Good Find "Tire Carrier"

[Diverse4runner]

Ok,

I searched a little bit but could not find a good answer. My question is, what is the best way to remove the tire carrier from a junked out 4runner. Is it best to start cutting into the body and then cut out the brackets that are spot welded to the inner subframe/body?

Also, cut out the bracket behind the tailgate?

Thanks guys I think Jonny retro-fitted his on.

 

[willyt4r]

cut it out

I salvaged the tire carrier bracket ( 61607‑89101) by cutting it out from the rear panel. The spot welds just pop out from the inner sub assembly. The brackets are held on with 10 bolts the spot welds do little in terms of rigidity. Installing the bracket requires some destruction of the inner sub assembly so that the bracket will slide into place. the dimensions of the bracket fit exactly into the space above and below the tail lights. Then it is a matter of drilling the mounting holes and attaching the bolts.:girl:

 

[willyt4r]

Six inches from the tail light edge

Cut vertically six inches from the edge of the tail light and horizontally across the upper bend on top of the bracket.The metal is thin and cuts go quickly. peel away the panel and you will be able to see the mounting bracket. The spot welds wil lpop with just a screwdriver and then the bracket will slide out.
Good luck

 

[Diverse4runner]

Ok,

Ill just cut the inner sub assembly a little bit behind the plastic molding "big piece" for installation and the spot welds will just pop out with a screw driver after I cut the side of the truck off in front of the tail light as far as removal from the junk 4runner is concerned.

Thank You!!

 

[mikebontoft]

If you haven't already done so, do yourself a favor and grab the tailgate from one. it's so much easier that way. otherwise you will be cutting your tailgate and welding stuff and the fitment looks crappy.

 

[Diverse4runner]

The tailgate is white so I can't use it or are you saying grab it for measurements?

 

[willyt4r]

That's my plan.

My plan exactly. The tailgate came with a tinted window.

 

[mikebontoft]

oh lol thought this was Willy's thread.

Yes Diverse... seriously just see what it would cost to paint it. otherwise it's a bit of fab and honestly comes out looking like crap. I almost grabbed a carrier for $25 but didn't want to pull the tailgate at the time since mine is so nice. then I saw the work involved to retro the latch assembly to non-carrier tailgates and decided to just build my own bumper with one.

 

[Diverse4runner]

If you do the Fab work properly it should fit fine yes? Im just trying to weigh my options. Did you try and fab it up or did you see the work involved and just said "F" it?

So Willy you went the "just buy the tailgate" route?

 

[mikebontoft]

will it work? yes. I saw a thread where someone did that. problem is you'll have a bunch of holes where the old license plate stuff is and it looks ****ty if you just cut around the plastic. plus you still have to make the backing bracket for it.

I was going to do it until I saw how cheap it looked. Decided that when I have time Ill just build a plate rear bumper with a swing out gate.

 

[willyt4r]

buy the tailgate

here is a link to another swing out retro fit.
4Runner factory swing-away spare tire carrier retrofit
either way you will still need the parts from the donor. As you can see from the pictures in the link it looks like a butchered job. That being said the tailgate would be covered by the spare tire anyway. There are other considerations, mainly the condition of the window regulator on the donor. Having to re key the donor and rewiring the donor to utilized the new lighting. Then having to paint the donor. :hail:

 

[willyt4r]

donor parts needed for existing tailgate

to retro fit the existing tailgate you will need these three parts off the donor tailgate.
1. exterior latch
2. interior backing plate
3. exterior trim piece

 

[Diverse4runner]

Yeah that definitely looks like a butcher but I could make it look a lot better. The first thing I would do is cut around the entire plastic molding and not leave "Yota" on the end looks like poop. I might buy the tailgate for measurements and as a just in-case thing.

Thanks for the help guys!!

 

[Diverse4runner]

How hard is it to get the backing plate off the tailgate?

 

[mikebontoft]

That would look much better. but yeah that was the one I saw and said "no thanks"

 

[willyt4r]

backing plate removal

The backing plate is held on by some bolts and nuts. There are two spot welds at the top of the bracket. an air chisel will pop them off. discussions with a body man revealed that the spot welds where only for orientation form the assembly not to stop movement or reinforcement.
The bracket fits in the bottom channel of the tailgate and is bolted in. There are nuts that hold the backing plate within the contours of the tailgate.
For appearance the exterior plastic trim piece is necessary for the factory installed look. It is attached by two regular bolts and two plastic tabs which I destroyed during dis-assembly. My original plan was thwarted by a bad window regulator form the donor. I am forced to transfer the the mounting bracket and exterior bracket to my existing tailgate. the trim piece comes out easily.

 

[mikebontoft]

are there not a bunch of other holes after swapping trim pieces?

 

[willyt4r]

holes

I am not tyet up to the install process yet. There were no extra holes in the tailgate after removing the pieces needed. I belive i will have to drill some for the back plate to attach the front plant that those two line up with each other and cover anything up. the tailgate where the old plate holder was is smooth with no attachment points exposed. Which would be coverup anyway by the mounted spare tire.
I will post pictures of my progress when I get back to it within the next couple of days.
I will have to mount some backup lights under the bumper. I have a set of Hella's that will do the job. :target:

 

[Diverse4runner]

Thanks willy, Yeah I would really like to see how the bottom side panel bracket slides in. Im going to start working on it next weekend so Ill post some things up too. I might even do a video since I got a gopro for Christmas. :becky:

 

[azshtr]

I never paid much attention to my tire mount and now I have a question. My 91 has the body mount for a swing away carrier. They are plugged with hard rubber plugs. However my tail gate does not have any bracket to hold the carrier. That must mean the tail gate was replaced? I have the normal under carriage tire hanger.