I've reserached the many options here and now just want an honest vote. I have 295/70R18 Nitto trail grapplers on stock rims on my stock spare mount. after 3k miles and 4 months.. I'm getting rattling. I'm sure I can find ways to reduce the rattle, but teh bottom line is that I need to start planning now for more mods. So my options are:

1. take off the back for my everyday driving in town and throw back on the spare for when I go anywhere of significant distance. I live in denver and most of my driving is to and from downtown, but we will go to the mountains and I have family that lives 2 hrs away, so thats when it would go back on. by the way I have a 9 month old son and a 100lb German Shepherd that travels with me.. putting a 35 in the back is not ideal.

2. Purchase OR-Fab tire carrier now and a separate bumper later.. how durable is is this carrier? is it better than a bumper mounted one? worse?

3. try to find a way to purchase bumper/carrier combo now, probably LOD, AEV, or shockworks.

so give me your thoughts.

 

From searching all over the forum, everyone that has OR FAB Tire/Can Carriers LOVES them. OR Fab tire/can carrier is on my next to do list.
The guys from OR FAB came to one of our Meet & Greets awhile back. I was worried about the weight of the tire and cans.
After talking to the guys and playing with the tire carrier i wasn't worried anymore. Im just going to get a rear bumper later and enjoy my 35 off my stock carrier. Maybe ill get there rear bumper as well!
2x for OR FAB.

 

1st, I went with a Rock hard rear bumper w/ tire carrier. I had a bad one, it kept on rattleing and other issue. I took it off and put my stock bumper back on and added the or-fab tire carrier. I really like the fact that I removed 180lbs from the rear and the jeep seems to be quicker, handling inproved also. The or-fab is solid no squeeks or rattles. I added a rotopaX can to the rear, instead of gerry cans. I am much more happier with this set up.

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...nd-RotopaX-can

 

I throw mine in the back. I had bad rattling and had to have the hinge pins changed even when I took the spare off.

I'm saving for the river raider rear winch bumper and tire cage but need some pretty serious $$ cause it needs their corners too. Im willing to wait and temporarily toss my 35 and summer 37 in the back for now.

 

I like the looks of the LOD rear bumper. Good price too.

 

I bought the LOD stubby rear bumper/ tire carrier combo and I love it. The gate on the thing is super sturdy with a wide range of adjustability to minimize/eliminate rattling. So far though I only have my 32"-ish all terrains on because my 37's are on back order and the suspension is stll waiting me to put it on when I can get some time off and go back home. Install on the bumper was fairly easy (I ran into some personal issues from past wheeling incidents) but nothing that was unattainable. I'm a beginner at wrenching since this is the first time I have had the money to drop into a vehicle and only took me a couple hours from start to finish. The only dislike that I haven't fixed yet is the relocation of the rear brake light and the wiring to it isn't long enough to swing the tire carrier away from the tail gate more than a couple inches.

 

I have no complaints about the OR Fab tire carrier. It was a bit of a pain to install, but once it was on it was pretty solid. I do like the look of the LOD though.

 

Leading vote getter so far is the Combo.. I guess I should start asking which one??

I like the LOD, but I also noticed this weekend while doing some research I could install the AEV tire carrier on my OE Bumper and add the bumper later...?/ so I guess its LOD, AEV or shockworks.. decisions, decisions

 

try to find a way to purchase bumper/carrier combo now, probably LOD, AEV, or shockworks




i dont have any of those so can't help with that part sorry