Thoughts on my swing away tire carrier

I loved the idea of a swing away as I was planning my adventure rig set up. It just oozes utilitarian cool. Yes, a 33 fits under in the stock spare area, but my goal is 35's and under gives me a great additional fuel storage spot (already been through the Pinto considerations here, so no more please...) But, now after several multi day trips and some rough going I am not so sure about the swing away...




Here's why, I think: I chose a receiver mount and it's really heavy. Clearance is fine with the Coastal Offroad bumper but I over built the thing. It hangs out and that cantilever loads the springs-especially with all the bed/kitchen/winch/water etc. I have an AAL and a fancy bump stop but it just feels really heavy when I am in rough terrain. Never had a problem, just "feelings" and all that noise before the bump stop got installed. It also blocks both my rear view through the window and the camera. This set up is also useless if I need to use the truck with the tailgate down. The utilitarian nature isn't there for me.

Overall it works well as intended, but I am just not as excited as I should be. In the end it makes a nice delineation for the kitchen area when in use. I am also worried that the hinge will break from the load-used a kit I found online for this type of rack. In the end the only thing I like is that it looks cool! Guess I have a Jeep gene in me...




I have since moved the tire after much consideration, up-kind of like a Land Rover thing. We will see. Doesn't feel top heavy, but will be a bitch if I ever do need to change one in the middle of no where. Time will tell if I like this set up. Currently making a different style of rack for water and propane out back; but, this one will not use the receiver. Still a swing away, but in tight to the truck and allows for the camera to be clear.

So the long way to the end here, is, what says the hive mind. Wondering if anyone has had a bigger tire up high like this? Issues? Concerns that I might be missing? Thoughts? thanks in advance.

 

I like it

Good job.

Every time I see a post like this, I think to myself, “I need to learn to weld”.

 

I built three or four versions of tire carriers. Every single one made the truck ride like poo and reverberate over bumps. There was no way around it. I boxed the entire frame and built new crossmembers and that helped a bit, but never solved it. This worked though



The bed is the only place for an oversized spare really. I firmly believe everyone with a tire carrier is lying to themselves about it not shaking the whole truck. I like your take on it though. Might be hard to get down, but everything’s a trade off. You’ll find your balance.

 

33 barely fits in the stock location

and does not at all if you upgrade to archive hammer hangers with cross tube

stock you have to pull backwards and up, to get out of the way of the diff, and it rubs against the exhaust hanger
It’s also recommended to put heat wrap on the exhaust because the size puts it closer to it
I put mine in the bed

best one I’ve seen is a custom bed rack built with a spare mount on the back that holds it higher for better departure angle

if you add a swingout to a bumper that makes it extend farther out reducing clearance
Like the opposite of doing a bobbed bed

I haven’t hit a trail hard enough yet for it to get that close to the back but I don’t plan on welding a swingout/permanent extension onto the bumper for that very reason