DIY Spare tire carrier

Not spending the money on a Wilco carrier. Saw some threads and videos about making this one and made a few changes to it. The main reason I did this was to keep my 5th wheel/tire from getting all jacked up underneath the truck. Thought I could do it all without welding but ended up having my buddy weld the connector since it wiggled too much. Everything else worked out good. I have less than $200 in to it. I may try to get it a little closer to the hatch and drill another hole in the hitch part. Thought about a spring to help it raise back up, it’s not bad but my wife can’t get it back up.

 

Cool! That’s a workout every time y’all need to open the back. Lucky you’re tires are not that big.

 

Good job! I like those wheels

 

Nice job!

 

Wicked job, thanks for sharing!

 

Love the way it turned out! Just a thought, why not carry your stock spare rim and comparable size spare tire under the truck for daily use? Then when you go on an adventure where you need your fifth tire, you put your carrier on. That way you’re not working around it constantly.

 

Thanks man! That’s not a bad idea!

 

Managed to get it 2” closer to the bumper/hatch! Looks better!

 

Great work.

 

Put another clevis pin in to block the tube as the tire is on its way down so now it won't go all the way down. My kid can put it back now!

 

Do you have a parts list? I would love to make something like this for my Sequoia.

 

This is the spare tire carrier I used.......I think I got it for $90 at the time.

$113 CURT 31006 24" High Trailer Hitch Spare Tire Mount for 2" Receiver , Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009YIE1O

If you can weld, you could weld up your own Curt type mount with 2x2 tubing and a metal plate to mount the wheel spacer to.
I used this from Harbor Freight I used the actual hitch piece from an old bike carrier but you could use the piece you cut off from the Curt one. And I had some extra 2”x2” tubing I used fit the bottom half of my carrier.

I ordered 2 of these:

https://a.co/d/hrwGYPY


My bolts holding it together are 1/2” stainless and the pivot bolt is a 5/8” Grade 8. I put some thin nylon washers between the plates and bar where the 5/8” bolt is to help it rotate smoothly.


These are the 2 wheel spacers I bought

ECCPP 2X 1 inch 5 Lug Wheel Spacers 5x150mm to 5x150mm 14x1.5 Fits for Lexus LX470 LX570 for Toyota Tundra Sequoia Land Cruiser

$39 ECCPP 2X 1" 5 Lug Wheel Spacers 5x150mm to 5x150mm 14x1.5 Fits for 1998-2021 for Toyota for land cruiser 2008-2022 for Toyota for sequoia 2007-2021 for Toyota for tundra

Amazon.com: ECCPP 2X 1 inch 5 Lug Wheel Spacers 5x150mm to 5x150mm 14x1.5 Fits for Lexus LX470 LX570 for Toyota Tundra Sequoia Land Cruiser: Automotive -


Got this at Tractor Supply for about $6

2 PCS Red Handle Hitch Pin 5/8 Inch Tractor Hitch Pin Clevis pin Hitch Pin Accessories for Tractors 5/8X5-1/2

$17 2 PCS Red Handle Hitch Pin 5/8" Tractor Hitch Pin Clevis pin Hitch Pin Accessories for Tractors 5/8X5-1/2

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082ZK6XDR
Just a side note, Napa has bolts, nuts and washers way cheaper than anywhere else!

And use one of these to keep it locked on the hitch, no rattles or moving:

https://a.co/d/gnYHqqo

License plate light:

$12 True Mods Black LED License Plate Light for Boat Trailer [Steel Bracket Mount] [DOT FMVSS 108] [SAE L] 12V DC Waterproof Universal Submersible Tag Lamp for Car Work Utility Flat Bed Box Semi Truck RV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07937BQYJ

I bought an extra trailer wiring harness and wired it to this light so I just plug it in to the trailer wiring.

License plate cover:

https://a.co/d/0D0uETT

Watch this video, it was my inspiration:

Folding Tire Hitch Carrier Build + License Plate / Hi-Lift Mounts - S2E49 -

And here’s a couple of threads about it:

https://www.subaruxvforum.com/threads/diy-spare-tire-carrier-cheap.176165/

https://www.overlandbound.com/forum...swing-down-hitch-mount-spare-tire-rack.15415/

 

Is that for looks? I'm confused. You've basically blocked off your trunk doot. Tires on the rear door are usually installed on the hinge that can be swung out of the way when opening the door. Another way tire is mounted on the door is if whole door siwngs horizontally to the side. Our Suzuki was that way.

Just FYI, you do have a wheel under the truck. Look underneath.

 

Did you even read my first post at all?

"The main reason I did this was to keep my 5th wheel/tire from getting all jacked up underneath the truck."

Have you ever seen a spare tire after its been under a truck for a few years? It looks like a ship wreck, covered in road grit and the tire itself gets indentations from being pressed into the frame. I rotate my spare in with my other wheels so I wanted it to stay in good shape.
And I didn't block off my trunk doot, whatever that is , I assume you meant hatch door. The tires swings down out of the way and I can open the hatch.

 

If you rotate it on a regular basis, it's doesn't look bad. If you haven't used it in five years, then yes, it'll get a little nasty. Having the tire sitting like that all the time in the same spot will wear out pretty quick from uv.

Doot=door. I do not agree this is the way. Keep it tucked away underneath and just loosen it up and wash off once a month. You can rotate it to prevent indentation if that's what you're worried about. Or maybe just add soft shims where tire meets frame. This looks to me the wrong way to do it what you are doing there.

 

Nope, I treat it with protectant, its no worse off being exposed to UV than any of my other tires.
I am not going under there once a month to take it down and wash it and rotate it.....that's ridiculous. And I am not messing with shims.
On top of all of that, it's a 34" tire, it doesn't fit in my spare tire area anyways, so this is exactly and the only way to do it.

 

Well, that changes everything!

Adding: I'd just go with those prius spares if that would work. To save weight, just to limp it home in case unfortunate happens. Or some plastic 'lego' inflatable type stuff you could store in your glove compartment.

 

Sound advice.