I don't have this carrier, but it is still on my short list. I have seen some posts that show one of the welds breaking, and even have a coworker who was at the Palo Duro jeep jamboree and he said there was a guy there that had the same issue. Would like to know if anyone else has had this issue, and if teraflex is doing anything to "fix" that issue.

 

I recall a couple people having the carrier crack around the rim but I believe TeraFlex was pretty quick to replace them. Have yet to see any complaints about the hinge itself.

I am about to order the hinge and use my OE carrier. I'm just curious if anyone else running this setup has had any issues snugging up the tire so it didn't rattle or move around a lot. Currently I have a spacer between my carrier and the tire (315/70/17 Duratrac) to keep it just off the rear bumper. This also allows me to keep my third brake light visible and the tire snugged up nicely against the stops. I have been pretty rough on it and so far I haven't had any problems or cracking but I fear the day the tailgate does decide to give, so I'd rather just do it now and be done with it. With my luck I am certain if I stay stock for too much longer it will fail

 

Sounds like a lot of money for just a tire carrier... You could get the Smittybilt Oversized Tire Carrier for a little over $100 and it would work just as good. I know guys running the Smitty and they are really happy with it. The stock hinges hold up just fine like that, even with heavy offroad use. I believe it was the metal around the stock carrier that was always the issue, not the hinges anyway...Smitty solved that problem. It's one of their best designs IMO.

 

Teraflex HD hinge. You won't be sorry. No squeaks, rattles, clunks, or bangs.

 

but what if I like some bangs?

 

Then buy a smittybilt bumper with carrier. You can have as many rattles and bangs as u want!

 

I have always heard it is the hinges that are causing the problem on heavy spare set ups because they offer no structural support to sheet metal of the tail gate like the TF does.

 

I've just recently gone from a TeraFlex Hinged Carrier to a bumper with carrier and now back to a TF Hinged Carrier. Ha ha! The weight savings and ease of opening and closing the gate are well worth the investment in my opinion.

I think you did the right thing Chad! Enjoy it!

Marcus

 

The hinges are not the problem. It is the thin sheet metal they use for the actual tailgate that is the problem. When a large tire is put on a stock carrier, any bumps or vibration will cause the thin sheet metal to flex and the tack welds will start to fatigue. That's where you get the creaks and noise from. The Smitty carrier prevents this by providing a solid support for that sheet metal, therefore no vibrations and the tire tire does not bounce around on the tailgate. The guys I know have never had any problem with their hinges with the Smitty carrier.

You should go with what you think is best though. You can't go wrong with the Teraflex, but the Smittybilt one will work just as well...(don't offroad with you're tailgate wide open and you should be fine, lol.) Just consider it a less expensive alternative. The Teraflex one is really nice though. If you can afford it, then definitely go for it.

 

This is my plan it's only $129 I noticed all the dealer builds they run the smitty


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