Location of Spare Tire

[amct]

Is it a good idea to go offroad with the spare tire stashed in its defualt location underneath the vehicle?

[OffroadX]

Depends on the terrain. There are 2 hazards:
1) cutting the tire by dragging it on something
2) not being able to lower the tire when needed due to the vehicle being too low to the ground between the terrain and the flat tire.

For casual 'wheeling, I leave it under, but when things get interesting, it goes on the roof or in back.

Brent

[warmonger]

Cal-Mini is currently working on a cure for this problem. It is going to be somewhat expensive, but if you off-road seriously it looks to me like it will be worth it. So much so that I am on the waiting list as soon as they roll out of production. Of course it helps when some other slob trashes your bumper so they can buy you a new one.

[Schludwiller]

A racheted tie down strap can hold your spare in place in the rear cargo space while offroading. For the most part it's not a problem with the stock tires. As you go to larger/wider tires more hangs down in the rear and you get exposed to possible damage, or hanging on the tire.

p.s. welcome to the board.

[rrdstarr]

I tore of two wheel weights at GOX having my 31" swamper spare stored underneath! No damage to the rim but a healthy scuff on the tire. Need to get that fixed before the 20th of October!

[warmonger]

RRD,

WOW! What is amazing is you didn't damage the rim on that one! I have drug my rim so many times it is embarrassing. I can't wait to get it out from underneath the truck. I feel like a dad waiting for a new baby!

[Maddog]

I've opted to wait on buying one of the pricey kargomaster racks as other mods that will actually improve the offroadability of the truck are more pressing (read Air Locker). However, I am interested in storing the spare tire on the roof. For those of you without racks, how do you secure your spare topside? Thanks

[OffroadX]

I just slide the crossbars together so the sidewall sits on 'em then tie it down with a heavy-duty ratchet strap (motorcycle tie-down). I've had some problem with it shifting on the trail and slipping off one of the rails and down onto the roof, but someone recently suggested the rubber waffle-style toolbox liner you buy in a roll at Home Depot in the Tool Corral to wrap around the crossbar to provide anti-slip. Sounds like my solution.

Brent

[rrdstarr]

I have the Surco rack and thinking I might need to order the spare tire carrier for it. Just don't like the thought of hefting that 64 lb Swamper up their! But hey, everyone else is doing it.....

[Synchro]

Originally posted by rrdstarr
I have the Surco rack and thinking I might need to order the spare tire carrier for it. Just don't like the thought of hefting that 64 lb Swamper up their! But hey, everyone else is doing it.....

yes, but can you imagine driving on your swamper with no wheel weights??? yikes!!!

[x2see]

what surco rack do you have have i just got the 45" by 60" alum got it for $25 at a local salvage store bran new still in box i put a metal bottom in it

[ChuckH]

Originally posted by x2see
what surco rack do you have have i just got the 45" by 60" alum got it for $25 at a local salvage store bran new still in box i put a metal bottom in it

you got a roof rack for $25? Bastard!!!

[x2see]

sorry thay get them some times i will keep a eye out fore more the have two westin safari bars right now for the x and thay fit some other trucks i can get them for $40 each

[rrdstarr]

Most everybody runs ARB for front bumpers here! The guards (any of them) will drag and bend when you are out doing serious four wheeling!

My surco rack is the smallest one and I purchased it from Overlander.com. It is 45" X 50" and weighs only 28 lbs! Getting you rack from the junkyard is a good deal! You'll have to get the Xterra specific mounts for $40.00

http://www.overlander.com/pages_rack...38683322383558

[x2see]

Its not a junkyard its a store thay get most of their stuff from jcwhitneyThe only thang those bars are for is to hold some lights for people that dont go off road. I am going to get the tjm t17