I hear a lot of people writing about popped tailgate welds caused by oversized tires on the stock carrier. Although I don't think I will experience this with my current setup (285/70/17 on AEV Pintler wheels), I would like to know what to look for. What welds are likely to give? What would this look like? Any pictures? What other warning signs should people look for if they upsize their tires?

Thanks.

 

Im copying my post on a different thread. Just my 2c advice :

A forum search for "popped tailgate welds" will show a number with similar to mine below. It took just a couple of weeks for the welds to break - the damage isn't disasterous but further use of 35" tires on the stock tailgate would only tear-up the tailgate further.

The ONLY answer to running a spare 35" or larger on the tailgate is NOT to. If you must, run without a spare until can afford an integrated rear bumper with tire carrier, new or used. I carried an air compressor and tire plug kit while saving and waiting.

The tailgate has 15 spot welds running horizontal left to right 2 inches from the top, and 5 running vertically near the center. Within a couple weeks the 5 vertical spot welds popped, detatching the inner tailgate skin from the outer skin. The center three spot welds are now detached and recessed over 1mm, implying the additional spare tire weight pulled the outer skin out 1mm+. Some others had the horizontal welds pop, mine were just the vertical spot welds.

 

Wow. I would definitely notice that if it happened to my Jeep. Thanks for the photos and the explanation.

 

I was wondering if one could "reinforce" the welds by adding some pop rivets next to them.

 

This will always be a debate, and yes over time at 35 will mess up your tailgate, but if you secure it properly with bumpstops you usually can get away with not doing damage for a while. I ran a 35 MTR on my tailgate with homemade thick hose bumpstops and it held up fine with no tailgate damage. I did upgrade to the ACE bumper and carrier tho cause I did know that eventually it would prob do damage.

 

Close to 80k miles on my 35 on the tailgate and its just as tight as when i put it in there originally. Properly bumpstoping the tire will go a long ways

 

I went with the Teraflex HD hinge. This will prevent the breakage on the tailgate and allow you to run up to a 37" spare granted you upgrade the tire carrier. I have the stock carrier with an upgraded hinge because i'm just running a narrow 33. The stock tire carrier is honestly probably fine for a 35 as long as your hinge is updated.

 

Every Jeeper has a different answer because we all have different priorities, budgets and uses for the Jeep.

I've no doubt an aftermarket tire carrier is needed both short-term and long-term if you want larger heavier tires.

More than the tailgate, my priority was to get a tough full-width bumper that takes a hit, both off-road, and on-road -- ask the guy that rear-ended my Jeep !!! I didn't file a claim against him for minor scratches versus his car carnage.

 

Ha ha, car carnage