I knew that would get you preverts in here!

OK so I am still debating about the multicarier tire rear bumper. What do you all think tire on top where it is (minus red straps) or on the rear?

I wanted rear but I get alot of compliments on the top.

Its better on top. I like the way it looks with the tire on the roof.

I have mine on top and hate the extra weight up there on the off camber situations. I putting mine on the rear. But they do look good with the tire on top!

tire on top. looks alot better for sure!

As for on top or from behind. I like em both!

I think it would be better on the back. Easier to get to, and the weight isn't on top of your car for tippy situations.

If you do any off camber stuff, you're definitely going to want the tire on the rear. That extra weight just helps it to lean more. Many of the people who have gone to Moab discovered that and have relocated theirs or are going to.

If you don't really wheel, then leave it where it is.

It looks really good up there. But as everyone else says, if you go off camber alot, then relocate it.

damn it got me in here, any way keep it on top, it looks good up there

Whichever way it's easier to mount :smoke: !

I'd say on the back for the same reasons as above. On the roof helps to move your center of gravity up a little, and when you're near the edge being part of the rollover posse, keeping the cg as low as possible is preferred.

Looks like on top is winning from the votes. however you make some good points that I forgot about for putting it behind.

The CG point is a very good one even for on the road since soon I will be going a little higher. The other thing is that with all my tools and speakers in the rear cargo area I like my luggage rack for just that... luggage, especially when you have a bunch of people going camping! so it might be nice to free that up.

Is it pretty tough to get off of there? I couldn't imagine trying to get one of my 33's off the top of my truck, especially if I were on a trail...

We went wheeling last weekend up by Strawberry. We came across a huge tree that had fallen. We needed to go under it so we dug a trench and I had to take of my spare. It's not fun. Scratches the roof a little and if your by yourself its not east getting it up top. This weekend reinforced my reasoning for putting it on the rear.

I can get it up there on my own, however I have a bent bar on my rack from throwing it up there! I will probably go back to my original plan of a utility bumper and that will give a place for my hi-lift also.

i like it better on top. that's how i'm going to do it:D

Yea, I only get compliments while on top. Only complaints from behind. lol

Keep it on Top!!! Even if you roll it you are keeping the rubber on the road!!!!

only 9 lines man? dude you could get like 3 more easy, after the beanie on dash you can mention the tissues in your arm rest :) just messing around man

Originally posted by RoadEnforcer
only 9 lines man? dude you could get like 3 more easy, after the beanie on dash you can mention the tissues in your arm rest :) just messing around man

actually though I think there was a post a while back from Rick about keeping them to 6 lines.

Gives me the Sensitive, Macho touch...

Originally posted by taxxman2k
I can get it up there on my own, however I have a bent bar...

That's good that you can get it up yourself but having a bent bar sucks! It's tough to get compliments with a bent bar.

Another popular option seems to be mounting it inside the truck where the rear seat used to be, unless you actually use the rear seat.

On the roof just doesnt make any sense, it may look good (I dont think so) but how do you fit in garage's and what do you do when your truck is 1/2 way up a rock ledge and you lose a bead? Sometimes you cant climb up to the roof, how do you get it down without throwing out your back, and believe it or not that 40# onthe roof can help your already tippy X tip faster.

I like the swing away rear carrier.........

Originally posted by 410Fortune
Another popular option seems to be mounting it inside the truck where the rear seat used to be, unless you actually use the rear seat.

On the roof just doesnt make any sense, it may look good (I dont think so) but how do you fit in garage's and what do you do when your truck is 1/2 way up a rock ledge and you lose a bead? Sometimes you cant climb up to the roof, how do you get it down without throwing out your back, and believe it or not that 40# onthe roof can help your already tippy X tip faster.

I like the swing away rear carrier.........

Even without it I don't fit in garages or car washes too well. But an 80 lbs tire is not easy to get down. i hacve the swing away just waiting to install it.

rear for sure. top issues are wind resistance on top heavy.
rear pros are increase vehicles protection if you get hit by a mack truck and better rear traction to get you through mud.

ON TOP IN OXNARD IT WOULD BE GONE IN A MONTH, UNLESS IT WAS LOCKED DOWN.

BUT I THINK ON THE BACK,BECAUSE OF YOUR CENTER OF GRAVITY.

Where did you get your swing-a-way/how much was it?

ha ha, its 50/50 now!!;) After seeing DasFrem's truck in person, i think the tire carrier on the back is awsome. Gives it a good look too.

Well, not to get kinky but I put it in the rear.
I like 'em top heavy but don't want 'em to fall over (camber probs). heh
I don't want to have to watch my behind all the time while mounting it from behind...so I figured in the rear was a good tight fit without worry of exterior damage (slashing)/balance. ;)

Whoa... what a post. I need a cig (and I dont even smoke!) :smoke:

Top top top... :bounce:

Its behind now. Don't like the weight on top when wheeling. Sway away is from Ken Mtn Accessories with hours of modifications to look how it does now. inside is nice too but I carry way too much in the form of tools.

So, where are the pics? We want to see pics!

After having spare on top, and on the rear bumper I opted for inside. A 37X12.50 is too heavy for top and to big for the rear. Also throws the COG way off.

.

don't have any pics and don't have a spare right now:D

I'd have to vote, in the rear. It only takes once to learn that "from behind" is risky.

The wife used to drive a Toyota RAV4 with the spare factory mounted on the back door. (Dumb dumb dumb dumb) We were in a 5mph rear-end accident and it cost (the insurance company) thousands!!! Just a little bump from behind and the back door, back glass, hinges, floor plan, etc., etc., etc....

I know we usually don't think of daily-driver accidents when we build up our trucks, but it sure does suck when it happens. (Of course, living in DFW, I see one or two rear-end accidents a week. :eek: ) Insuance companies get reeeaaally cranky when you try to get them to pay for damage "due to owner modification".

you think that a bumper mounted trail worthy bumper would cause the same sort of damage as a stock body mounted carrier?

im thinking of the rear bumper that i am building (4" x 6" rectangular tube with 2" square tube on hinge for spare tire swing) and in my mind it would be better to be protected by a hunk of stout steel and a fat tire than the aluminum foil stock bumper.

you bring up a good point though about modded vehicles and insurance comps... i wander what they do if i rolled my ex after the SAS?

First off it would have to be a BIIIGGGG truck to hit my spare, second it is pretty stout and if they hit it hard enought to do damage I am more worried about things such as air bags deploying!

The one on my stock 88 GMC Jimmy would take a decent hit )

As for the insurance I am actually gonna call mine when I get done and see what kind of coverage they can give me. It may be a hassle and may cost more now, but better than totalling it and them saying "this isn't what your insurance was for, sorry buddy your screwed":rolleyes:

i figured that when they ask "is it stock" i could sy a "yes" since its stock jeep, this and stock ranger that .... ;) i dont knwo it might now work.

jsut figure if it get totalled go ahead and have a can of gas handy and burn it out of recognition and start over with another one.:eek:



(not really)

Funny, I went for a photo inspection for my new insurance and they listed the custom front bumper and winch and all so the insurance company WOULD cover it.

I think they usually don't cover modifications they can't see. Because bills for parts can be faked.

In this case they have pictures of everything before they picked up the coverage.

Of course they probably will weasel out of anything major that can be blamed on an "unsafe" modification.

Oh, and I'll be putting mine on the back! Right after I build my own damn bumper to try and match the front a little. ;)

yeah this is old... but i have mine on top around town so the dogs can ride in the back. when i go to the trails.. i tie it down to my cargo box and floor inside.

Explorers are top heavy as it is. To purposly add another 100 lbs to the roof:eek: No thanks;)

Rick

Originally posted by Char
Explorers are top heavy as it is. To purposly add another 100 lbs to the roof:eek: No thanks;)

Rick

Someone must have an identity issue. is it Char or is it Rick????:D j/k.

It really depends...

The rear carrier looks awesome in my eye. It's a hefty chunk of change. If you can afford it get it.

Up on top is nice for when you go out 4x4ing but take it down after.

Around town normal - a spare tire under the truck should be fine. 31" used tire fits fine.

That is just my idea.

Since you already have the carrier just use it. Put an extra spare on top and it really looks ready for Battle..

Originally posted by Alto

Up on top is nice for when you go out 4x4ing but take it down after.


just the opposite. I know it may be personal preference and it depends on your form of wheeling, but I found around town it was fine and on the trail it really was the opposite of helpfull in off camber situations. Too much weight. Besides a big tire is a pain to get up there!

Your right it does matter what kind of wheeling you are doing.

I kind of forgot since I have my gas cans on my rear bumper, I kind of use them as a step to get on top of my rack so its not difficult for me to get to my tire when its mounted on top.

If it didn't cost so much I would have a rear carrier. I'm trying to find one off of a J**P that I can fab up.

For now I've got my hitch mounted one that works just great.

Originally posted by Alto
I kind of forgot since I have my gas cans on my rear bumper, I kind of use them as a step to get on top of my rack so its not difficult for me to get to my tire when its mounted on top.

Do you have any photos of the gas cans mounted in back? I'd like to see them if you do.

Take a look in my signature. Meet Trinity!
I know I have a few in there. One tank was for Gas the other for Water.
The concept was sound but the stuff I used to coat the inside of the water tank didn't work to well and she rusted all inside. So now I have 2 Gas Metal Blitz Cans. I made some new straps to hold the tanks down.

I learned the hard way that the ones that I did have just didn't cut it. While camping in the desert about 50 miles into one of the largest Deserts in the world. I realized that I lost a can. After about a week camping and another 30-40 miles in we desided to come out. We realized that we were some what close to where we came in (got to love GPS). Found the can and my Metal straps. Now I have Nylon Ratchet Straps.