Spare tire skid plate

[wfo9]

Sorry this is not a thread about Nav, cup holders, E-Tune or Softex ainkiller:

Anyone seen one? I know dragging it is rare, but those occasional big drops to flat.... I'm rigging up a hybrid rear bumper, so was thinking the spare will be the last thing holding me back (no swing out at this point, maybe down the road).


I've got simple design in mind. Basically a 33" disk with some long carriage bolts, a bracket and some wing nuts. (It will have to be installed after the chain is hooked up) The other option is some ratcheting straps with some hooks

Who thinks the first design will hold the skid in place by friction with the tire. I'll probably do 1/4 aluminum and possibly glue tire tubes to it for the rubber to rubber areas. I think that will keep it in place. Am I crazy?

I'm back to spending some time on the truck. I'll have rev 2 of my swaybar disconnect in a week or two. It's getting some machine work done on it now.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

I wouldn't call you crazy - But it seems as if it would mostly be a mud collector.

Probably more useful than led bars in grills or on roof racks.

 

[KidVermicious]

I'll call you crazy. I don't see the point.

 

[marshal]

yeah that sounds like wasted effort to me

 

[Chsbrgr]

Dropped my factory located spare last week to do my normal 5 tire rotation while wearing out the factory tires. Found a 2" slice in the leading edge of the tread, closest to the ground. Makes me think the leading edge of the tread is vulnerable too. I'm pretty conservative off road, don't recall where this might have happened, but this cut is bad enough that I put it back to the spare position for now. Maybe need to protect the leading edge too?

 

[Engineer]

Option A seems much better then ratchet straps and hooks to deal with. As mentioned I would make sure there are at least some holes in the center of the plate to not turn it into a mud/water collector. Its not a horrible idea, I would think the best is to remove it from under the truck but as you mentioned a rear swing out was not in the future and putting it on the roof is its downsides.

 

[bimrunner]

With all the effort and potential cost for this skid, why not just jump to the swing out sooner? Is it because you don't want to drive daily with the tire mounted on the back?

 

[Jeremy556]

I drop onto and slide on my spare all the time coming down ledges. I keep my spare flat (no valve stem installed) so it is flexible and so far only cosmetic damage.

 

[DesertCanyons]

I've had this idea too but I don't see anyone trying to protect the spare. So I wonder if it's not that important.

I think an 1/8" steel plate would work fine since no matter what you build, the weight or pressure is carried by the large surface area of the tire anyway. Maybe the front edge needs to be rolled up, maybe not. The front edge of the tire may be protected by the differential and axle anyway. The bumper is farther back than the spare tire. If the tire is going to rub your bumper is going to scrape off anyway. The tow hitch tube may be the lowest point of contact in the rear.

 

[Jeremy556]

I've had this idea too but I don't see anyone trying to protect the spare. So I wonder if it's not that important.

I think an 1/8" steel plate would work fine since no matter what you build, the weight or pressure is carried by the large surface area of the tire anyway. Maybe the front edge needs to be rolled up, maybe not. The front edge of the tire may be protected by the differential and axle anyway. The bumper is farther back than the spare tire. If the tire is going to rub your bumper is going to scrape off anyway. The tow hitch tube may be the lowest point of contact in the rear.

Yep, axle covers most of the front edge of the tire. A 285 spare hangs down a bit as you can see in the pic. The hitch and exhaust take the brunt of the abuse.

 

[Panzerpatty]

Why would a LED bar on a roof rack be crazy? You mean the stock rack?

I wouldn't call you crazy - But it seems as if it would mostly be a mud collector.

Probably more useful than led bars in grills or on roof racks.

 

[Swarty]

Why complicate things?

I've got simple design in mind. Basically a 33" disk with some long carriage bolts, a bracket and some wing nuts. (It will have to be installed after the chain is hooked up) The other option is some ratcheting straps with some hooks

Who thinks the first design will hold the skid in place by friction with the tire. I'll probably do 1/4 aluminum and possibly glue tire tubes to it for the rubber to rubber areas. I think that will keep it in place. Am I crazy?

Not crazy but it seems over complicated and you'll lose clearance. The lowest part of the tire plus an additional 1/2" for plate and washer. And an edge to catch.
I just stick the spare in the back when I wheel, keep a couple straps in the back to tie it down, some painters tarp to keep my floor clean. Done! plus I get extra clearance. Takes maybe 2 minutes to drop the tire and strap it down.

 

[wfo9]

With all the effort and potential cost for this skid, why not just jump to the swing out sooner? Is it because you don't want to drive daily with the tire mounted on the back?

Just not sure where I want to go with the swingout yet. Not even sure I if I ever want one for the tire.... I do want something to carry gas..., but not sure I want a tire back there. More time on the trails will help me decide.

The skid should cost me less than $50 for materials.

 

[Hellamatic]

I also say crazy.

 

[wfo9]

Not crazy but it seems over complicated and you'll lose clearance. The lowest part of the tire plus an additional 1/2" for plate and washer. And an edge to catch.
I just stick the spare in the back when I wheel, keep a couple straps in the back to tie it down, some painters tarp to keep my floor clean. Done! plus I get extra clearance. Takes maybe 2 minutes to drop the tire and strap it down.

The spare protects the exhaust.... and offers a nice transition to slide off the back. There will be no edge to catch. The leading edge is protected by the tires themselves (in general).

The diff is always the main limiting factor for drag over situations. That is not my concern. I'm mainly worried about big drops to somewhat flat. Like [MENTION=78273]Jeremy556[/MENTION] is talking about. I've hit mine a few times and the tire takes a bit of a beating.

A spare tire with a ripped sidewall is not very useful.

This is not something you encounter in light offroading.

Still just toying with the idea... I do find it interesting how people here seem a bit close minded about things they have never seen before.

 

[DesertCanyons]

Yep, axle covers most of the front edge of the tire. A 285 spare hangs down a bit as you can see in the pic. The hitch and exhaust take the brunt of the abuse.

Jeremy,

Thanks for posting the photo. You know, you wouldn't get that kind of damage if you'd paid for Toyota's chrome exhaust tip accessory. :banana:

 

[Jetboy]

Have you considered going with tubing? pair of parallel tubes that run under the spare and curve up to a the rear hitch could offer good protection. You could use the hitch as one mounting point for strength. And it could be pretty cheap/easy to fab. I would make the long bolts run up and just bolt them through the lug holes in the spare tire.

This option wouldn't be such a mud/dirt trap.

 

[wfo9]

Have you considered going with tubing? pair of parallel tubes that run under the spare and curve up to a the rear hitch could offer good protection. You could use the hitch as one mounting point for strength. And it could be pretty cheap/easy to fab. I would make the long bolts run up and just bolt them through the lug holes in the spare tire.

This option wouldn't be such a mud/dirt trap.

I did not think much about it being a mud/dirt trap.

I don't find much dirt in the underside of the rim now and there are not huge holes for it to get out. It seems like the plate would mainly keep it from getting in from the bottom. It is pressed up pretty tight on the top (although some can still get it). Water drains would be needed but that is about it. Good idea on the lug holes. That would eliminate the need for a bracket.

I could see it causing the rear to float more in a water crossing. I don't have much experience with those... I avoid them whenever possible, but another reason to lean towards a swing out in the future.

 

[STX4Runner]

I like the idea a lot and in fact have been toying with this exact idea in my head for the past couple of years. I was thinking the same thinng: a lightweight piece of flat metal (maybe even aluminum) bolted up to the spare tire wheel. For my wheeling (and [MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION]) here in Central Texas and when I go to Moab, mud is not a problem. What is a problem is dropping down off large ledges onto the spare as [MENTION=78273]Jeremy556[/MENTION] and [MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION] said. I'm also in the same boat that I don't want a swingout. I like the clean loks of the stock bumper and light weight. Plus I don't want to drop $2k on a bumper.

 

[wfo9]

I like the idea a lot and in fact have been toying with this exact idea in my head for the past couple of years. I was thinking the same thinng: a lightweight piece of flat metal (maybe even aluminum) bolted up to the spare tire wheel. For my wheeling (and [MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION]) here in Central Texas and when I go to Moab, mud is not a problem. What is a problem is dropping down off large ledges onto the spare as [MENTION=78273]Jeremy556[/MENTION] and [MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION] said. I'm also in the same boat that I don't want a swingout. I like the clean loks of the stock bumper and light weight. Plus I don't want to drop $2k on a bumper.

I'll post pics of my bumper when done. Not sure how clean it will look, but it should only add about 20 - 40 lbs and provide excellent protection and much improved departure in the corners. I'm shooting for low cost and high functionality over aesthetics, but I'm guessing I will end up finding a way to make it look decent. Still trying to decide if I want to add hoops to protect the sides. I'm getting the tubes bent in about 2 weeks. Also playing with some new ides for protection and clearance in the front.