Mounted the spare tire, does this look right?

I got the spare tire mounted but it doesn't look right to me. I measured the holes on my original tub and drilled the new tub in the same spot, but it looks like it is sitting too low. Maybe it is because my tires are too tall. What do you think?

 

those seats look really nice!

 

Looks really nice

 

OK, maybe I'm just overreacting because I'm not used to seeing it there. When I bought the Jeep, it had the bracket but no spare. I Googled for pictures but all the ones I can find are from angles and not straight on. It just looked like it was sitting too low or something.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

Well it looks good to me. The 73 in this photo has H-78-15 tires. It looks like the top of the rim is about the same distance above the body as yours. You do have tall tires which I think looks very cool. Nice job.

 

yea just cause your tires are bigger.

 

As long as the two horizontal bolts are through the hat channel and the two vertical bolts are through the metal support, you are good to go. There are measurements available on the 3B page, but I think this is the correct way to mount it and it is how Willys intended it to be done. Also, that is how the bolts are on my original '49.

 

"I'm not used to seeing it there."

When you take your Jeep out, try and remember not to wipe it off on a tree. Happened a lot to the originals.

Looks right to me.

 

I welded in a wheelhouse baffle with a horizontal hat channel. The top and bottom bolts go through the baffle and the horizontal bolts go through the hat channel. I didn't weld the hat channel in, though, because I figured it would have bolts going through it anyway. I have the original wood block that is supposed to prevent the wheel from rattling but it is too thick with the larger tires. I am making another one out of a thinner piece of oak.

In retrospect, I wish I had gone with an original size tire.

 

I dont think it will be seeing any trails.

 

Heck no, I might get the tires dusty. I told my wife that since I was building this one as a pretty garage queen that I need to do another one for playing outside. She thinks I was joking. She'll soon learn.

 

Looks great! How bout a few up close shots of your hat channel work? I want to do this too, got the carrier and all, but the PO removed the hat channel when the rear quarters were redone, it would be interesting to see your application.

 

I have played with the idea of a side mount tire. I dont like it, but thats me. Your jeep is really great looking, what is its power? The wind shield is going to be gray? to match the seats? How long you been working on it?
Army Grunt

 

Doesn't have to be on a trail.
What about parked cars?

Or what about the yahoos that can't drive them selves a scrape it off for you?

I came out of Home Despot one day to find some one with a large van had parked so close to the drivers side of my JEEP, that if I had had the steps mounted at that time the drivers side one would have been severly damaged. There was less than an inch between the side of the JEEP and that van. I just have a Bikini top on it, so getting in wasn't really that much of a problem. But still...

 

Had mine on the side, caught a tree in a very narrow spot. Didn't really cause any damage, but put a swing out spare and bumper with a receiver on. Like it much better and don't have the stock trailer hitch banging my shin every time I go near the rear!!

 

it looks great- nice choice of red!


Side mounted spares are awesome-- it just adds to the vintage look.

I can't tell you how many times it has acted as a bumper.

I too am loving the seat colors. Is that an original color choice?

I am also loving the tire size- are those 215-85-16's?

 

Back to your original question...JEEPPOWER's side mount looks like the same height as yours. I think you did good.

 

Here's a picture of my wheelhouse baffle.
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