Well everyone told me that my 35s would fit but here I am with a spare tire (35x12.50x17 Nitto Mud Grapplers) and my tailgate won't close when the tire is mounted on the (factory) spare tire carrier. The tire rubs on the factory bumper before the tailgate can get fully closed/latched/sealed.... *doh*



So.. I basically see 4 options:

1. Remove spare tire+carrier and call it good (optionally keep spare tire in back for long trips/wheeling)
2. Buy one of these "extender brackets" most of which are rated only to 33" tires but one is rated to 35" tires and 200lbs.
3. Buy a new bumper and bumper-mounted spare tire carrier
4. Use spacers to push the tire out 1/4" or even 1/2"


#1 is likely out of the question, at least for right now. I'd like to at least TRY to solve this before I give up.

#3 is also out of the question due to price (still paying off the wheels+lift!)

#2 research shows that due to the "weak" JK tailgate, sources don't recommend putting a 35" or larger tire but that is because their stupid brackets push the spare tire out and up like 1-3 inches, which severely increases stress on the tailgate. However, one source said their bracket supports up to 200lbs. So if the tailgate+oem tire carrier can support a 200lb tire, and if all of you have 35" tires (I'd guess slightly smaller than the Nitto Mud Grapplers), then surely I can make this work w/out breaking my tailgate.

So that is what led me to option #4... I am thinking if I a) remove the Sahara bumper "applique" I will gain 1/8" more clearance (I planned to do this anyways) and b) if I add some 1/4" or 1/3" or even 1/2" spacers to the lugs, and tighten down the spare tire against those spacers, I will gain more clearance. That just MIGHT be enough... and I believe if I use washers as spacers, I can get very exact so I have enough to get the clearance I need, but also keep the spare tire just barely resting on the bumper, further helping to reduce any stress on the tailgate (just in case).

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK??? Has anyone added spacers to their spare tire carrier studs and tried this yet?

ps. It is also possible my tires being overinflated (they were until I realized) was not helping this situation, so perhaps (a sheer miracle is what I need here) it will "just work" tomorrow when I try again (and then again after obtaining said spacers).

It would help if you guys could post your spare tire+wheel weight so I can get an idea of how much others have on their w/out problem. The wheels+tires I have weigh 39+65 = 104lbs each..

 

it will not fit with the stock wheels, the backspacing is to much on the stock wheel, it will fit with an aftermarket wheel with 4-4.75 I know without a problem....you need a wheel spacer

 

... where's option 5 ? ...new bumper with swing out arm
No I understand. Sucks that you had to find out the hard way...and financial situation doesn't allow for much. But I think you have a decent handle on things. When some say their 35"s fit no problem...you need to be wary...some may only be 34.25" or 34.5" and fit no problem...but technically they are still listed as 35"s...actual tire size and printed size vary slightly between manufacturers...hope your spacer idea works without the applique and once you've paid everything off...start working on gettin yourself a nice swing arm/bumper

or good catch by tkob...be wary of 35"s on stock rims

 

go on ebay and buy an aluminum wheel spacer, much like the spidertrax, or even get the spidertrax wheel spacers. I'm not talking a spare tire spacer, i'm talking the aluminum rings that have 5 holed drilled in them with five new wheel studs sticking out of them. you'll likely have to buy a set but i think when i baught mine i paid something like 70 bucks for the set and you can sell the extra one to someone in the same situation as you.

my spare tire setup weights right around 100 lbs as well, i have mine on an aftermarket rim with more backspacing that allows the wheel to clear, however before these rims i ran my tires (35x12.50x17) on the stock rubi rims with these aluminum spacers and my spare was just fine running like that... many will tell you that you have to get the spidertrax spacers blah blah blah.... to each their own and i understand wanting the best when it comes to your safety so while i and many others run the ebay spacers on the wheels with no issues... many will tell you to run spidertrax or nothing. the fact is, in this case i think all will agree that for you spare tire the ebay spacers are more than fine to solve your problem. good luck i hope that helps.


one other option to check would be rough country, they are a sponser here and i know they make a steel spacer bracket for the spare tire. it only moves the tire out, not up, so maybe thats one to look into as well.

good luck

 

Yea this is not on stock rims. I know about that, their backspacing is like 6" or something crazy, so of couse that would not work.

And I had your option 5 above, listed as option #3.

Also, yes, I realize that with lug spacers, I will get less threads of the lug nut on, but that should still be Ok because as it is there's like 12 threads that catch, so with a 1/4" spacer, that will still be like 8 threads, which should still be plenty.

I know about spidertrax 1.5" and rough country 1.5" kits. There's a lot out there. But I don't want to move it out 1.5", I want to move it out maybe 1/4 or 1/3 or 1/2 of an inch, so it fits nice and snug and still sits somewhat on my bumper. I think it should work (picturing it in my head) but I won't know until I can try it out tomorrow. I figure a 1/2" spacer would still yield a LOT LESS STRESS (lever/fulcrum/you do the math) than a 1.5" spacer, ya know??

 

oh yeah, one more thing... the TJ tailgates where known to have issues with big tires, but the JK tailgates seem to hold up well to the 35s without issues. i've had mine on the tailgate for two years through everyday use, offroading, crappy roads, snowplowing with the JK and everything else...

 

I'd go with #4, run a nut or two down the lug and then put the wheel against that. In fact, I think this way you can make it touch/push against your bumper and give you some support. Depending on how much of a shim you need, you might be able to get a steal plate in a shape and size you need, drill a few holes in it, and make your own spacer...

 

Could just put three or four grade eight washers on each stud on the carrier. It's not like your driving on the spare.Most likely your tire has 35-40 lbs of air. Air down to 28 and see what happens.

 

I got the or-fab carrier with jerry can mounts after my tailgate started ratteling. You could also just take off the rear bumper for a little while till you can afford something else. Im running 6" of lift with 35's and no bumper at the moment. Just depends on how picky law enforcement is in your area since a lot of tire gets exposed

 

Yep, that's the difference. His wheel is 4.5" of BS. So, <1/2" is easy to make up in nuts and bolts on the lugs...