stock 74 spare tire carrier, max weight/tire size without warpage/damage risk?

The stock carrier on my 74, what size or total weight can it really accommodate?
Or am I best off to remove it and not use it at all?

 

If it bolts to the body, It will, over time, probably tear at the body...especially if you go off-road, causing it to rock 'n roll. I don't know for sure what the largest tire they could carry, safely, but would guess probably not much larger than the stock factory tire.

 

as for fitment

15x10 with 33x12.5 'fits'
15x8.5 x 31x10.5 also observed to fit.
Weight difference (probably due to rim type) was not measured, but 'felt' kinda close with the 33 of course being heavier.

I was just curious if I should avoid using it at all, or if it's 'ok' on the road in the meantime.

I do plan on a carrier later on, more focused on getting running right now money wise.

 

If you have the solid back panel, it should be ok. Back in the day, I found that the carrier does not tear out. Instead the back panel will crack at the top corners where it attaches to the body. I feel you'll have to do a lot to make it crack out though - a very heavy tire, extra gear hanging off the tire, lots of rough road driving, etc.

 

Solid panel.
Ideally I'd like to hang a 32 or 33 there for a year or two.
I would not say I plan on any real off road action, nor hanging gear on it as well, just an alumn rim, tire, and maybe a tire cover.

Looking to build or spend the dough later for the 'really cool bumper/hitch/carrier mount system'. Right now the factory stuff has to do with the costs and time of getting her running and such.

 

I put a piece of angle iron across the back of my '73, sitting on top of the wheel houses. This was bolted to the back panel and the top of the wheelhouse. Worked, but may not jive with your idea of aesthetics.

 

does that fit with rear seat?

 

Yep.

There's a few inches of reach-through space (IIRC) that is compromised, but the seat fits. The angle iron was something like 1.5x1.5", 1/8" or 3/16" thick. I had to do something to stop the cracks from progressing.