Anyone ever made a Spare Tire carrier which used a whole front kuckle/spindle?

[dbreid]

All,
I currently have my full size spare bolted flat in the bed of my k30. I have been thinking about building a better swingout/flip down carrier, so I can get more space out of my bed. I have been considering using an entire spare D60 knuckle, complete with bearings, spindle, hublock and stub axle as a part of the design, because then I'd have a complete spare ready to roll if I needed it.

Anyone ever done this?

-Dan

 

[broncoman6524]

I want to say I have seen pictures where people weld the spindle to the swing rack, I could assume yuo could even bolt it down if you wanted.

I think it was a J@@p though...haha

 

[imiceman44]

I want to say I have seen pictures where people weld the spindle to the swing rack, I could assume yuo could even bolt it down if you wanted.

I think it was a J@@p though...haha

I have seen a lot of people bolting a spindle with the hub, but not a knuckle.
If you are afraid to break a knuckle then why not but usually most people ruin bearings and might need a spindle and hub, plus if you carry a spare you will never break.

 

[dbreid]

I was just thinking aloud. I like carrying spares. I always carry a spare alternator and spare starter, for example. Spare Driveshafts, spare hoses, belts, etc. But when I was running disaster scenarios through my head, I was thinking: "What are the things I could break that would essentially be impossible to fix on the trail?"

And about the worst one of those is a D60 knuckle. I already carry spare Tera Low hublocks and bearings, but why not store those things inside a tire carrier? And while I am building t, why not just make the entire Spindle bolt to the carrier to hold the tire? What better way to organize your spares, right? I could then Carry a spare almost everything right there on the carrier...

Just a thought.

-Dan

 

[balterbuilt]

why not? worst case scenario is that you never use it :-P

 

[Lunatic]

I was just thinking aloud. I like carrying spares. I always carry a spare alternator and spare starter, for example. Spare Driveshafts, spare hoses, belts, etc. But when I was running disaster scenarios through my head, I was thinking: "What are the things I could break that would essentially be impossible to fix on the trail?"

And about the worst one of those is a D60 knuckle. I already carry spare Tera Low hublocks and bearings, but why not store those things inside a tire carrier? And while I am building t, why not just make the entire Spindle bolt to the carrier to hold the tire? What better way to organize your spares, right? I could then Carry a spare almost everything right there on the carrier...

Just a thought.

-Dan

Not hatin on you, dbreid, but why did I get a picture in my mind of you pulling a complete truck behind you through a mud hole ??

Im sure your name will come to mind if I ever break something on the trail.



Troy B
Ft Hood, TX

 

[Chaddy]

I saw a knuckle break last year up on Pritchett, and the Watson boys spent all night getting him back on the trailer.

 

[BUDDY]

I have thought of this for years, but never had a truck worthy of the modification. The thing about it is if you have the entire knuckle, the easiest way to mount it is to have an inner c for it to mount to. Just like stock. But then you need to brace it somehow so that it doesn't turn, just like stock. SOOoooo, you'd have to build the carrier such that it will eliminate the capability of the wheel turning. It would take a lot of coordination & thinking, but I think it is totally possible & probably worth it, but definitely a lot of work. The biggest question would be, left knuckle or right?

Later,
Buddy

 

[jonathon]

The odds are 50/50 the knuckle you break isn't the knuckle you brought with you..

 

[dbreid]

The odds are 50/50 the knuckle you break isn't the knuckle you brought with you..

I actually thought about this. I'd likely use the one that my hydraulic ram arm bolts to. I figure that side gets more immediate stress. But if I mounted the whole thing, then all the parts could be swapped to the other side if I carried the other spare spindle in my spare box.

And to those who said I carry too many spares, that is likely true. But none of my friends have ever complained, when I pull out an assortment of brake lines and v belts to fix their crap.

I do not like to reply on others when on the trail. I save my money and take vacation time from work to go wheeling, and when I am on the trail, I want to maximize my time out there. And it always sucks when folks you are with break, or aren't prepared, and seem to have no idea what to do when things don't go smoothly. I admit that I have certainly needed help in the past, but I always try to go the extra mile to help others.

But if you break a chevy product, I would be a handy person to have around for the spares.

-Dan

 

[dbreid]

I saw a knuckle break last year up on Pritchett, and the Watson boys spent all night getting him back on the trailer.

This is why I'd like to start carrying spare knuckles. I would hate to be the guy that either needed a helicopter to get his truck off the trail, or needed to take the time of folks who could have spent that time wheeling.

 

[carpeonnel]

I think it's a good idea and I too stock pile spares cuz I don't wanna be that guy either but I think the spare tire/wheel/hub/spindle/knuckle setup you're talking about would be better if you just left the knuckle off and mounted the on a rear tire carrier somehow. Personally I like your idea but I think leaving the knuckle off and having one for each side would be better

 

[Lunatic]

Or.....You could do both.

Just a (rough) thought, but you could fabricate a circular "container" of sorts which will fit inside your wheel, with a backing plate, send your wheel mounts the middle (2 x across center, or 2 x across vertical), and secure both LH/RH fully assemble knuckles to the length of stud in the container which the spare mounts to.

Rough idea, but it makes sense in my head....



Troy B
Ft Hood, TX