Cheap Cheap Roof-mounted Tire Carrier (w/ pics)

drew and not u · Apr 2, 2007

So, after becoming tired of a 33" spare taking up cargo space in the back hatch I decided to make a roof-mounted tire rack. I got some Yakima Rain-gutter towers, 58" cross-bars for cheap on eBay, and the stock spare tire carrier from my dads TJ. Took all of 20 minutes and works great!

steelmen · Apr 2, 2007

lookin good...i had something similar in mind but my cj-7 wheel holder has 5 on 5.5

pb_beaker · Apr 2, 2007

very nice, where you going to mount the hi-lift?

drew and not u · Apr 2, 2007

Haha, once I pick up a Hi-lift (which will be after I install my rock-rails) I'll either make some brackets, or just use what I used for the tire mount (Yakima Universal snaparounds).

IslanderXJ · Apr 2, 2007

If you bottom out hard thats gonna bend... trust me.. I was there...

drew and not u · Apr 2, 2007

It does flex some as it is. I plan on building a cross brace to support the weight a little better.

IslanderXJ · Apr 2, 2007

spread out the clamps
put them here:
/--x---------x--\

rather than here:
/-----x---x-----\

drew and not u · Apr 2, 2007

exactly. I'm going to weld some 3/16" or 1/4" steel into a boxed in X frame which will mount to the bars further out. While I'm at that I'll probably put on brackets for a high-lift, and kill two birds with one stone.

IslanderXJ · Apr 2, 2007

oh, I see now! Good plan :thumbup:
What lights are those on your rack facing forward?

drew and not u · Apr 2, 2007

Haha! The Wal-Mart Specials, you can't beat them for the price!

cdn_xj · Apr 2, 2007

LMAO!

I was thinking about doing the EXACT same thing about 5 hours ago! After I gave up trying to find one of the Mopar roof mounted tire carriers. I was sure I had the OEM tire carrier from my YJ kicking around but after spending and hour digging through the garage and shed I quit looking. I guess I'm going to have to buy one from someone.

tgoff · Apr 2, 2007

I no longer have faith in Yakima cross bars, they will bend just ask how I know.

drew and not u · Apr 2, 2007

Meh, if they bend I'll just get some thicker steel tubing that's the same diamter.

IslanderXJ · Apr 2, 2007

IslanderXJ said:
If you bottom out hard thats gonna bend... trust me.. I was there...

tgoff said:
I no longer have faith in Yakima cross bars, they will bend just ask how I know.

Hey wasn't this your idea too?

drew and not u said:
Meh, if they bend I'll just get some thicker steel tubing that's the same diamter.

tgoff · Apr 3, 2007

Yep I'm heading planning on heading down to McCarthy Steel to buy some 1.125" OD steel.

rocketman121 · Mar 16, 2008

How is this holding up? Did you end up fabbing an X to mount the crossbars further? An update would be awesome.

Cheap Cheap Roof-mounted Tire Carrier (w/ pics)

drew and not u

NAXJA Forum User

steelmen

NAXJA Forum User

pb_beaker

NAXJA Forum User

drew and not u

NAXJA Forum User

IslanderXJ

NAXJA Forum User

drew and not u

NAXJA Forum User

IslanderXJ

NAXJA Forum User

drew and not u

NAXJA Forum User

IslanderXJ

NAXJA Forum User

drew and not u

NAXJA Forum User

cdn_xj

NAXJA Forum User

tgoff

NAXJA Forum User

drew and not u

NAXJA Forum User

IslanderXJ

NAXJA Forum User

tgoff

NAXJA Forum User

rocketman121

NAXJA Forum User

Similar threads