What did you do with your spare?

[Bandit’s Lair]

I had a Wrangler TJ with the heaviest duty bumper tire carrier on the market and I still ended up mounting the spare in the tub. Too much leverage on the frame, among other issues that don't apply to the JT. No way I'd mount a spare on the back bumper of a gladiator.

Need a spare and need to use the bed? Mount underneath. Add a hitch skid if you want some safety room for obstacles. I fit a 37" STT Pro under my bed with a RockJock straight track bar for a couple years.

Otherwise I know this isn't an option for you since you want weather protection but for others that might come across this thread, I just mount mine high with the spare tire winch from under the bed. Can still haul lumber and whatnot. This is a 40 and no reason it couldn't be a 42 or larger

Do you have some more detailed pics of this installed without the tire? Not sure if the OVS bed cap could take it but that is an interesting option. How much space do you have between the tire and the drawer now?

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[srharter]

After the lift I had some clearance issues with the heat shield, so went this way instead.

What rack is this?

 

[Stan H]

Stock location doesn't work for me. It's a pain in the ass to get to. (yes, I have had to use mine). I don't like lying in the middle of who knows what. When you're underneath, mud & crap falls in your face.

100% and they drag when you go through deep places.
I seen ARB had a mount for their compressor that goes above that crossmember that held the tire . So thats what Im doing

 

[Sweetums]

Stock location doesn't work for me. It's a pain in the ass to get to. (yes, I have had to use mine). I don't like lying in the middle of who knows what. When you're underneath, mud & crap falls in your face.

I really don't have to get under the truck much at all to get my spare (yes, I have used it on off road trips). I crank it down and just reach in to pull the cross bar out of the center bore, then slide it out.

Am I the only one who keeps a small, cheap tarp in the truck for exactly these kinds of situations?

100% and they drag when you go through deep places.
I seen ARB had a mount for their compressor that goes above that crossmember that held the tire . So thats what Im doing

I've never had mine drag on anything, the hitch and my hitch slide hits way before the spare would; and it's not as if I haven't pushed the truck, my hitch slider is missing a not-insignificant amount of material.

 

[Vtur]

This is what I did with my 40 spare. Works for me. Quick latch and swing it out of the way, adds maybe 5 seconds to opening the tailgate.

Photoshop

 

[RhinoJT]

Photoshop

I’m going to go with your joking.

 

[RhinoJT]

How do you see traffic behind you ?

Wolf box rear view camera mirror. Works amazing.

 

[Dilly’S Willy]

Wolf box rear view camera mirror. Works amazing.

I still can't trust those mirror replacement cameras, for the simple fact you don't get the quality of view at distance as they use a fisheye lens that distorts everything past a couple feet, and worse the further away it is. Don't believe me? Go out and try driving in reverse with your factory camera, without hitting anything, and without backup like you're in a minefield. Yeah, it's not as easy as using mirrors.

They look cool, sure. But even the OEM "digital rearview mirrors" have the same issue. And it's worse at night since cameras must choose between sensitivity and clarity in low light conditions.

I can tell what make/model is well over 1 mile behind me with mirrors, you can't do that with the distortion of the lens issues of a camera alone at that distance.


Maybe I'm Tow Mater...

 

[JTdiRtyD]

I still can't trust those mirror replacement cameras, for the simple fact you don't get the quality of view at distance as they use a fisheye lens that distorts everything past a couple feet, and worse the further away it is. Don't believe me? Go out and try driving in reverse with your factory camera, without hitting anything, and without backup like you're in a minefield. Yeah, it's not as easy as using mirrors.

They look cool, sure. But even the OEM "digital rearview mirrors" have the same issue. And it's worse at night since cameras must choose between sensitivity and clarity in low light conditions.

I can tell what make/model is well over 1 mile behind me with mirrors, you can't do that with the distortion of the lens issues of a camera alone at that distance.


Maybe I'm Tow Mater...

I agree to a point, with the wide lens judging distance is hard and making out detail in things at a distance is impossible, but I also don't really care about being able to tell the make and model in my rear view mirror. It's a tool to have situational awareness of whats behind me, I'm not trying to watch a movie in it. But without it I cant see ANYTHING out my rear view mirror, so it's better than nothing.

 

[Doug Punches]

I really don't have to get under the truck much at all to get my spare (yes, I have used it on off road trips). I crank it down and just reach in to pull the cross bar out of the center bore, then slide it out.

Unfortunately, I had a different experience. I'm really glad that it worked out that way for you!

 

[Sbro2021]

I found a great weight/space saving solution for my 40" spare. I have lost zero MPG with this method... I have yet to use a spare in my life yet I keep buying them just in case... I have plugs and a CO2 tank. Jinx administered!

 

[Iddpaul]

What rack is this?

The owner of HMF is Brad, super nice and accommodating if you need changes.

https://hotmetalfab.com/products/universal-tire-carrier-bed-rack?variant=44095370559718

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I still can't trust those mirror replacement cameras, for the simple fact you don't get the quality of view at distance as they use a fisheye lens that distorts everything past a couple feet, and worse the further away it is. Don't believe me? Go out and try driving in reverse with your factory camera, without hitting anything, and without backup like you're in a minefield. Yeah, it's not as easy as using mirrors.

They look cool, sure. But even the OEM "digital rearview mirrors" have the same issue. And it's worse at night since cameras must choose between sensitivity and clarity in low light conditions.

I can tell what make/model is well over 1 mile behind me with mirrors, you can't do that with the distortion of the lens issues of a camera alone at that distance.


Maybe I'm Tow Mater...

They’re a tool and to be used with a grain of salt for sure but I like being able to see what’s behind me. Even if it’s not in 4K I can still see a hazard before it becomes a threat. Plus I have footage of the actions of “that guy”.

 

[Sweetums]

It’s about frequency of inconvenience. A tire swing or tire in the bed is in my way every day. A tire under the bed is an inconvenience a few times during the ownership of the truck (and less so because I carry a tarp to kneel on)

 

[Pat Witt]

I found a great weight/space saving solution for my 40" spare. I have lost zero MPG with this method... I have yet to use a spare in my life yet I keep buying them just in case... I have plugs and a CO2 tank. Jinx administered!

That's where my 37 set for 6 months until winter broke

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