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Hinge kits for building tire carrier

AbramJ

AbramJ

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I've found these on eBay while searching for things.

Less expensive hinge kit
More expensive hinge kit

Any idea if these would be good or if one of the site sponsors makes one?

I want to build a carrier that looks like a Hickey Cadillac carrier (hinged on both sides, gas cans on either side of a centrally mounted spare tire), but doesn't need to attach to the body. I was thinking of building it into the bumper like @NorCal69. Thoughts and or ideas appreciated.
 
AbramJ said:
I've found these on eBay while searching for things.

Less expensive hinge kit
More expensive hinge kit

Any idea if these would be good or if one of the site sponsors makes one?

I want to build a carrier that looks like a Hickey Cadillac carrier (hinged on both sides, gas cans on either side of a centrally mounted spare tire), but doesn't need to attach to the body. I was thinking of building it into the bumper like @NorCal69. Thoughts and or ideas appreciated.
Click to expand...

The "less expensive" is just a weld-on hinge. They come in lots of sizes. Because of the way they weld on, I donno how well they'd work for what you're doing.

The "more expensive" is appropriate if you're going to have hinges only at the bumper level. They're a trailer spindle, you know, so they are a smidge overkill. For reference, I used two of those to hold up a 20'+ length of steel-framed redwood swinging gate.

Mine is shaped differently than yours, so it won't compare apples-to-apples. Might give you some ideas though (and with my welding some ideas on how NOT to do it :D ) I used poly bushings on mine, but I *did* attach to the body. I just re-did the carrier in thicker tube, so the most recent posts in my build thread http://ck5.com/forums/threads/209791/ have some stuff, but originally it started around https://ck5.com/forums/threads/74-k...uff-to-the-rescue.209791/page-15#post-3191486

You can get the poly bushings from any number of sources; Kert @ DIY4X has both the bushings and the trailer spindles (and a ton of other stuff, good selection of tabs); see http://diy4x.com/home.php?cat=254

WFO has the bushing kits http://wfoconcepts.com/cr/bushings-and-sleeves/3190

And RuffStuff carries them too http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=BUSHDOM They have a TON of tabs as well.

I've dealt with all three vendors over the years with great results.

-- A
 
What size tire? Even the "good" ones have trouble with large tires off road.
 
I like the idea of the sleeve for the trailer spindle, as long as you're able to attach it with zero slop. Like the eBay listing says, it's welding to the spindle that weakens it, by focusing the stress of the constant vibration at that point. They CAN and DO break off when carrying big tires for a while. The weight rating of a trailer spindle is irrelevant, as it's for a different application.

After my trailer spindle broke off I went with a 10-bolt front spindle and it's been fine for several years now.: https://ck5.com/forums/threads/need-pics-tire-carrier-bumper.163492/page-4#post-2813834
 
Thanks for the input so far. @JoshHefnerX used front lockouts/spindles for his too, I'm thinking that may be the way to go. I'll upload some of my sketch ideas when I get home from work today.
 
I didn't want to use a trailer spindle either, read a couple of stories about them coming loose.. Not something I want - 37 needs to stay on the truck. Mine is welded to the bumper which is 3/16" steel and I've considered putting a gusset right underneath it, as I don't want that top plate ripping either. I haven't as if I ever want/need to take the bumper off I need the access...

If at all possible and esp w/ poly bushings try to get it in double sheer. But 33's a quite a bit lighter than 37's. Aluminum wheels would make it even more so. If you don't have the articulating arm/winch thing it's even lighter.
 
Remember that the end of the bumper holding a carrier has to be very rigid. A simple C-channel supported only at the frame will get a real twist when you swing the carrier out. But most significant is preventing the tire from bouncing front-to-back as you drive. The spindle should be tied to the top, bottom, front and back of the bumper. Then it helps a lot to run a support from that corner of the bumper forward to the frame somewhere. For the tire to bounce front-to-back, the end of the bumper has to twist, which would be an up/down motion of that corner brace. Since it's bolted to the frame, that's a long lever holding the spindle straight.
 
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