Custom Tire Swing Out or Modify One for a Jeep?

[Mirage775]

I've been thinking about adding a Rear Tire Swing/Jerry Can holder to my truck. Since there aren't any bumpers like this, that are made for a Ranger anymore, I had originally thought about buying Affordable Offroad's 98-11 Rear Bumper and welding all the necessary bits on it to have the swing and holder. I found a couple of YouTube videos that show a "How-To" for this option.

I've thought about buying the Hitchgate, but it's $800+ alone....

Or could I buy a Jeep XJ Cherokee rear bumper with a tire swing already built for said bumper and just weld up some brackets for it, that mounted it to the Rangers' frame?

I have tons of ideas for this, just don't want to blow lots of money or waste time/steel attempting them.

Would appreciate anybody's thought on this idea?

Thanks!

 

[adsm08]

I could probably build something similar to a Hitchgate for about $100.

 

[Mirage775]

I could probably build something similar to a Hitchgate for about $100.

If you lived a little closer to me, I probably would take you up on that offer! I don't really like how the Hitchgate mounts. I mean it looks like an easy solution to get your spare tire mounted to the rear of the truck, but the price for what it is, is just ridiculous!

 

[Uncle Gump]

My goal is to have a swing out tire carrier too. I also have a cap on my truck... and I would like to be able to open the rear of the cap without swinging the tire out of the way first. My thoughts are that it will require something custom built to allow clearance. I plan to start with a set of Affordable Off Road bumpers and just free style to make them do what I want them to do.

You might want to just contact AOR and see what they would charge to just add a tire carrier to their rear bumper.

Edit... For some DIY inspiration... look at jimmyspy's build thread. He built a custom bumper and a swing out tire carrier. You may get some ideas from there.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

It's been done before using a Bronco II tire carrier. It is a lot of work though. A bumper with a swing-out carrier would be easier in my opinion.



GB

 

[Mirage775]

My goal is to have a swing out tire carrier too. I also have a cap on my truck... and I would like to be able to open the rear of the cap without swinging the tire out of the way first. My thoughts are that it will require something custom built to allow clearance. I plan to start with a set of Affordable Off Road bumpers and just free style to make them do what I want them to do.

You might want to just contact AOR and see what they would charge to just add a tire carrier to their rear bumper.

Edit... For some DIY inspiration... look at jimmyspy's build thread. He built a custom bumper and a swing out tire carrier. You may get some ideas from there.

I've seen a tire carrier that drops downward, but doesn't swing. I just put a camper shell on my truck last week, after searching for a used one for about 2 years! I don't mind having to swing it out of the way to access the camper door

I think the guys at AOR got tired of answering my questions, LOL, as I haven't heard from them in a couple of weeks, but I'll shoot them a message on Facebook about adding a tire swing for me. The way I see it, I'll have to pay for one, regardless of who builds it for me.

It's been done before using a Bronco II tire carrier. It is a lot of work though. A bumper with a swing-out carrier would be easier in my opinion.

GB

Yep, I saw some pics of a Bronco II carrier on a Ranger, but it was the old square body style... I didn't see any on a 98-up Ranger. Doesn't matter, those carriers are impossible to find around here anyway... I saw one for sale locally, years ago, but it was like $250-$300!

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Doesn't matter, those carriers are impossible to find around here anyway... I saw one for sale locally, years ago, but it was like $250-$300!

I've got more of them than I can count and I know where at least 6-8 more are located. lol The last one I sold, I got $175.




GB

 

[adsm08]

Doesn't matter, those carriers are impossible to find around here anyway... I saw one for sale locally, years ago, but it was like $250-$300!

I have a couple and I can't give the stupid things away.

 

[91stranger]

I have a couple and I can't give the stupid things away.

I'd take a couple free ones. I'm all about free stuff lol. If your ever in Central Ohio let me know in advance b/c I'd be interested in buying one if you weren't asking much for them. Also to the OP, they make hitch mounted spare tire carriers. Not sure if you have a hitch or if this would be an option but these are out there and you could modify them too. Would be a simple bolt on design if you wanted to test the waters.

 

[Evan Yopp]

I'm in Western KY, so I'm a little bit closer. I could build you whatever you was wanting. IMO, you'd be way better off going with a bumper mounted swing. Totally reversible (no modifying the ranger), and factory B2 tire swings get sketchy once you start getting any bigger than a 31" tire.

 

[Ranger850]

Somewhere on here a guy built one. A nice one. It is either in a thread somewhere or there is a whole thread dedicated to it. I cant even remember who it was right now, but I will look for it and try to add a link.

 

[Shran]

Not on a Ranger, I built one for my Explorer. Modifying a factory bumper or adding a tire carrier to one crossed my mind but after discussing that with a buddy that did exactly that to his Duramax, I concluded that the factory bumper is not strong enough without significant reinforcement. So this is what I did. It's all 3/16 plate. Weight was a big concern but when it was all said and done I think it weighs maybe 50 pounds more than the factory bumper and receiver hitch that I took off - minus the weight of the extra tire of course.

I don't like those Hitchgate things at all. The tire sticks way out. Plus there has got to be a bunch of slop in the receiver tube. Not for me.

 

[cflowrider]

That is sweet!

 

[adsm08]

Not on a Ranger, I built one for my Explorer. Modifying a factory bumper or adding a tire carrier to one crossed my mind but after discussing that with a buddy that did exactly that to his Duramax, I concluded that the factory bumper is not strong enough without significant reinforcement. So this is what I did. It's all 3/16 plate. Weight was a big concern but when it was all said and done I think it weighs maybe 50 pounds more than the factory bumper and receiver hitch that I took off - minus the weight of the extra tire of course.

I don't like those Hitchgate things at all. The tire sticks way out. Plus there has got to be a bunch of slop in the receiver tube. Not for me.

Um... Where does the license plate go?

 

[sgtsandman]

Um... Where does the license plate go?

Pfffff! Details!...