Like the title says, I got bored

With new Cooper STT's coming in sometime mid-week, and 5 LC wheels coming out of powdercoat Monday or Tuesday, and hopefully a used spare...
I need to find a spot to keep a spare, doesn't fit underneath, was gonna put it on top, but I didn't want to really, so rear hitch it is. Until of course I get my bumper made

At first I figured I don't need to use the hatch, just the window, so I made it one solid piece, put it on, and wow, don't want to do that every time I want to open the hatch. So back to the shop, chopped it in half, gave it a pivot, and added a shackle hanger while I was there... It bolts up very tight to the receiver, so no wobble there, and there is barely any wobble at the pivot area either. Overall I am very satisfied with it, clearance isn't too bad, and rear vision shouldn't be blocked much either

Preliminary Pics: need to paint and get a real tire on it (yes, there is clearance for a larger tire)






(edit: hmm, i need to clean up that booger there)





will get up some more some time later after paint or powdercoating

 

looks good wheres the license plate going ?

 

uh, don't worry 'bout it ... lol

about that, currently working on an idea to mount in middle of wheel... but gonna wait till I get actual LC wheel up there to get closer dimensions

 

shackle idea is awesome, curious as to how i can pull somebody out from mine, so i tied the strap around the entire carrier yesterday, didnt pull anybody out but it would work the same way

 

looks pretty good. a little grinding on those welds and some paint and itll look awesome, im impressed

 

i like! that's a great idea...i've thought about it too but on a 2nd gen i'd have to relocate the reverse lights. i was thinking about getting a stock carier and a 1990 tailgate

great work

 

yeah, i didn't like the idea of relying on movable parts of carrier to bear stress of pulling (someone else out of course). For me I made my tire lower, instead of using that space for the license plate versus visibility, waste IMO. (angle may have been slightly affected, but ok for what I want, I'll check with full spare later)

I also made the pivot point in a different spot, and used a larger distance between pivot and the pin to hold in place, to increase stability and to decrease stresses on the carrier, also to make it MUCH easier to pick up the tire from what it must be for others I have seen

lol, yeah... for the most part, except for one booger mess of a gusset, all the welds are decently smooth, a lot of grinding, I think light is looking funny on the scotch disc swirl marks it leaves behind. first welder I was using was outta gas, second was a brand new large miller unit, much better

 

actual wheel studs are pressed in, instead of loose bolts, and painted... no pics though, sorry

 

so did you finish it ?

 

I like how you incorporated the retrieval loop with the spare tire carrier. Very original....

 

just made the license holder for it, got a bracket, light, and plug/wiring from NAPA, will have pics up when I find my camera, and get them uploaded, getting there

 

Yeah that is slick, I like it.

 

wow, almost a year since I made this, and since I got my STT's and LC Wheels, all of the above are still going strong. The carrier could be repainted (still need to get good pics of it up here ). Hopefully this carrier will be passed on to someone else this summer if I have time to make a rear bumper...

 

nice fab