What did you do with your spare?

[BlueScapegoat]

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?

I don't but here's a picture of one of the cross bars. It's C channel steel, measures .14" with the powder coat so probably 1/8" steel? They make a box you mount the spare winch into. For a while I kept a winch underneath and bought a second one for in the bed so I could move the 37 from underneath for daily duties to up top for wheeling but now that I've got the 40s I just leave it up top. They have some other pictures on their site.

I've driven then setup through most of the famous Colorado and Moab trails now and nothing moves, super solid setup.

Rebel Half Rack
Rebel Spare Tire Mount

And about 3" space between the spare and the decked system. That's with a 13.5" wide tire.

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[Bandit’s Lair]

Awesome!! Rebel is right up the road from me. Maybe I’ll see if they can adapt that to my bed cap. They do some really cool builds.

 

[Brucewillys]

First off I have a Bak Flip type cover and I don't want to loose that....I like the weather protection it provides without having a full bed cap. I also have aftermarket beadlocks and 35s, but I do not want to mount under. Right now the spare is in the bed, but I use my bed for bed things.

I was considering a hitch mounted spare carrier like a Wilco or something of that sort, but loosing or having to remount the camera seems less appealing. I have read some shorter rack systems can use Bak Flip type bed covers. I am not trying to reinvent the wheel....maybe I should just mount my spare under in the factory location.....assuming I can...will have to check.

What have you done with your Gladiator and spare situation? Just looking at ideas and thoughts.

Thank you for your input.

My very first off-road trip with my gladiator resulted in multiple spare tire drags on rocks. NH is the granite state after all. So one of my first mods was a rugged ridge spare relocation to the bed. I like it a lot.
Here's my pics.

 

[FLY-DOG]

I was in the same mindset on this, BTW the 35 will fit underneath the bed, it’s tight but it fits. i went this way and love it.

Not sure how legal it is to block that right taillight and third brake light? Also blocked rear back-up camera.

 

[FLY-DOG]

This is me

You've completely blocked your right taillight and backup camera.

 

[Gee Man]

First off I have a Bak Flip type cover and I don't want to loose that....I like the weather protection it provides without having a full bed cap. I also have aftermarket beadlocks and 35s, but I do not want to mount under. Right now the spare is in the bed, but I use my bed for bed things.

I was considering a hitch mounted spare carrier like a Wilco or something of that sort, but loosing or having to remount the camera seems less appealing. I have read some shorter rack systems can use Bak Flip type bed covers. I am not trying to reinvent the wheel....maybe I should just mount my spare under in the factory location.....assuming I can...will have to check.

What have you done with your Gladiator and spare situation? Just looking at ideas and thoughts.

Thank you for your input.

I have a Gladiator Rubicon and have 35 tires and need lock factory wheels off of a 392 wrangler . The spare fits very well under the bed!

 

[40x40]

expedition one made the carrier for my 40" spare. the oem camera is in the bumper to the left of the hitch.

 

[MSFTMatt]

You've completely blocked your right taillight and backup camera.

My right taillight is somewhat blocked though tbe picture is deceiving. I relocated my back up camera to an aftermarket bracket from Barnes that is at my license plate as well rear view mirror camera mounted to my roof rack.

 

[Freems]

Not sure how legal it is to block that right taillight and third brake light? Also blocked rear back-up camera.

The angle of the photo looks like it’s blocking the tail light, it’s not. To hell with the third brake light, and the camera works perfectly and doesn’t block the hitch view which is the only thing it’s used for, I use my mirrors for backing up. Anything else you want to criticize fly-dog, let me know.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Was never really a fan of a swing away on the Gladiator. We have a big enough badonkadonk as it is. To each their own. If it works for you then

 

[RhinoJT]

Mine even fully fits in the garage… really more like by the hair of my chinny chin chin but hey. I also have the backup camera and rear view mirror camera above the license plate. There is a light for the plate and it even has a built in third brake light. About as legal as you can get. Just have to realize the lines for the backup camera are offset due to the camera not being centered.. easy day.

 

[MSFTMatt]

Was never really a fan of a swing away on the Gladiator. We have a big enough badonkadonk as it is. To each their own. If it works for you then

Definitely a big booty on these girls but I added the Shift AutoWorkz frame brace and I like attaching my trash bag to the spare. My hitch skid sure gets a working out tho.

 

[RhinoJT]

Diddo on the shift auto frame brace.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Definitely a big booty on these girls but I added the Shift AutoWorkz frame brace and I like attaching my trash bag to the spare. My hitch skid sure gets a working out tho.

I still need to look into one of those trash bag setups. Right now I just use a bucket in the bed.

 

[DRHansen]

I've been searching for some help regarding the heat shield. I just got a 37" spare to match my other 4 tires and wheels after reading about the issues of having a smaller spare and effects on the gearing. Better safe than sorry.

With some gentle maneuvering I was able to get the spare in place with changing the rear track bar. However, the tire is in contact with the heat shield. Logic tells me there should be space between the heat shield and the tire for the heat to dissipate.

I was happy to get it up under the bed. I have maybe 1/4" gap between the track bar and tire as well as the hitch tube and the tire, so I don't know if that will be a problem. But I don't want to melt the tire to the heat shield.

Looking for input from those with experience or knowledge to let me know before I head out on a long road trip.

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