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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Wheels & Tires => Topic started by: 78 Chevyrado on August 24, 2010, 12:00:07 pm
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What do you guys think about this? I'm still up in the air about what I want as a spare tire, I MIGHT get another matching tire and wheel for the spare. I can't put it under the tuck because of the trailer hitch; its a weld on custom job. Also if I do buy a matching chrome wheel and BFG TA I dont want to keep them under there anyway, They cost too much for that.
So I came across this setup and I like how it works, and I could easily unhook the tire If I need to lay something flat in the bedfloor. I don't haul stuff in the truck much so actually this would work well, and I'd include the spare in my tire rotations.
What do you guys think? --I also have a bedmat like in the pics so this thing wouldnt stick up as far effectively out of the floor. As an added bonus it would stop my bedmat from moving around back there... ;)
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/product-reviews/23805-tire-gate-flat-spare-tire-mount.html (http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/product-reviews/23805-tire-gate-flat-spare-tire-mount.html)
If I don't like the T-handle, I could use a threaded rod and a regular wheel lock in it's place
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Thumbs up. It's secure, discreet, and easy to remove if you need the whole bed for hauling.
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Not bad looking! Do you have a cover over your bed at all or would it just be out there? The only thing I'd worry about is someone deciding to try to take the spare from me with it being out in the open like that. I currently don't have a spare because the original location is now where my gas tank sits but something like this may be a good solution to that problem :)
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Not bad looking! Do you have a cover over your bed at all or would it just be out there? The only thing I'd worry about is someone deciding to try to take the spare from me with it being out in the open like that. I currently don't have a spare because the original location is now where my gas tank sits but something like this may be a good solution to that problem :)
No cover, it would be just sitting out there... I'm thinking of putting some kind of cover on the tire itself, just to keep it out of the sun so the tire doesnt fade and crack.
Something like this
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51yBezMQleL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
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That wouldn't look bad. :) Would be pretty cool if you could get a bowtie stitched on there that matched the color of your truck just to finish it off even more.
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There are thousands of wheel covers out there, and you can order them with designs on them. I would guess the bowtie would be available.
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As long as you have new tires, chances are you probably won't get a flat. I have a bald tire I throw in my 85 when I travel any distance otherwise it just sits on the side of the garage. I wouldn't drill a hole in my truck if it was a nice as yours. My $.02
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For anyone with a 1/2 ton, i'm going to look into the astro temporary spare---it has the same 5x5 bolt pattern and i'm thinking it will fit behind the seat. Real simple.
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So a donut???
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If you like it go for it. I don't so much. Hacking on the bed and ending up with a big anchor in the middle of the bed--I just don't get it. Why not stand the tire up and make a mount for it to attach to the inside of the bedside or the front of the bed where its out of the way?
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If you like it go for it. I don't so much. Hacking on the bed and ending up with a big anchor in the middle of the bed--I just don't get it. Why not stand the tire up and make a mount for it to attach to the inside of the bedside or the front of the bed where its out of the way?
It used to have the spare mounted to the inside side of the bed, But I'm going to have a 33" spare and I think that's way too big for that and I'd have to mount it at the back of the bed which would block some of the view out the back window.
The way I'll do it, if I do do it will be to just have a homemade plate with a nut welded to it, bolted to underneath the bedfloor and no plate on top, and a piece of threaded rod going from the plate to the wheel. then I'll use a regular lug-lock to hold it down. Thataway when I have something to haul in the bed (which is rare since I have a trailer) I can just unscrew the threaded rod and all that will remain will be a 5/8" hole in the floor. I used to be picky about this kind of thing until It got wrecked... It's so unoriginal now (wrecked previously) , and not up for sale anyway so the small hole in the floor doesnt seem so bad. ;) I'll probably oversize the hole enough I can put a rubber grommet of some kind there to keep the rod from hitting the bare metal. I'm thinking too, I may space the plate back from the bedfloor like an inch so debris doesn't accumulate between it and the bedfloor, and it'll be easier to clean out.
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Whew, a 33's a big spare. I guess your options are a bit limited by that.
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I would make a fold down carrier that hangs on the tailgate. That way its easy enough to get to but doesn't get in the way. Xtreme 4x4 did one for the Scout they built that was pretty nifty.
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Chevyrado -- You and I think so much alike it's almost scary. If you go through with this idea I can't wait to see how it turns out! I need to do something about my spare situation too (my gas tank is sitting where my spare would originally go) and have been thinking about something very similar to this for quite some time now but just haven't gotten around to doing it.
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I would make a fold down carrier that hangs on the tailgate. That way its easy enough to get to but doesn't get in the way. Xtreme 4x4 did one for the Scout they built that was pretty nifty.
Do you have a pic of this? What I'm picturing in my head looks strange on a truck tailgate so I'm thinking I'm picturing it wrong! :)
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Here is the general idea, it folds down so that the tire just flops on & off the carrier, saving your back from lifting. A 33 will be much smaller than the 40 in the Scout's carrier.
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I kinda like that tire holder, but I dont think it would fit the look of my truck, I'd feel like a poser.... ;D
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Looks like it would be a pain every time you wanted to open the tailgate. Just my 2 cents...
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Looks like it would be a pain every time you wanted to open the tailgate. Just my 2 cents...
I could understand that if you kept it on there, but it really wouldnt be needed unless your driving far. Trucks with different size tires, who really carries a spare that will work? Not many.
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Looks like it would be a pain every time you wanted to open the tailgate. Just my 2 cents...
I could understand that if you kept it on there, but it really wouldnt be needed unless your driving far. Trucks with different size tires, who really carries a spare that will work? Not many.
Thing i dont like about the outside spare carrier above is that its so visible, which is why i dont want it standing up in the bed. screws up the trucks lines, and theres really nothing off-road about my truck... :)
Yeah I havent had a flat where I needed a spare but twice in my driving career... But both times i had cheapie steel wheels so i just drove it to a gas station or something. I only want a spare mainly for long trips... every month or month and a half i go on a 5-600 mile trip to my buddys house, and I dont wanna waste money or time calling a tow truck to take me to a tire shop that may be closed... i hate waiting, no patience espacially while sitting on the side of a freeway. It's a convenience, and during the workday i dont have anybody who can come help me without leaving work early and i dont wanna screw up anybodys job. I especially dont want to be without a spare when towing the trailer.
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Update:
The astro/safari temporary spare (donut) DOES NOT fit behind the seat. :(
Will report back with other alternatives soon or later (prob later).
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Does anybody use the factory tire carrier that goes under the truck? I bought a brand new 1983 Custom Deluxe with a crappy set of General tires. I had a flat at the beach and had to lay in the sand all sweaty to get the spare out. I threw the bracket and everything in the ditch after I finally got the spare out.
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The previous owner of my truck must have done the same thing Bob. The bracket is gone. :D I want to put it back under the truck, but does anyone know of a better system like the ones used on newer trucks? I'd like something with the winching mechanism that pulls the tire up tight against the bottom.
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Does anybody use the factory tire carrier that goes under the truck? I bought a brand new 1983 Custom Deluxe with a crappy set of General tires. I had a flat at the beach and had to lay in the sand all sweaty to get the spare out. I threw the bracket and everything in the ditch after I finally got the spare out.
To ease removal, I always put the jack under the big strap to lift some of the pressure off the part that screws off. To reinstall it however, I had to use the big floor jack under it and dang near lift the truck off the ground to get it seated right.
joe: I had that idea also, I think Id go cut the x-member out of a newer truck and bolt or weld it to your frame. all you would have to do is drill the access hole in the rear of the bedfloor under the tailgate or maybe in the bumper somewhere so you could work the winch.
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The previous owner of my truck must have done the same thing Bob. The bracket is gone. :D I want to put it back under the truck, but does anyone know of a better system like the ones used on newer trucks? I'd like something with the winching mechanism that pulls the tire up tight against the bottom.
I've got two in my shop now.But I got hold of a spare tire carrier that bolts to inside of the bed rail, so that's what I'm using now. The under the bed carrier would clean up the look a little and from time to time I am tempted to install one. But then I remember how, nasty and gritty and sweaty and agrivated I was that day and I just walk on past them. :)
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But then I remember how, nasty and gritty and sweaty and agrivated I was that day and I just walk on past them. :)
I always use my bedmat for that ;D