Dual purpose spare tire carrier idea.

1974Sixer · #1 05-27-2009, 11:27 AM

I'm on a limited budget and I don't want to drill anymore holes into my jeep than I have to. The pic isn't current of what she is now, but for the purposes of getting my idea across it worked well.

I'm thinking of putting on a drop-down spare tire carrier onto the pipe bumper that I already have on the jeep. I did a quick photoshop illustration of what I'm thinking about. A dual purpose spare holder that if I drop down 90° I can use it to carry game out of the woods. I'm tired of hog blood in the bed of the jeep and have finally got a good coat of primer over the rusted bed to impede any further deterioration until I can get the money to have the tub removed and blasted.

What I'm looking for here are some ideas of how to secure the pipe going over the pipe bumper that's on there now. The green pipe is what I added. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to stabilize this much metal while holding a spare and keep it secure and quiet. I want a hitch or release mechanism that will work in the field without any tools. Shoot a pig, drop the spare mount and load them up and go.

By the way, the jeep sits up another 2" since I replaced the worn out shackles last week. I've got a bit more clearance now off the ground.

I'll work on some close diagrams of the bumper and what I'm thinking about as I get the ideas and post them up. Any help or pics of something similar to this would be appreciated. I'm still not sure if this idea is worth a dam or not. Just pondering the possiblities.

DanStew · #2 05-27-2009, 11:54 AM

You could use pins to hold the table down, but it is still alot of leverage. maybe if you get a roll bar and put some eyelets on the top of it, you could hang some steel cable and atach it to the far corners of the table to help hold it up, but it might not work well with a sof top, unless you unzip the rear window and let the cable sneak out.

CJjunk · #3 05-27-2009, 12:43 PM

You have that heavy cross member the hitch is mounted to so you could mount supports from under the table. Make them swing down from the bottom of the table and lock in with pins.

1974Sixer · #4 05-27-2009, 01:05 PM

that's true, although I've got that off right now and was contemplating a regular receiver. With a few modes I'm sure I could figure out how to support it from the bottom.

I'm concerned to with it in the up position and not wiggling around to much. I need to make sure I get a good fit outer pipe and maybe add a grease fitting to help keep it somewhat quiet and functional.

I'm thinking about a spring loaded hitch pin to lock it up and then maybe cutting a hole in the outer pipe and welding a bolt on with a L bolt to tighten down keep from rattling.

mdbeck1 · #5 05-27-2009, 02:03 PM

It looks to me like the spare tire would hit the hitch. I think I'd get some steel pipe and slide it out from under the jeep to hold the table up (in the horizontal configuration). It would probably be easier than using the cables. You could use two different diameters of pipe (one on the outside that clamped to the frame with muffler clamps and one that slid inside). You could lock them in place with a hitch pin????
I think I'd also plug the larger pipe on the front end so that it doesn't collect dirt.

I use my jeep for essentially the same thing but purchased a Harbour Freight bed mounted crane for ~$150. I drop a short rope around the deer's head, lift, and drop in the bed. Later I use the crane to gut and butcher the deer. Much easier than finding a tree and backing up (or driving forward) to lift/lower.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=37555

1974Sixer · #6 05-29-2009, 06:14 PM

Maybe this is a better idea. This is another quick sketch and looks more like what I think I'll go with.

This would allow me to take it on or off fairly easy and when in the horizontal position it would give me some extra clearance.

Horizontal position and still probably in need of more support. Not sure yet.

I'm wondering if what diameter of square tubing I should go with? hmmmm

73cj5 · #7 05-29-2009, 06:57 PM

If you have 3in tube and a 20 inch overhang with a 300lb design load you have 4000lbs sheer between the tube and the rotating sleve. Figuring 2 pins in sheer in two places you have 1000lbs per joint.

I ran the numbers and with design factor of six (shock loads) you will need two 7/16 pins of a1020 or greater.

Rumpeltiltskin · #8 06-01-2009, 11:38 PM

fabricate yourself a reciever hitch and then simply build or buy a carrier that slides into the receiver and your done. I bought my carrier at harbor freight for about 40 bucks, and with the price of steel these days you wouldn't save much by making your own.

Agent454 · #9 06-02-2009, 12:37 AM

I was helping a freind move this weekend. The rental truck had a hydraulic lift gate. When transporting the truck the gate folded up underneath. The gate pivoted like your original idea. It also had a big spring around the pipe that helped support the gate. Made it much easier to fold and unfold. Might help take load off the hitch pins.