Hitchgate™ tire carrier

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Any side shots to show space between liftgate and tire?? Thanks!

Here are some pics of mine. HOWEVER, I have had mods done to mine. I had him bring the tire in slightly and angle it. I also had a 5lb propane tank holder added along with a bar that allows me to hold my Treds and Krazy Beaver shovels (2nd pic). I love it and haven't had any issues going offroad with it. I'm not a super rock crawler so I'm not too concerned with aggressive departure angles. Plus...I can I keep my stock tow rating which is nice. I will add, the thing does NOT wobble at all. It's a pretty damn cool design. The 3rd pic was it off the shelf (Mojave Rd.)

Edit...to add, I'm running Icon Overland 3" Springs and Remote CDCV Shocks in the rear.

 

[agreback]

A member I wheel with has one of these and looks great. He's upgrading the rear with bilstein (already installed) and all pro 3.5 rear springs. It's heavy which requires you to upgrade all rear suspension, shocks and struts. If not, you'll have a reverse rake. The weight tends to shift side to side, tire gate/hitch connection requires reinforcement for stability. In regards to the trailer, if you don't have the class 3 hitch, you can still tow up to 5K, I think. If you have the class 3 hit, you can tow up to 7200# with V8. Hope this helps. Oh, Tacomaworld has a Wilco tire hitch gate feeler group buy if you decide to buy.

Is there a way to just upgrade the springs to support the weight? The manual for WILCO says it only weighs 250 lbs, does it sag that much? What do you suggest as a cost effective way to support the weight?

 

[agreback]

Here are some pics of mine. HOWEVER, I have had mods done to mine. I had him bring the tire in slightly and angle it. I also had a 5lb propane tank holder added along with a bar that allows me to hold my Treds and Krazy Beaver shovels (2nd pic). I love it and haven't had any issues going offroad with it. I'm not a super rock crawler so I'm not too concerned with aggressive departure angles. Plus...I can I keep my stock tow rating which is nice. I will add, the thing does NOT wobble at all. It's a pretty damn cool design. The 3rd pic was it off the shelf (Mojave Rd.)

Edit...to add, I'm running Icon Overland 3" Springs and Remote CDCV Shocks in the rear.

Did yo upgrade the rear suspensions before or after the tire carrier?

 

[MACT4R]

Is there a way to just upgrade the springs to support the weight? The manual for WILCO says it only weighs 250 lbs, does it sag that much? What do you suggest as a cost effective way to support the weight?

I haven't read the manual but that seems to be a lot of weight. Yes it will sag if you don't have a heavier duty springs and shocks to go with. Plus additional weight you put in the rear cab will increase weight. I have fox 2.0 shocks and all pro 3.5 springs due to camping gears while offroading.

 

[basing110]

Anyone have on of these modified to run some tall rotopax fuel cans or maybe some sort of basket for 5 gal jerry cans... I guess could use their bracket for the 5 gallon fuel cans.. Just trying to think of how to optimize space. Since the tire sits far away from the lift gate unlike aftermarket bumper options.

I have 4 maxtrax which i believe running right off the tire might be the best option.

Would like 8 to 10 gallons of extra fuel or 1 with water and 1 with fuel.

Not sure what else i could want on the back besides some sort of trasheroo type setup???

Just seems like with an offset setup that somthing needs to be on the open space next to the tire.

Also this is for my 4th gen 4 runner... Do you guys think this would work on a second gen sequoia as well? Would be nice to be able to swap vehicles depending on the type of trip im taking

 

[basing110]

I looked up the 2 jerrycan mount and $350 for some trays and a strap kit is crazy! Cant even secure and lock the cans down. Wonder how hard it would be to secure someone elses tray setup on it..would probably have to bolt it on to not mess up the lifetime warranty

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Look at post #41. I mounted a propane tank holder. Pretty sure a welding shop could mock up something for rotopax holders. I put mine on my roof so I opted for propane holder instead.

And yes...it could go between a 4runner and Sequioa as long as after you do the mods it has clearance. I drilled an extra hole in mine to get it closer to the hatch and had the shop cut and reweld the tire mount so it's angled a bit more and closer to the hatch.

 

[Brutalguyracing]

I looked up the 2 jerrycan mount and $350 for some trays and a strap kit is crazy! Cant even secure and lock the cans down. Wonder how hard it would be to secure someone elses tray setup on it..would probably have to bolt it on to not mess up the lifetime warranty

Weld your own like i did
$20 in angle iron and done

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[ClintR2]

Thanks for posting these up close pics. I have been looking at these for a while.
How are you liking yours?
Any Wobble of shacking?
I am considering the hi-clearance one.

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Thanks for posting these up close pics. I have been looking at these for a while.
How are you liking yours?
Any Wobble of shacking?
I am considering the hi-clearance one.

I still love mine. Mine has some wobbling but because I've had mine for a long time and a lot of extra weight. I talked to the owner at Overland Expo and told him what I added. He loved my ideas and he said that if I got enough people he would even entertain adding some options (custom) like I did. He doesn't "recommend" what I did as of course it's modifying a product but said it would hold at least 200 extra lbs. I'm pushing it when I have it fully loaded. But he said if I call in and ask for new bushings they will give them to me. I have the first version and I can tell you the second version has some ideal upgrades (structurally) I wish mine had, but I would essentially start over. They were great to talk with and would definitely do biz with again. Do it man!

 

[Brutalguyracing]

What is wobbling
They have replacement delrin washers if they are worn
Easy replacement

 

[tv4184]

Instructions aren’t super clear but how do the lug bolts stay in place or do you put them in only when the spare tire is going on?

 

[YetiX]

Instructions aren’t super clear but how do the lug bolts stay in place or do you put them in only when the spare tire is going on?

Huh?

 

[mynameistory]

It looks like a cool product, but I'm a little confused as to the purpose of this thing. Nearly anything 33" and under can fit in the stock tire location, and the stock hitch or exhaust tip will drag before you hit the spare tire. Don't you actually lose departure angle with this?

Plus, you lose the backup camera AND add an extra step to opening/closing the hatch. And you're adding enough weight to require different springs in the rear?

Someone help me out here.

 

[tv4184]

Huh?

It looks like one bolt is in place but do we have to tighten the rest after the wheel is secure?

Or is my kit missing parts?



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[tv4184]

It looks like a cool product, but I'm a little confused as to the purpose of this thing. Nearly anything 33" and under can fit in the stock tire location, and the stock hitch or exhaust tip will drag before you hit the spare tire. Don't you actually lose departure angle with this?

Plus, you lose the backup camera AND add an extra step to opening/closing the hatch. And you're adding enough weight to require different springs in the rear?

Someone help me out here.

I think you’re thinking of the 5th gen. 4th gen depending on several factors can fit up to 32.5”. Some tires require deflating, whether or not you have a heavy duty hitch, maybe other factors too if your tire size is wider too. Then there is the case for the 3rd gens as well.

This is a way lower cost option than getting a swing out bumper, which in my case I got my hitch gate for half the retail price. I also bought heavy duty rear springs from the start, capable of 400+lbs not for weight but I wanted as much lift in the rear as possible. The camera isn’t a big deal because mine doesn’t have one and when I do add it, I’ll just mount it to the relocated license plate.

Maybe someone else can correct me if any of the statements I made are untrue regarding the stock location for the 4th gen.

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[mynameistory]

My mistake, I didn't realize I was in the 4th gen forum. I'm still a little unsure about moving the tire around, adding weight and complexity, for no additional clearance. Is it just for looks? At least with a rear swingout bumper, the angle of departure is usually increased by removing bodywork and relocating the hitch (plus you get "trail armor" for scraping on rocks worry free). Then the spare actually does become the limiting factor.

And typically, when guys are running tires larger than the stock spare location can fit, they're also re-gearing, throwing lots of extra money at it, etc. At which point they're outgrowing the stock bumpers and getting a swingout anyway. That's why I'm wondering who exactly this is for, and why.

 

[truckhigh]

It looks like one bolt is in place but do we have to tighten the rest after the wheel is secure?

Or is my kit missing parts?



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could you tell me what type of hinge it uses? is it bronze bushing with poly, pressed rubber and steel, or bearings?

 

[tv4184]

My mistake, I didn't realize I was in the 4th gen forum. I'm still a little unsure about moving the tire around, adding weight and complexity, for no additional clearance. Is it just for looks? At least with a rear swingout bumper, the angle of departure is usually increased by removing bodywork and relocating the hitch (plus you get "trail armor" for scraping on rocks worry free). Then the spare actually does become the limiting factor.

And typically, when guys are running tires larger than the stock spare location can fit, they're also re-gearing, throwing lots of extra money at it, etc. At which point they're outgrowing the stock bumpers and getting a swingout anyway. That's why I'm wondering who exactly this is for, and why.

I can’t speak for everyone else but I don’t hit the trails enough to justify a 2200 dollar bumper yet and I need a similar sized spare because of the full time 4wd. With the V8, a regear isn’t as crucial. In the end it’s the ability to carry a spare for the cost of 300-500 dollars, there are options that cost less than the Wilco that allow this, without spending 1500-2200 on a full swing out. I plan to get a bumper but I'm already a couple grand over budget for the year. For now, this makes it so I can drive out of town without having to make a decision on not taking my dogs vs stowing the spare inside my cabin.

They also make a high clearance one too. I just got what I got because it was heavily discounted on Craigslist.

Here's another good thread from the 3rd gen forums talking about it: Hitch Tire Carrier. I would have retrofitted my JDM rear tire setup if I could have but it's much more trouble than it's worth to get it to fit onto the 4th gen.

Huh?

You know I retract my previous question now. I was at work and half asleep when I asked the question. Upon closer inspection and review of the instructions it's all much clearer to me. I didn't read the instructions because I bought mine preassembled.

could you tell me what type of hinge it uses? is it bronze bushing with poly, pressed rubber and steel, or bearings?

I'll have to pull the hinge bolt to figure out what it is. I didn't assemble it but from the instructions it looks like it was a bolt that has two rubber bushings at each end that might go through a steel cylinder. Not sure if it is lined with another type of metal. I'll disassemble maybe today and let you know.

 

[Runn4est]

I think you’re thinking of the 5th gen. 4th gen depending on several factors can fit up to 32.5”. Some tires require deflating, whether or not you have a heavy duty hitch, maybe other factors too if your tire size is wider too. Then there is the case for the 3rd gens as well.

This is a way lower cost option than getting a swing out bumper, which in my case I got my hitch gate for half the retail price. I also bought heavy duty rear springs from the start, capable of 400+lbs not for weight but I wanted as much lift in the rear as possible. The camera isn’t a big deal because mine doesn’t have one and when I do add it, I’ll just mount it to the relocated license plate.

Maybe someone else can correct me if any of the statements I made are untrue regarding the stock location for the 4th gen.

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I have 275/65/18 spare and have a pinkie width of space at rest. But I can see that it still rubs sometimes.