Tire Carriers
 

Just bought a set of 35"s w/ 20"rims, need to install a tire carrier....so I'm told. Lots of options out there, none are cheap. I am leaning toward an aluminum frame to keep weight down. Looking for any advice on what to pick up. Ok in spending more, but needs to be worth it. Any help would be appreciated.

I have the Teraflex HD hinge. I've used it with 35s and now with 37s. Zero complaints.

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I'd stick with the type that replace the hinges like above, and I'd stick with a name brand unit like Tearflex (some will debate this brand but they designed that carrier and everyone else copied it), Metalcloak has one similar, or the MORryde carrier that is a bit different design but also works well. I'd steer away from the cheaper knockoffs like Smittybilt, Rugged Ridge, etc for this particular item, just my opinion though.

The cheapest option is to do away with the carrier altogether and have a clean rear end. You're carrying a lot of weight back there for looks with a tire that will likely never be needed while on the road. For wheeling purposes, you could always truck a spare along in the back of the jeep if needed. Unless I'm going to do some aggressive things a good ways from home I don't worry about a spare myself.

I am in the same line of thinking as resharp. I like the clean rear end with nothing there. When I go wheeling, I’ve been in places where the spare tire could have ripped off my tailgate if I had the tire there. I almost ripped off my hilift jack mount back there so I don’t even keep that there anymore. I stuff the hilift under the rear seat, it’s solid there and won’t be a projectile if I hit something. I can fit my 37x12.5 spare, 20lb co2 tank, and a box for parts and tools in the back. It’s a tight fit but I get it all there for the trail runs. For daily driving, no need to carry a spare tire.


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This was before I removed my hilift but it shows a cleaner back end.
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I wish I had posted this prior to my rim / tire purchase...… Going light seems to make sense for the obvious reasons ($$, clean look, less weight). I didn't even give it a thought until this thread. Unfortunately, that ship has set sail. The Smittybuilt was the direction I was headed, now I'm leaning toward the Teraflex. Thanks for the feedback and insight everyone, appreciated!

Resharp, thanks for the feedback since I started this build. Very happy with the MC Gamechanger you recommended, glad I went in that direction!

Since you mentioned Smittybilt, I'd tell you I think there are some things that are perfectly fine that they make. Bumpers are basic items, and I have one of their X20 winches that has treated me perfectly fine for 6 years, but for this application in general I would not skimp if you are indeed going with a carrier.

I've considered not running a spare for a while now. I've had one flat in my 9 years with the Jeep and I had to have someone deliver a jack and tools to change it out on the side of the road. That was the 5th puncture in that tire before one actually let the air out. The spare was certainly handy to have then, but I could almost as easily have pulled the wheel, gotten the tire patched, and mounted it back up. On the two door there's no room to throw a spare in the back for a day wheeling so for now mine is staying on the tailgate.

I highly recommend the Crawler Conceptz tire carrier. Looks great and very stout

I am in the same boat... looking to mount my 35" spare without breaking the bank. Did you make a decision?

I had a screw in my left rear tire day before yesterday, probably only 5 k miles on a set of new duratrac’s just a few months old, road hazard replaced the tire, but proof to me a spare is a good thing to have, I don’t like even just going to town and not having a spare

The AEV tire carrier is not cheap, but really nice because it opens with the tailgate. Only need to open one thing, not open 2 things. BestTop had one like that for TJs, and AEV has one for JKs.

I've had so many flat tires on the trail that I was on a first name basis with the great folks at Americas Tire store. Def way more than 10. ATS has the BEST tire hazard warranty because they don't pro-rate it. I will always buy that. Ran BFG 32" for many years. It's always a rock slashed sidewall. They were always really good sports about it;Anyway, I will always carry a spare tire and sometimes a patch kit too. That AAA card is pretty much useless on the trail.