Hitch receiver spare mount

[MoparJoel]

I looked all over PHX for a spare tire mount for my 77 CJ5 and none fit or if they do they are $300 up and There is no way I am paying more than $100 bucks for a piece of tubing I have seen them online but dont want to pay outrageous shipping charges does anyone know any stores that sale the hitch reciever mounted spare tire racks I have thought of making my own with one of those $40 dollar hitch mounted fold-down luggage rack things minus the rack and mount a cut solid hitch mounted tire carrier, so that it can fold down and I can use the hitch to tow. but finding one of the solid square tubing hitch mounts for the spare is my problem does any one know where to get one of these I have tried a couble jeep stores here in phx and walmarts but cant think of any locations so search at I would build one but I just broke my mig, And I want one asap cause im going camping this weekend and need the space in my back seat for camping gear rather than a giant tire in there... any help.....helps! thanx in advance!

 

[phinleft]

Don't know what size tire, but this is under100. Used the same till I went to 35's and installed a warn bumper and carrier. I considered making one but strength for the weight was a concern.

https://www.onlinehitches.com/Curt-Manuracturing-LLC-CurtMfg.com-31006-Spare-Tire-Mount.html

 

[MoparJoel]

Thats exactly what Im looking for, I just cant find one locally. I want to take this (pictured below) I can get at walmart $40 and use the one you pictured but cut it and drill a hole and make it collapsible. I just dont want to pay shipping on that solid massive mount.


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[MoparJoel]

Well I just looked at it again and shipping being $20 bucks isnt too bad, I still wish I could find one local but this might be my only option thats for the link!

 

[Torxhead]

Those hitch mounted spare tire mounts don't really look all that secure in my opinion guys. With a stiff CJ suspension it would be bouncing quite a bit even on the street. This could cause issues with the hitch itself eventually.

 

[007]

Those hitch mounted spare tire mounts don't really look all that secure in my opinion guys. With a stiff CJ suspension it would be bouncing quite a bit even on the street. This could cause issues with the hitch itself eventually.

I don't like team either, BUT I understand why someone would want/need one. That said, they make more noise than damage. If this messes up your hitch then be VERY glad you're not towing anything. Your hitch should handle 200X the impact a spare could ever inflict.

 

[MoparJoel]

About a week ago I bought a swing away tire rack, for $40 bucks, the guy said it was for a CJ5 when I got it I discovered it was for a earlier CJ5 with the lower round taillights. when I tried mounting it to mine the mount went where my taillights go so I was out the 40 bucks.

so I looked around and came up with A Idea and for about 60 bucks I "made" this contraption.

I found this piece for $30 at Walmart, its used for those foldaway hitch basket to store extra luggage.


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The second piece I got at Camping world for $30, its a spare tire mount for a trailer bumper, its intended purpose is to mount with U-bolts to the bumper of a motorhome/trailer.



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so I measured the opening on the folding part of the hitch and the square tubing fit perfectly so I unbolted the square base from the trailer mount and bolted the square stock to the folding hitch.



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[MoparJoel]

I had to weld a bracket I had laying around to the top of the mount to create a bigger matting surface for the tire.



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[MoparJoel]

Heres the semi-finished product, I intend to build a bracket on the backside for a jerry can and one of those tool boxes made out of a jerry can shell. I have 10 inches of room between the tailgate and the spare tire mount.


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[johnnyreb]

how much to it move around in the mount?

 

[bladeburner]

Good idea for spare tire an jerry cans, thanks for the photos

 

[Bowbender]

how much to it move around in the mount?

I was wondering about movement too. A ratchet strap to each end of the bumper might take care of it if it's an issue. Very clever use of off the shelf parts.

 

[MoparJoel]

I was wondering about movement too. A ratchet strap to each end of the bumper might take care of it if it's an issue. Very clever use of off the shelf parts.

It has a little movement, not enough to make it noticeably be wobbling around on turns, but im thinking of running two long welds front to back along the side of the tubing going in (like a equals sign =) and then slowly grind it away to tighten it up. it sounds kinda ghetto now writing it and it really doesnt even need it, I will only do it if im really bored and want something to do...

 

[johnnyreb]

makes perfect sense to me. I saw dad do that on a home built reciever to make the hitch fit the reciever tighter.

 

[thiswontbetooexpensive]

That might get fun if you want to take it out after a while! Figure a way to hold some kind of a shim in it if you feel the need. Or drill through it all and use a second bolt. More functional and you won't make the metal weak with all the grinding and welding. That mount would suck to dodge (no pun intended MoPar) going 75 on the interstate bouncing with a fully inflated spare on it!


This won't be too expensive Dear! That's what I keep saying. Over and over again.

 

[JR74CJ5]

1st: I really like the work you did bud! Looks great!

...

But, if I may I want to point out a few things to you just so you're aware...

With the hitch and ball on, if you wheel it you're going to hit that hitch... a lot...

Whenever you come down off a steep rock or hill. The back will drag, and even slam depending on how slow you take it.

I'm no familiar with the tow package you installed, but it looks like its just through the rear "bumper / cross member". You may want to brace through to the sides of the frame for some extra strength. Those rear cross member / bumpers are not very strong. They will twist and crumple up with a lot of stress. Say 5 or 10 gallons of gas and a 33" tire... Or like above if you hit it too often it will start bending upward because you have no bracing holding it away from the body of the jeep.

"If" you ever wanted to strengthen it up, you could brace it back, but you would need to drill the body. Mine attaches to the same bracket under the wheel wells that the roll bar bolts to.

I know I went "WAY" overboard building my tow bumper and rack, but it is nice and solid, and without the tow ball hitch out, it will still drag / slam quite a bit. But it's so solid I don't worry too much about it!

Again, Hope you don't take this as me being a ... I do like what you've done!



~ Jr

 

[johnnyreb]

Hey Jr is your bumper flush with the body or am I seeing things. We're gonna build a swing out with prints a borrowed from another forum.

 

[JR74CJ5]

Hey Jr is your bumper flush with the body or am I seeing things. We're gonna build a swing out with prints a borrowed from another forum.

Bumper is flush with body. I had to actually cut some of back of the frame off. it was torn up anyways

The rack is set out 1" from the body with 4 body attachments (2 bumper and 2 body) and the body mounts and tank skid plate are secured to bumper with drilled and tapped holes. 6 "huge" Grade 8 bolts go through the frame to captured nuts on plate welded inside the frame rail on the bumper.

That bumper will be around much longer than the jeep! lol I needed something i could trust my boat hooked to! And I carry 10 gal of fuel, a spare tire, and often a large amount of beverages / camping gear on the back rack.

The tire carrier does not swing. It's fixed. I have no tailgate though, so it doesn't bother me.

Sorry to hijack the thread OP! I was just mentioning some things that may make a difference in the future things you do to provide extra support etc! Johnny, let me know via PM if you want some more info on my bumper build.




~ Jr

 

[johnnyreb]

Dad and I plan to replace the stock cross member with a 1/4" angle iron and tie it to the frame. then build my bumper and tire mount. I want a swing out to make getting into the back open easier.

 

[JR74CJ5]

Looks great!

Make sure you provide a lot of "backing / support" My uncles swing away is "unusable" when he has the spare and fuel on it. It's too heavy and stress cracks the body.



~ Jr