Exterior mounted spare tire rack

[chembrad]

I have a '94 S15 SLE V6 4door 2WD

The spare is currently mounted in the rear compartment. I would like to install a swing gate for an exterior mount.

Anyone done this or know how best to proceed? Thanks.

[blazes9395]

I installed an OEM spare tire carrier on my 89, which had the tire inside. I found a carrier and latch at the wreckers, cleaned it up, and painted it a flat black(like OEM). Got a friend to help position it on the truck to mark the holes and stuff. To get it to work, what I had to do was take the right tail light out, drill a 2" hole on the top and bottom of where the tail light goes into, on the inside, drill the carrier holes on the rear quarter, fabricate two hanger brackets mark and drill the holes where the carrier is going to bolt up on. The brakets were slipped through the drilled 2" holes on the inside. I also bought some automotive glue and applied the glue on the brackets before I installed them. I installed the carrier with the original bolts, bolted it up with the brackets and that was it for the carrier. The latch was simple as you can take off the plastic molding off the rear gate, position it, mark it and drill. Also, after the carrier was installed, I primed the cutouts and glued them back in place before I installed the rear light again. All this took me a few hours to do and an extra pair of hands. When it was done it looked original, just like it was always there from the start.

[chembrad]

Originally Posted by blazes9395

I installed an OEM spare tire carrier on my 89, which had the tire inside. I found a carrier and latch at the wreckers, cleaned it up, and painted it a flat black(like OEM). Got a friend to help position it on the truck to mark the holes and stuff. To get it to work, what I had to do was take the right tail light out, drill a 2" hole on the top and bottom of where the tail light goes into, on the inside, drill the carrier holes on the rear quarter, fabricate two hanger brackets mark and drill the holes where the carrier is going to bolt up on. The brakets were slipped through the drilled 2" holes on the inside. I also bought some automotive glue and applied the glue on the brackets before I installed them. I installed the carrier with the original bolts, bolted it up with the brackets and that was it for the carrier. The latch was simple as you can take off the plastic molding off the rear gate, position it, mark it and drill. Also, after the carrier was installed, I primed the cutouts and glued them back in place before I installed the rear light again. All this took me a few hours to do and an extra pair of hands. When it was done it looked original, just like it was always there from the start.

I've heard from some peeps that the spare tire carrier fatigues the metal on the support. Have you noticed anything like that in your experience?

Would you recommend this mod to peeps? Would you do it again?

[chembrad]

did you take any pics of the work?

[blazes9395]

I sold the truck about 8 months ago. I installed the tire carrier about two years before that, and did not have a problem whatsoever with it. For the unit to not cause any sheet metal pull, warp, or fatigue, you must have the braces installed behind it, on the inside of the rear quarter and they have to be longer and wider than the actual carrier on the oppisite side, I made mine about twice the size of the carrier flanges - maybe a little longer, both top and bottom. I also fabricated the flanges to turn the same radius on the back corner, where the back area is the strongest. When I installed it, I used a good amount of glue at this point too. Another thing too is that the bolt holes have to be the correct size, not any bigger, and I myself (and again, I would recommend) used automotive grade glue to make sure nothing got loose and started causing a problem - you only really have one chance of getting this right. I did not take any pictures when I was installing it - I wish I did, as it was pretty straigt forward, and looked great when it was done. The hardest part was getting the flanges in the small hole I drilled and holding them there until I could get the carrier nuts started. Also, yes I would recommend it to anyone, if done properly it will last and will look great, like it was always there.