r/overlanding • u/Adventurous-War177 • 4d ago
Swing out tire carrier?
for those that have installed a swing out tire carrier on a full-size truck, any regrets? 2013 F350 with a camper shell here.
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u/DepartmentNatural 4d ago
Such a vague question but in my situation nope
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u/FlawedBones8 4d ago
What setup are you running? I keep going back and forth on it for my full size, mostly worried about losing bed access with the shell on
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u/Adventurous-War177 4d ago
thats fair. Im interested in things like was it a PIA to use, caused more problems than fixed, etc. Im thinking of replacing my stock rear bumper and having a tire carrier is an option. never had one before so curious to y’all’s experiences
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u/commonguy001 4d ago
I had a Rig’d on a power wagon with wedge camper. It was the best option at the time to carry a 37” spare but accessing the bed was more of a process than I expected. If it were my daily driver and I needed to access the bed regularly I’d have removed it and run without a spare. also if you add a bunch of stuff to it, it makes it even more tedious to use.
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u/surewriting_ 4d ago
It's added weight higher up, and more complications to get bed access.
If you go that route, make sure you and your significant other can remove and reinstall it.
Don't want to find out too late that deadlifting 150 pounds of wheel and tire up to your chest is too much.
Some of the more custom rock crawler stuff like the poison Spyder slider ones actually flip down and rest on the ground to allow easier access.
It can be cool and helpful, and necessary once you go up to a certain tire size. Just make sure it's what you need instead of a want.
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u/curiousthirst 4d ago
They all shake and rattle and make a ton of noise. It becomes an extra step to use the bed. If it has a purpose and you need it, go for it. But know that there are, maybe not drawbacks, but factors involved with them. If you don’t need it for the full size spare, or are running bigger sizes, it can become a pain. If there is a need, then you need it. But I wouldn’t run one if you didn’t need it.
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u/Kerensky97 Back Country Adventurer 4d ago
I figure I need access to the bed of my truck more often then I need access toethe spare.
Also I've seen trail corrugations ruin so many tire carrier hinges so they just rattle and shake the bumper mounts to pieces.
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u/Mikeykinda Car Camper 4d ago
I’ve had a rig’d for about a year on my tundra and it’s been great. Had to relocate the back up camera but rigd sold a kit for it. I got the dropdown table for it too that I use every camp trip.
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u/RedditBot90 3d ago
Don’t have a swing out (have Ram 2500 Power Wagon), but the reasons I DON’T want one and instead picked a tire size I can fit a full size spare under the bed (35”)
- don’t have to find a new location for the spare tire (swing out, or bed mount are the two main options)
- swing out blocks back up camera view
- swing out is extra step to access tailgate
- swing out with tire is heavy and can be difficult to open/close on uneven/steep terrain
- swing out may not be compatible with trailer towing or hitch mount bike racks
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u/The_World_Is_A_Slum 4d ago
I’m trying to figure out how to make a sturdy and safe one for my existing bumper. I’d like to run a true full-size spare and can’t sacrifice the bed space. A hitch-mounted swing would get me stuck; my hitch already takes a beating and
it would partially negate the advantages of moving the spare. The only downside of a bumper mounted swing is the additional steps when dropping the tailgate.
Were you planning on building a whole bumper, modifying something, or buying one?
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u/PracticableSolution 3d ago
In the olden days, we would grab a scrap front solid axle from a junkyard and use the spindles and wheel hubs as the pivots for a welded tire carrier. Ain’t nothing you’d buy gonna be stronger or quieter than two pairs of horizontally opposed tapered roller bearings meant to steer your car. The latch was always a self tensioning freezer door handle out of a McMaster Carr catalog.
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u/SurfPine 3d ago
What size tires are you running? You should be able to fit up to 35x12.5 in the OEM spare tire location on that truck. I understand it might be tight or might have to consider airing the spare down a bit. I have basically the same truck and will be ordering 35x12.5x18 tires this coming week, including the spare.
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u/Adventurous-War177 2d ago
right now 33s…I’d like to avoid going to 35s.
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u/SurfPine 2d ago
So effectively, you currently have OEM tire size if you're running 18" wheels, I'm not sure on a 17" or 20" wheel. Honestly, the most convenient place for the space is the OEM location under the bed. As I mentioned, It is understood up to a 35" diameter tire should fit in the OEM spare tire location, and I should know within the week if that is that case, if I can get tires installed in that time. But I've read plenty of times owners saying it will fit but in viewing the area, there is a wire bundle that may require a bit of "moving" is all.
I personally can't believe it would be more convenient to have the spare mounted on a swing-out but I've never done it. Most seem to go that route because they can't fit the spare in the OEM spare location or they are trying to get a better departure angle but that would also mean removing/replacing the hitch.
I currently have a swing-out bike rack, which mounts in the hitch, but it is not on fulltime. Having the bike rack swing-out is far, far better than not having the swing-out, no question about it. But it does add in a bit more complexity as well, as minor as it is. I do have to swing the bike rack out to be able to open the door of my topper camper, bike handlebars are the reason. Of course, full access to the truck bed, same, where the bike rack does require swinging out. I personally just don't see the reason of putting the spare on a swing-out if the spare fits in the OEM location and you're not looking to get a better departure angle.
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u/Single_External9499 3d ago
I have an OBS F250 with a topper with barn doors. I have 35's and run a shitty Temu hitch mounted swing out carrier. I honestly don't really notice it while driving. It's surprisingly solid and hardly makes any noise.
For daily use, it's a pain in the ass. It really makes getting into the bed a chore. You'll think you won't really care, but you will. I don't really have another option for carrying a full size spare so I put up with it. I don't do any crazy wheeling, but I do go to incredibly remote spots (live in Montana). I've been curious about just ditching the spare for a super robust tire repair kit. I already have air. I might go that route for most use but throw the spare on for full on trips or anything that I know will be sketchy.
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u/sn44 04 & 06 Jeep Wrangler Unlimiteds (LJ) [PA] 3d ago
IMHO swing outs are not a great idea. They add a lot of cantilevered weight that can prematurely fatigue/overload the rear suspension.
That said, they are sometimes unavoidable, as such there is one on the (ex)g/f's Quigley van. It's a Wilco hitch swing out. Works well for that it is. Sadly nowhere else to stick the spare for the time being and, now that she's an ex and she wants to sell it, it's really not an issue I need to worry about.
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u/smashnmashbruh 4d ago
Ram 2500 power wagon, it’s the only place to fit a 40 and use the bed and Rtt.
It wobbles, it’s heavy 145lbs, it blocks my cameras. It’s not really ideal except exactly what it’s good for. When doing trips it’s good but daily sucks.