33" in stock spare location?

[ShadowRaven]

I remember someone posted a while back that you can indeed fit a 33" in the stock spare tire carrier, but I just wanted a little clarification on the validity to that statement. I want to get a Cragar Soft 8 and mount my spare 33" on it under my Sport, but I wanted to make sure I could actually do that before spending money. I personally want a Safari rack, but they're so damn expensive and I'm so damn poor, so that's not really gonna happen from the looks of it. Thanks in advance guys.

 

[V8powerbaby]

ask and you shall recieve http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239853

 

[ShadowRaven]

Lol, I just tried to manhandle the holder after heating it with my prop torch, and I failed. So it looks like tomorrow I'll just have to head to the hardware store to get a metal cutter and just cut that part off and pad it so it can't hurt the tire. Oh well, gives me an excuse to get a cutting wheel

 

[ShadowRaven]

Oh also, which wheel bolt pattern do I have, for an 02 Sport? I measured it while I had the wheel still on, and I narrowed it down to either 4.5 or 4.75, but I'll need to know more accurately obviously.

 

[trj360]

5 on 4.5

 

[410Fortune]

REMEMBER a 33" is HEAVY, dont rely on the stock POS winch to hold it up there, unless you want to lose it on the higway and pray your rear bumper/hitch clear it... I suggest a cable and padlock to ensure it stays put

 

[ShadowRaven]

Aight, cool, yeah I'll definitely keep that in mind, seeing as it weighs 50 lbs on just the tire alone I'll have to see about jerry-riggin something up. I removed my rear tow hitch already, just cus I never haul anything, so that shouldn't be an issue, and as for the bumper, if my measurements were correct, I should be able to make it fit. I appreciate all the advice, and thanks for the wheel measurements.

 

[ShadowRaven]

So I've decided to get a Cragar Soft 8 wheel from summit http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRR-3977812P/ but I'm relatively noob with wheels/tires, so I'm not sure what kind of valve stem I need to purchase. If anyone could help me out with this, that would be great. Thanks in advance.

P.S. It looks like I would actually have to cut into the rear frame rail a little to make the tire fit... would that compromise the structural integrity of the vehicle at all?