have of it currently, I took off that vinyl cover though and it looks so much better
Last edited by olharleyman; 04-02-2008 at 09:27 PM.
#37
Contributing Member
i have a love/hate relationship with my swing arm. i love the off road advantage of the swing arm. i hate the look when compared to the normal tailgate. somedays i'm glad for the swing arm. other days and most days i want to change it out for the normal tailgate. the tire puts a crap load of extra weight on the tailgate which causes stress on more parts. i want to get the normal tailgate and roof my spare.
#39
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At a junk yard in Rancho, I saw a 2 door 4runner with the tire carrier. I thought about grabbing it(the tire carrier) but some a-hole grabbed the latching mechanism .
BTW, the 4Runner was rolled pretty bad.
BTW, the 4Runner was rolled pretty bad.
#40
i bought my first 3 years ago, it was a 91 with the tire carrier on it and then i bought a 90 after i totaled the 91 and it came with a tire carrier on it... i didnt even really realize that some didnt come with them on it until i started looking into them more.
i have the tailgate (only the tailgate! not the carrier) from the 91 in perfect condition for sale if anyone is interested, it has the latch for the spare tire on it!! just pm me
i have the tailgate (only the tailgate! not the carrier) from the 91 in perfect condition for sale if anyone is interested, it has the latch for the spare tire on it!! just pm me
Last edited by RScud87; 04-06-2008 at 07:21 AM.
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