Is there any reasonable way to beef up the stock JK tailgate to handle the weight of a 35"+ spare tire and wheel, for offroad excursions?

 

I personally don't think you need one (I don't use one) but if you want one, MBRP makes a reinforcing kit for the stock carrier.

I bought the kit and tried to install it, but I was unable to remove the welded bolts. Which led me to believe that the EIGHT bolts that are welded to an already reinforced part of the tailgate are sufficient.

I also read somewhere that someone ran their 35" and it broke the bolts. GREAT! When and if the bolts break, I can install the MBRP reinforcement kit that is currently sitting idly i my garage shelf...

You will also need the Daystar bumpstops to replace the stock ones...

 

I've had a 35 hanging off of my stock tailgate for over a year now. No problems and I wheel pretty hard.

 

I've got the MBRP kit, and so far so good with my (rather heavy) Toyo 35X12.5. It's a fiddly little thing to install - and breaking the nuts free from the tack welds can bet a bit akward. The upside is that even a casual inspection of the setup makes it clear that the kit will do a much better job of spreading the weight across the sheet metal than the tack welded nuts.

 

I've heard as long as you can keep tire vibration down, which can be done with the longer bumpstops, a 35 should hang off the carrier without problems. But I don't know for myself...

 

I also have a 35" hanging on my tailgate with the stock set up, no problems here. I am just saving to get the bumper with the tire carrier. But no big hurry.

 

I've got the MBRP kit on order. I'm running a 37x12.50 MTR on a 4.5" BS wheel so I have to extend it up and out. I use the MBRP Spare Tire relocate but unfortunately that has 2 problems for me...It extends it out too far for the DayStar Bump Stops to reach so I have some DayStar Suspension Bump Stops on order to hopefully...extend their extended stops. We'll see how that goes. The other problem is that my 37 is already heavy. The bracket sends it out even further, amplifying the stress on the welds. I figure breaking the welds off in a controlled manner, at a time that's convenient for me is much better than an uncontrolled manner, ripping my tailgate apart at the same time, at a time that I'd really rather not be dealing with a busted tailgate (out on the trail) is the best choice. I'm confident in the reinforcement since I ran my TJ pretty hard with a 35" spare on the back with a relocate bracket and no support bracket so it SHOULD (should is a hopeful word, isn't it ) do just fine.

 

I would suggest spending your long-term money on an OR-Fab Tire Carrier or a bumper mounted variant...

Just my two cents...

 

Whichever way you decide to go - stock or after-market, you DO need a spare, always - especially off road.

 

quoted for truth...
cant tell you how many times my spare has come in handy on and off-road