Stock tire carrier

[jfmcj7]

What is the biggest tire that can be safely mounted to the stock CJ7 tire carrier?

The plan is to change the stupid bumper the PO installed on the CJ and I am not sure if I want a new bumper / tire carrier combo or just keep the stock tire carrier and install a new bumper.

Jeep har 31" tires on now but the plan is to move up to 33" tires soon or even 35" tires. Will never go bigger than 35". If a 35" tire can fit on the stock carrier then I think that is the way I would like to go. Rim size will be 15".

Thanks for the input.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I've run 33's on mine for 30+ yrs.
You will want to reinforce the hinge mounts to the body and same goes for the latch.
LG

 

[Torxhead]

LG is correct, I have had 33s on an oem tire carrier and noticed it bounced around quite a bit. It will take some adjusting and maybe a few mods to toughen it up. If I recall correctly a 35" tire would not bolt down. I eventually changed racks to hold extra gas and water.

 

[jfmcj7]

Thanks. I am looking at the LOD bumper / tire carrier if I go that way. It looks like the best value for money without spending $1000 or more. Was hoping to safe some cash by just doing a bumper and keep the stock carrier, but it might just cost me more in the long run. I hate paying twice for the same thing.

 

[hole]

There's a shop/guy in Corona that make nice bumper mounted swing out carriers for $400 IIRC. Let me try and find his info

 

[hole]

Robert is his name. Dirt Worx 909-815-2905

 

[jfmcj7]

Robert is his name. Dirt Worx 909-815-2905

I have seen it on Craigslist, but are a bit concerned about the quality. A guy on our Jeep club got one for his TJ, and even though we are in the low desert in SoCal, his started to sow signs of rust in less than a year.

Do you know of anyone that has this set-up and how it is holding up?

Thanks

 

[PistolDave]

One of the reasons that the 1000$ bumpers cost that much is because they probably spend more time and effort on prep and good quality paint or powdercoat. If Dirtworx sells a bumper that is mechanically sound with good welds and heavy gauge steel, I'm surprised you could get it primed, much less painted for 400$. Is a little rust on a CJ bumper something folks actually worry about? I ran my bumper/tire carrier for a year with no paint at all and it had rust all over it.

You could also buy the components/materials and fab your own bumper, which is fun and satisfying, but it may end up costing more than the Dirtworx bumper. Here Bumper Fab Parts - RuffStuff Specialties is one place to buy good quality components for a bumper build.


Dave

 

[hole]

I have just his bumper and a buddy has it with the swing out tire/fuel rack set-up. Robert doesnt paint any of his stuff. Everything is bare metal and up to the end user do as they please. I personally 2 coat primered- 2 coat oil base black paint and is holding up well after almost 3 years. My buddy did something similar almost 2 years ago and his still looks/works great.

 

[Hedgehog]

Steel will rust, it's just that simple. It's how you finish the steel that counts. The very best finish would be powder coating, but for ease of maintenance a rattle can paint like Rust oleum is easy to touch up and readily available.

I make my own bumpers, even the tire carrier. The raw steel from Industrial Supply cost well over $250. That was more than expected. I don't factor in my labor like some folks do. For me fabrication is fun. If I did it would be well over the $400 mentioned above. Steel is pricey.

 

[jfmcj7]

I know steel rust. All of our JH bumpers and sliders was bought bare metal and I did all the paint with spry on bed liner. Hold up very well for 6 years now.

I will have to check with my friend, but I remember that his came with powder coated and that just sucks it it doesn't even last a year. But like I said, I might be wrong o that one.

 

[Hedgehog]

Of course you do, but rust never gives up. Maintenance can keep it at bay for a while. That's the point.....

 

[R717]

I was looking for a bumper/tire carrier last summer that could conveniently mount a Hi-lift and didn't look like i stole it off a jk. I went with Robert (Dirtworx) and am def happy w the decision. Unless you know someone to get wholesale steel pricing, youll be close to the 400 by the time you fab something similar. Personally I'm not a fan of powder coating. I shot mine with some leftover deere blitz black and still looks great after a year of weathering. Only minor complaint would be the latch mechanism for the swing out . No prob during summer with the bikini top, but i daily my cj so with the hardtop it just takes a bit of time to unscrew the bolt and get the liftgate open. I fab'd my own frame tie ins, and it's rock solid. PM me if youd like a few pictures.

 

[jfmcj7]

I was looking for a bumper/tire carrier last summer that could conveniently mount a Hi-lift and didn't look like i stole it off a jk. I went with Robert (Dirtworx) and am def happy w the decision. Unless you know someone to get wholesale steel pricing, youll be close to the 400 by the time you fab something similar. Personally I'm not a fan of powder coating. I shot mine with some leftover deere blitz black and still looks great after a year of weathering. Only minor complaint would be the latch mechanism for the swing out . No prob during summer with the bikini top, but i daily my cj so with the hardtop it just takes a bit of time to unscrew the bolt and get the liftgate open. I fab'd my own frame tie ins, and it's rock solid. PM me if youd like a few pictures.

Thanks for the info.

I spoke with him and he send me a video of how the latch works. I don't have a hard top so no big deal. Short story, but I ordered one up and will pick it up on Saturday. All my steel fenders and sliders on the CJ and JK and rattle can bed-liner. Easy to do and cheep to touch-up.