Spare tire carriers

[Tucson38]

Looking for design ideas to build a swing-away tire carrier for the rear of an '85 GMC. I can't use the under-bed carrier because the trailer hitch frame precludes it.

Has anyone fabricated their own?

Thanks
Dan from Tucson

[tucsonjwt]

In my case, moving the pivot bolt ahead about 1.5" and outward slightly allowed for use of the factory spare tire carrier with my receiver hitch. The spare tire is close to the exhaust but no burning rubber yet.

[Just call me Sean]

I put mine on the brush guard of my Ford. I was going to do the same for the Chevy.

[Oregoon]

I like the old-school bed-side mounted style, and since a drift-boat is in my future, I too will be losing the under-bed spare.

I like Sean's front-mount, too. I got in a wreck (in my buddy's truck) with that same set-up, and the truck ('68 IHC 1-ton) fared really well-- a little grill damage, a bent tire-mount and a tweaked bumper. The other car (a Ford Fairmont Wagon) not so much...

[Just call me Sean]

People did have a tendency to get out of my way.

[andrewmp6]

You could build a hitch mount swing out like http://www.tiregate.com/hg-series/

[Tucson38]

Thanks for the responses. I don't really have the room even if I move the mounting point, the dual exhaust is in the way.

Sean, my buddy insists I mount it on the front but I'm concerned about blocking airflow to the radiator, has that been a problem?

I'm actually using the tire gate design as a basis for my own mount. I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

[SilverMiner]

Originally Posted by Tucson38

Sean, my buddy insists I mount it on the front but I'm concerned about blocking airflow to the radiator, has that been a problem?

Tucson38 - GM promoted the use of the bumper-mounted spare tire carrier back in the 70's, and even advertised it in the official accessory brochure - thanks as usual to the Slosh Brochures website for the pic. It was a very popular option on the Camper Special trucks packing a big 11' cabover slide-in that ate up all the bed space. Given the cooling requirements of those rigs and GM's inherent conservatism, I can't imagine the front mounted spare caused many cooling problems. There is ample room for the fan to pull all the air it needs around the spare.

The mineral exploration squarebody company trucks I drove back in the 80's almost always had a front mounted spare, and we never had a problem with cooling. We did have problems with welds cracking and breaking, but that was 100% due to operator error.

[tucsonjwt]

I have dual exhaust. The exhaust on the left side is the one that is close. My exhaust goes out the side, just behind the rear wheel, so it clears the tire. Stock over the axle exhaust would not work, but modification to the side exit is not difficult.

[Just call me Sean]

Never had a problem with cooling, needle stayed at the same spot on the gauge, and this is Florida.

[andrewmp6]

A lot of the k5 blazer chalet used a front bumper mount spare.

[Tucson38]

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

I have dual exhaust. The exhaust on the left side is the one that is close. My exhaust goes out the side, just behind the rear wheel, so it clears the tire. Stock over the axle exhaust would not work, but modification to the side exit is not difficult.

Thanks fellow Tucsonan, I'll take another look underneath to see it I can possibly re-route the exhaust tubes.