I have the OrFab Rotopax tire carrier on my 2012 Rubicon and I thought I had it installed and adjusted correctly but under certain conditions I get a sort of up/down rattle. It typically happens when I drive over washboard type surfaces and it's caused by the spare tire vibrating/torquing up and down. You can see the tire vibrating on these surfaces and actually see the carrier vibrate. The knocking sound is caused by the small bumper on the driver side/bottom of the rack (the adjustable one). Does anyone else have this?

The latch is tight, it just appears to be the lower bumper. I feel if I adjust this to be tighter I will dent my tailgate even further?

- Steve

 

Hmm mine is rock solid, is your t-handle screwed down tight against the tire? It should take a little bit of muscle to close the latch.

 

Interesting...the only rattle on my carrier is from the Hi-Lift I have mounted to it.

What does your washer/shim stack look like on the hinge side?

 

Mine is also rock solid.

Another thing that comes to mind is whether you tightened the nuts and bolts really well and used the supports on the hinge side. They are a bitch to install and tight correctly. I got a couple bruises on my arms while twisting them to reach those hidden Jeep innards. :-)

I can fully open mine with the two Jerry cans totally full and it does not move or sag. Actually, I do not even use that adjustable lower stop on the latch side. Even with the supplied adhesive reinforcement I felt the tailgate's sheet metal was too thin to handle the pressure on it.


The only gripe I have with mine is rust. The surface finish on the carrier sucks big time. Literally started rusting after the first rain here in Seattle. Now, after almost one year, I'll have to pull it out for a new coat of paint that will hopefully last longer than the original.

 

I followed the instructions to the letter. I installed the supports on both the latch and the hinge sides. Mine had a little sag (about 1/8") once I loaded a 35" tire on there. I loosened the hinges with the rack loaded, and adjusted the carrier for the sag but the most I've been able to get is about within 1/8". I've tightened the hinges as far down as I can go with a box wrench.

The carrier is vibrating when the top/bottom of the spare oscilate forward and backward. This makes the small bumper bang against the rear door. I'm wondering if I should either remove that bumper or make it really tight? When I made it really tight before, it dented my tailgate, even when I sanded it flat with a belt sander.

How much sag loaded is acceptable? Is it normal to have a little wear on the latch block and the carrier where those two metal surfaces contact?

- Steve

 

Sounds like a backspacing problem on the spare, my 35x12.50 is jammed tight against the carrier frame, what rims u got?

 

I have a 33 on mine and when I add two full Jerry cans the sag is probably 1/4in or less at the latch block.

It's interesting that your spare "oscillates". It should not. Are you tightening it really firm against the frame? In my case, the carrier's frame almost creates grooves on the tire. There's no play at all.

As for wear and tear, the point of contact between frame and block have plenty corrosion because of friction between them that exposes the metal. I am planning to get a piece of a thick hose and place it between them.

 

might is also plenty tight, and rattle free.

 

Tighten the land block latch a little more. That landing block latch needs to be really tight

 

Agreed, mine takes a little bit of effort to close but its better than it being loose or popping open on its own.