Hitch mounted spare tire carrier

Building a spare tire carrier, need some help and some questions answered.
1. This is a temporary solution until I get some bumpers.
2. How much spacing should I have between hub and vertical member? Is 5 inch to little? Should I push it to 6 inch?
3. Its free for me to do this so I figured why not.
4. Is there anything else I should do while already building this?
5. I do not want to cut the spare tire holders to fit my spare.

 

You might want to make it capable of folding down so you can open the tailgate.

 

It depends on the size of your spare tire .

Do you ever haul anything moving that mount will get old quick??

 

Make it slightly LESS than the depth of the wheel face. When you tighten the bolts that hold the tire to the carrier, the side wall will compress slightly and reduce vibration.

 

Know of any hd hinges and latches? I also was thinking about that but couldn't find any I liked.

 

Not often. I do carry 55 gallon drums when we go bowfishing all the time that might be it though.

 

So if my backspacing is 5in make it like 5.25 then so the sidewall pushes against. I don't want it to hit the rim.

 

Thinking about doing this latch just don't know what heavy duty hinge to use.

 

No. Make it 4.75". The bulge of the rubber tire sidewall will never allow the rim to hit the metal vertical piece.

 

I would recommend against trying to make a hinged, folding tire carrier, unless you are planning on making it super beef. Depending on your fabrication/welding skill, and the size/wall thickness of the square tubing you're using, you may want to add gussets to the 90* bends. You are cantilevering 50+ lbs (depending on tire size) out probably 12" or more from your trailer hitch - it will be prone to stress cracking and fatigue especially after going wheeling.

 

Your going to have lots of time in only a temporary spare tire mount.

To build a receiver mount spare tire holder that folds down it is going to be real heavy duty .

2" 1/4" wall square tube

then because the stress of pulling out with the truck will always want to drop your tire down a latch will need to be very strong .

Maybe a another 5/8" pin instead of a latch

Why not build your bumper and swing out spare tire mount at the same time

 

Planning on buying a bumper with swing out this is just a because i can and i need the tire out of my bed but dont want to cut underneath to fit it and dont want to lose it.

 

Even a new hitch with some nice 2x2x.250 will have clearance causing this contraption to bounce and wiggle around.

If I could cut my spare tire mount and fit my full size spare there that would make me so happy. Just cut it and quit wasting time/money on a "temp" solution.

just my 2cents

 

Wont rattle, building a anti rattle for it also. will have the rear slide pull into the reciever tube and cause it to angle and lock so it wont rattle.

 

Well im scratching the hitch idea, gonna build a bed rack instead, just gotta find someone to weld aluminum or do it in steel instead.

 

I'd weld it I was closer. Glad you are moving away from the hitch tire rack.

 

Good move !!