My tire carrier build [pic heavy]

Wanted something prerunner-ish but didn't want to give up too much bed space. I decided to build something that would be able to flip up in order to provide more bed space.

This is my first fabrication project. Used a wire feed welder, chop saw, and grinder. The tubing is 1.5'' x .120 HREW. Between the tube, bushings, and tabs I think it came up to about $125.

It can hold the tire in an up or down position. In the up position you can load the bed to the height of the bedsides without interference.

Has two tabs for antennas (one for my CB, the other for my FM/AM radio [relocated due to fiberglass fenders]). The rear bed bar has two tabs for back up lights.

First bed bar and initial "V" in place:



Cross bar notched and welded in place:



Tube notched for nut, rod threaded in for fit.



Nut welded in place



Rod cut, wings welded on to retaining nut:



Carrier up



Tire down:



Tire up after maiden voyage. Filled up the bed of the truck with gear and went camping, offroading, hiking, and rock climbing in Colorado.



So far so good, held up to the offroading just fine. I plan on putting some more tie down points in the bed and throwing a strap over it when it's in the down position.

 

Nice

I really need to find a good tire carrier!

 

VERY NICE!

I must admit I am a bit jelly

 

Couple more pics:

 

wow your truck is sick


that's my fav tire carrier so far!!!!!I'd like a tire carrier too, but when ever i'm offroad, i have my dirt bikes with me.. sooo i guess maybe Tire Gate? I'm not quite sure, maybe i'll fab up something of a bed extender but with the end of the extender acting as a swinging tire gate, that would get me to like a 7 foot bed about and then i'd have a gate there when a 250's back there

 

Looks good! I'm building one next weekend. Same kinda idea. Does it totally block the rear window when its up?

 

Looks really good, I like it.

 

Very nice!

 

Pretty much. You can see a little, but not much.

When it's down you can see pretty well.

 

Nice set up.sweet truck

 

Great job!

 

Are those three steel flaps not going to tear up the wheel when you tighten it down?

 

Looks good! I like how you made it modular

 

I'm well past the caring about scratching up my wheel point. You'll notice the giant weld on the inside of that spare; that wheel cracked at one point and I had it repaired (and made it my spare).

 

gotcha, just curious

 

It does definitely grind as you crank down on it, but that wheel doesn't move at all.

 

Looks like mine nice!

 

good job, i like that design