Does anyone have any experience or comments about carrying a spare tire on the hardtop? I want to carry a second spare for expedition trips. I have a roof rack but it's a Thule that bolts though the hardtop so my plan was to place the tire directly on the hardtop behind the freedom panels between the roof rack crossbars. I'd put a rubber pad between the tire and the hardtop. The weight of the tire and wheel should be fairly well distributed on the roof so I don't think it'll be an issue for few times per year it'll be up there. I know my CG will be higher but there's nothing I can do about that.

Thoughts, comments, warnings or suggestions?

Thanks!

 

Where's mark when you need him?! I've seen him do this on trips in his videos. If he sees this I'm sure he'll chime in.

 

I'm sure Mark will chime in as well, but I'm pretty sure he uses his roof rack as the support for the weight of the tire. I can't recall if I've ever seen anyone put the tire directly on the hard top.

 

Don't try to enter a parking garage

 

Do you bring a ladder on your expeditions? Not sure how you plan on getting it on and off the top without dragging it on the sides.

 

It would be hard to get off if you really needed it. But the odds of actually using both spares is fairly low so maybe you wouldn't need to figure out how to get it off. It would also depend on the condition of whatever trail you are on when you happen to need it too! If you were on some serious incline things get even more difficult. I had one on my roof rack for a bit and was able to get it off with the help of a friend however it really scratched up my rack on the way down. It's very hard to lift off. But if you could perhaps stand it up and roll it off the side with someone below to help lift it away from the Jeep you would be good. Mark had his on his roof rack. Of course if you want the security of a second spare outside of carrying it inside there really isn't another option!

 

I'm pretty sure Mark carries his on the roof rack. I know the wheel and tire would be a pain to get down (and put back up) but since it's a spare spare, hopefully that won't happen too often. I'd always have a second person (or more) with me on these trips so I wouldn't be trying to do this by myself. Cracking the hardtop is my biggest concern.

I've had several trips where I've destroyed a tire and not having a spare with multiple days still to go in the backcountry is not a comfortable feeling!