How do you carry the spare tire?

[CAN-03runner]

I'm debating wether I want my spare tire flat in the rear, or upright up against the roll bar.

How do you guys carry that spare so it doesn't bounce around?

I think I prefer upright, but I use too many straps to hold it there. Down flat it is easy to tie down with the 4 corner hold down loops. But it takes up a lot of space.

Anyone have a nice way to strap it upright on the roll bar.

 

[ajordan1975]

this may work.
Keeper CAR TRANSPORTER WHEEL TIE-DOWNS - JCWhitney

also seen a upright tire holder in a magazine........ i'll find it and post up the link soon.

 

[BucknutBob]

I know mine's a different Gen (2nd), but my intention once I get the hardware is to hang the spare out back, where it's out of the way of everything--no wasted space inside, underneath, or in a roof rack (and a 35" spare takes a LOT of space!). For your situation, if you really want it inside, I would think fabricating some sort of bracket on the rollbar would be good--just roll it into place, and bolt it on.

 

[Tanner]

I've got a 1st gen. and I'm thinking about taking the spare out from underneath, painting it and putting it into the back against the roll bar. Probably will just use one of those ratcheting straps to hold it in place; will post a picture when I get it done.

BUT; ideally I'd like to get one of those tire carrying rear bumpers and have the spare mounted there; but ratcheting straps (have a couple already) and a can of paint are more in my budget right now haha.

 

[islanderoffroad]

Mine's still under the bed, but having had 4x4's before, if you are putting the tire inside, I'd go for more than just tie down straps. In a roll, everything inside is a projectile. I love the look of a pre-runner style tire mount, and they're solid, but they take up a lot of cargo room.

 

[fourwd1]

When I'm not wheeling i have it upright against the rollbar for more bed room, drivers side to offset the weight of the fuel tank on pass side.
When I'm wheeling it's down flat in the bed for better weight distribution.
It's waay to big to mount on a rear bumper carrier, would block the complete view out the back.

 

[SwiftRunner]

Spare

Before I bought my 4runner, I was rear ended by a truck on the highway around 5 A.M. I was driving at the speed limit. He took the roof of my '94 Buick Century wagon off like the truck was a can opener. Luckily for me, the wagon was empty. Anything in the back would have served as a projectile. To answer the question, I keep my spare where the manufacturer put it, under the bed.

 

[crutchy]

I'm with swift runner. Having two of my previous rigs on their tops I will say that ratchet straps are 100% useless in a roll over when they are holding anything with some decent mass. I know that some manufacturers put them inside the rear of SUVs, but personally you could not pay me to keep one in there (this goes for the hi-jacks too). If you have or are getting a rack or rear bumper with mount there are much better alternatives than inside the cab. Anyways like I said, just my .02.

 

[MT Tatman]

I keep mine underneath. I drive in the mountains, but no rock crawling yet, so it is not in the way under there. When I go camping, I do take a 2nd spare ans strap it to my roll bar, upright. I also found a way to bolt my Hi-lift to my roll bar, until we build our bumpers w/ external mounts.
Once we build bumpers and a new cargo basket, all of that suff will be outside for safety.

 

[fourwd1]

Keeping the spare in the stock location is only an option if you're running smaller tires.

 

[MT Tatman]

Yes, size matters here! Mine are the 31" BF Goodrich and I think they are the largest ones that will fit in the stock location.
Even at that, I will be finding an alternate location than underneath. Possibly on the roof.....I just need to make a better roof basket than my previous effort.

 

[azshtr]

Yes, size matters here! Mine are the 31" BF Goodrich and I think they are the largest ones that will fit in the stock location.
Even at that, I will be finding an alternate location than underneath. Possibly on the roof.....I just need to make a better roof basket than my previous effort.

Just don't under estimate the weight on the roof and what it does to your CG.

 

[Thurlo76]

Yes, size matters here! Mine are the 31" BF Goodrich and I think they are the largest ones that will fit in the stock location.
Even at that, I will be finding an alternate location than underneath. Possibly on the roof.....I just need to make a better roof basket than my previous effort.

nope, i had my 33x12.5 in the stock location since last fall, i got home from college and put my spare tire carrier back on. but my 33 went up and in there just fine.

another idea (this is what i did) is build a spare tire carrier that mounts in your trailer hitch if you dont want to build a whole bumper (which is what im going to do) you can remove it whenever you want.

 

[fourwd1]

Yes, size matters here! Mine are the 31" BF Goodrich and I think they are the largest ones that will fit in the stock location.
Even at that, I will be finding an alternate location than underneath. Possibly on the roof.....I just need to make a better roof basket than my previous effort.

Adding more weight up that high isn't going to help your GOG any.
For a 31", a stock type swing-out carrier, or some aftermarket bumper carrier, or in the cargo compartment would be better options, IMO.

 

[ajordan1975]

a 31 isn't going to mess w/ the COG.

 

[reddahaydn]

I have mine strapped to the bed but am building a rear bar with swing arm. There is no way my 33 will fit in the original location.

 

[SwiftRunner]

Roof Rack

My 4runner came with a roof rack which I use for surf boards. However, I bought a bicycle cargo box and ski rack which can be strapped up there. I know these doctors who drive around at high speeds with kite boards in the rear of their 4runners and other 4wheelers. Crazy. I think that having hard goods in the back with sharp edges should send up a warning flare to the driver. I will carry windsurfing equipment (dangerously sharp fins) in the back on local and state roads, but after my accident never on divided highways and interstates. If I take a long trip, it's strictly soft goods in the cargo space and hard in the box. You really can't be too careful, but always take risks. Given the number of life threatening accidents I have had through my 62 years, I have found learning from my mistakes the best preservative.

 

[KidVermicious]

I don't normally carry it for daily driving or backroading, I carry a patch kit and a can of fix-a-flat. When I do carry it, it goes in the bed, unless I'm loaded for camping which is when it goes on the roof. I need a rear tire carrier.

 

[CAN-03runner]

I would like to have a rear bumper with tire carrier, it's on the list of never ending projects and endeavors but I hate having part of my rear window covered.

Up against the roll bars, I've done that one. But it took too many ratchet straps to keep it stable it also blocks some rear view, but leaves more of the bed floor free.

I like it flat on the floor. Except that it takes up space on the bed floor. But I'm sceptical of the tie down loops on the floor of the bed. I used some dense plastic foam stuff on the floor and the tire onto. This stops the thumping around, and I can have the wheel dig into it a little. I loop the straps through the holes of the mag so it stays in place better than just over the top.

Some other sturdy bolt down solution would be best.

I already hit my rear bumper on going down rock ledges, having it in stock location not too good. On the hitch niether for that reason too.

 

[cometobanks]

Bolted to roll bar