Swing away tire and gas can carriers

[lrnasd90]

I saw this swing away tire carrier on a vehicle for sale on ebay about 7 months ago. It attaches to the receiver hitch...It would be perfect for my application...does anyone know where I can find one? I ask the person that had it for sale, but they did not know anything about it. Even if I could get a manufacture...anything would be greatly appreciated.

[chrisvonc]

That unit used to be sold by British Pacific and TReK Outfitters, made by a company called Fabracor (I think was the name). Both companys stopped carrying the units due to the inconsistance from the manufacture of design, missing parts to put the units together, and horrid assembly directions. And yes, I speak from my own expreriance with a few of these units, both the hitch mount version as well as the bumper mounted version.

I have a complete, more permant mounted model as well as have all the large parts for a 2nd, reciever hitch mounted unit. It took 2 years, 3 parts bags from the manufacture, 2 trips to a welder, and still 4 trips to Home Depot to make 1 complete, full funtional unit which I would only use ever again on another long solo truck trip across country in the D90 with 2 people.

If you are looking for a hitch mounted option, you may be able to find a "complete" unit somewhere. It would take me a lot of energy to assemble the 2nd one I have into a working unit.

[Art Vigil]

Oh the HORROR!!!

Listen to Chris. If you see one of these units, run far far away. I'm also speaking from personal experience.

If you want something real, have a look at the "product reviews" section of this website D90 SOURCE PRODUCT REVIEWS (http://www.d-90.com/prod/index.html) and have one made.

[lrnasd90]

I wanted a Shrockworks, but neither on of the carries that they sell will work with the LR Roof rack. That seems to be my biggest problem. I want a tire carrier that carries Jerry cans and a high lift jack and will also let me keep my rack. I think that the Safari Gard my work, but what a price they want for it? I am not sure it is worth that. By the way thanks for the heads up about the tire carrier sounds like I need to steer clear!!

[chrisvonc]

Yes I forgot.. Art knows the horror well since he was the owner of my first unit and he had it for almost a year too trying to get it together before I got it to my place.

I must say after the hardship of actually getting it putting it together, it did its job well for our trip with the exception of the hilift holder issue.

But if you already have a roof rack then really, I would just add an expanded metal floor and store the cans and hilift up there and save myself the aggravation.

Chris

[mikeslandrover]

Yes Mantec carriers are pretty good, but get a saddle tamk and do away with the cans altogether. Cans on the roofrack are not a good idea. there was a VERY nasty accident when we were in Morocco the summer before last involving a discovery that rolled. Too much weight up too high and a very twisty mountain road going to Marakesh. Luckily everyone was eventually O.K. but the discovery was a write-off. the axles were torn off the chassis.:eek:

[mikeslandrover]

WVA holdings here in GB make a swing away spare wheel holder that also takes the high lift jack. ;)

[DJ Menasco]

I ran into the same issue with my SW. I wanted to be able to posses easy access to my Hi-Lift and/or Jerry Cans and accomidate a heavier wheel/tire combo, but didn't want to pay the $G price. So, I debated back and forth between purchasing the set up above and the Mantec Carrier. However, the option that drove me towards the Mantec were the location of the mounts.

On the set up in the article above both mounts are secured on right hand corner of the body with backing panneles. Conversly, the Mantec bottom mount attatches firmly to the rear crossmember on your frame while the top secures to the body. Hence, I felt more wieght could be applied to the crossmember rather than the body iteself. Needless to say, I still haven't found an effecient position to mount my Hi-Lift yet, but I have more confidence in my Mantec Carrier and it's abilities to withstand my Steel Wheel and 70-lbs 8.25 XZL spare on the back! Hope this helps out.

Regards

DJ

[chrisvonc]

Mike emailed it to me (Thanks!), I can cleaned it up, and turned it into a PDF file.

http://www.d-90.com/misc/wva_carrier.pdf

**10/30/03 - File has been replaced with a cleaner version**

CVC

[loykd]

DJ, do you have your bumper installed and if so, how do you fit the Mantec onto the crossmember? I like the bumper and would like to keep it with a tire carrier.

Mike, You can resize your pics on the iMac using iPhoto (comes with the OS) or Adobe Photoshop or Elements. If I understand right, the pic can't be larger than 640x640. Use those software to just resize the image.

CVC, yours is much nicer.... haha

[mikeslandrover]

Landrover chat & computer lessons.
Splendid!!!
The WVA wheel carrier bottom mount does infact mount to the chassis.
It bolts to the same log that the rear body fixes to
I can tell you that it's exceptionally strong and stood up to protracted vibration caused by corrugations on tracks in the Moroccan Sahara

[rover4x4]

David Marchand also has the mantec and the stocker bumper. look at the photo galleries

[DJ Menasco]

Ken

Yes, you can keep the rear bumper with the Mantec Tire Carrier. The bottom mount on the Mantec Carrier merely taps into the rear cross member just above the rear bumper and below the body. Although the rear bumper has been removed, you can see the bottom mount in the picture below. While the bottom mounting tab overlaps both the body and cross member only the three bolts on the cross memeber provide a secure mounting platform. There is no contact between the bottom tab and the body. Hope this helps.

Regards

DJ

[DJ Menasco]

Phillip

It's John Lee's rig. Go to the EE and look under his gallery. You'll find it there. I would have posted a pic of my own but I don't have any here at work.

DJ

[Rick Carlisle]

I installed a Mantec tire carrier several weeks ago on my sw. About a week ago I started to feel a bit of binding when I would open the door. Then it started to make a low moaning (ok, let me hear the jokes) noise. This past weekend we loosened up the bolts of the hinges that are mounted on the body, plus put a little oil on them. That seemed to help. That was Saturday. Today, the noise has returned. Anyone have any ideas on how to adjust this out? Thanks.

[rover4x4]

greese. how tight you tighten the stuff on there?

[Rick Carlisle]

Not all that tight. Maybe snug at first but then I loosened them up this past Saturday. I am sure grease would help initially but something just seems out of adjustment to make this kind of noise.

[rover4x4]

i would try some greese. loosen it up get it where it feels like its smooth then tighten the bolts down pretty good. but i have no first hand experience with a mantec so what do i know??

[DJ Menasco]

Rick

Listen to Phil, he knows nothing!:grin Just kidding Phil. Mine does the same thing and it's the sliding union that bolts to your door. I'd tell you how to fix it, but I haven't tried on my own! Anyway, I'd have a look there. Let me know how it turns out.

DJ

[Doug]

I sprayed some teflon lube in the nylon slider about 3 months ago, and noise went away and hasn't returned.

Also, imho, make sure that the slider does not have vertical force pressing on it, up or down. All the weight should be carried on the frame hinges. The nylon slider's position is adjustable on the carrier end -- make sure it 'floats.' My 2 c.

Doug

[CDN38]

Rick,
Could it be a little extra stress on the door hinges? When I went to a larger size tire and spare, it was just enough to start to make my rear door creak and moan. I tried grease and all sort of things, then replaced the hinge pins and the brass ends that sit inside the hinge cups. Not a sound since.

I got my replacement ones from Wise Owl Parts (wiseowlparts.com). They make them themselves rather than the $$ a rover set would be... if you can find them. They are the same hinge pins as used on series trucks. Cost about $10.00 cdn for the set. (probably about $3.00 US :grin )

[Rick Carlisle]

Hey guys, thanks for the ideas. It's weird how noises seem to be coming from one place but can actually be coming from another place. My friend and I suspected the nylon slider immediately but it seemed the sound was coming from the swing hinges. So we tried to adjust them, grease them, etc.
I will have a look at the nylon slider this weekend. I think Doug has a good point about making sure there is no vertical stress on the slider. And then I will lube it up. I'll let you know if that does it DJ.
Also, Scott, my door hinges look ok. Probably as good as any original hinge. But I will look into your suggestion about the hinge pins and brass ends.
Thanks.

[redrover]

Rick, how come all you guys with nice looking rigs dont have a Bio?

[Rick Carlisle]

jp, good point.
one is on the way to chris, hopefully, this weekend.
thanks for the compliment.
rick

[Rob]

i just purchased a mantec tire carrier from british pacific (part #GMN050) for my '97 defender soft top....however, it appears that the mantec lower bracket would have to go directly over where the rear lights are.....any thoughts??? is there a different mantec carrier or what??

[rover4x4]

I think it shouldnt be an issue, here is a photo from a SW

[rover4x4]

complements of Mr Menasco

[chrisvonc]

Yeah send it in.. I am currently redoing all the files for the bios for the new section. I have about 2 months of Bios updates to catch up on once finished so it might be a little bit before it gets posted.

[Rob]

thx for the photo...and i think i see the problem....the carrier that came with the car is attached in a very differnt place - lower hinge under the tailights.....both brackets farther to the right....there's no way the mantec bracket can go there....do people generally just drill all new holes?? that isnt how it seems it should be....

[Art Vigil]

Gotta ask.
For your Soft Top Rob? Did something happen to the original carrier? :confused

[Rob]

as far as i know, this is the original carrier....and it mounts like others ive seen in pics.....i was changing to mantec to eliminate the rattles that comesw from the carrier/rear door.....

the car in the pic isnt mine, but it does show exactly where the carrier mounts are....

[DJ Menasco]

Rob

If it's a Mantec then you shouldn't have any issues with your rear lamps, just as Phil suggested & thanks for the plug Phil :grin. You'll have to pop that refelctor off but that's it.

DJ

[DJ Menasco]

Geez CVC, you've been doing some house cleaning....first the new board, then the new specials, & now your re-vamping ALL of the Bios! :clap Thanks! Can't wait to see it!

DJ

[Rob]

ok, not to sound like a complete dope! but then i asume the mantec will not go in the same holes where the original bracket was, correct?? if u look at the two pics above, the carriers are anchored in very different places.....

[DJ Menasco]

Correct, the Mantec will bolt directly on the rear cross-member covering about half the space where reflector once was.

DJ

[Rob]

ok, getting there! thx.....what do people use to fill the old holes?

[mhansen]

Originally posted by Rob
ok, getting there! thx.....what do people use to fill the old holes?

Mud works pretty good.

[Rob]

lottsa sand hereabouts this winter!! ;)

[redrover]

I am wondering if any one has mounted mantec with Safari Guard rear bumper corners? It looks like they would conflict in photo. I would like to add mantec , but dont want a production. JP

[Rob]

on my '97 soft top, i decided that it was too much of a production to remove the original carrier (how DO u get that 3rd bolt out of the bottom hinge??), drill new holes thru the cross section, AND have to play with the Badger top, which is fitted and has a great seal, to use the Mantec......ill just have to tighten the hinges ever so often!

[souza]

so what did you do with the mantec? had you already received it, or did you just cancel the order? ;) I've been eyeing a mantec myself...

[Rob]

was going to get a RA# to return it to British Pacific....if u want it, id have to check but i believe it cost $379....

[souza]

Rob, send me your email: dave.souza@floridalandroverclub.com

[Cyborg]

Guys, I have a ST with a nice swing arm spare tire carrier on the rear. I do not know who the manufacturer of this is but it is a nice one i do not wish to part with. This plays into the fact that I am trying to figure out a good way to attach a couple of Jerry cans to the vehicle. I have one i carry in the interior(Dumb....Dumb!) for now and wish to mount it and another to the vehicle in a safer manner. I can see possibly getting a roof rack and mounting them there but it seems that would be extremely high and would raise the center of gravity noticably. Not wishing to change the location of my spare I am at a loss to determine the best way to accomplish this. I am thinking I may have to change out my tire carrier to a type that will accomodate gas can mounts onto the rear but that seems costly.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Larry

[chrisvonc]

If you dont know what kind of carrier it is, post a picture and not only can we tell you, but most likely be in a better position to make some ideas for you.

In the meantime, give me a minute and I will try to find the link to another post that covered a range of aftermarket carriers.

[chrisvonc]

Here we go, some of other aftermarket rear carriers

The BP/TReK Outfitter units (discontinued):
http://www.d-90.com/trail/moab2003/day2/images/Dsc00057.jpg

The Shrockworks ST carrier:
http://www.d-90.com/prod/shrockworks/rack.html

The Shrockworks SW carrier:
http://www.d-90.com/prod/shrockworks/racksw.html

The Safari Gard carrier (mounted on a SW):
http://www.d-90.com/tech/carry6.jpg
http://www.d-90.com/tech/carry7.jpg

A Rockware model (SW):
http://www.expeditionexchange.com/ics2/DSC07729.jpg
http://www.expeditionexchange.com/ics2/DSC02611.jpg
More detailed pictures:
http://www.d-90.com/prod/rw_tire/rw_fm/rw_fm01.jpg
http://www.d-90.com/prod/rw_tire/rw_fm/rw_fm02.jpg
http://www.d-90.com/prod/rw_tire/rw_fm/rw_fm03.jpg
http://www.d-90.com/prod/rw_tire/rw_fm/rw_fm04.jpg
http://www.d-90.com/prod/rw_tire/rw_fm/rw_fm05.jpg
http://www.d-90.com/prod/rw_tire/rw_fm/rw_fm06.jpg
and another one on a ST:
http://www.d-90.com/prod/rw_tire/index.html

More detailed pictures of the Rockware mounted on a SW:

[Joe P]

Do any of these attach to the factory tire carrier mounting points.

[Buckon37s]

Hey Larry,

You can go to any welding shop and have a carrier plate welded in to where you want it. I would be surprised if it was more than $15. Thats a little better than $850

[OCD90]

Feel free to merge this to something else, as I know it's been covered before...but I have an idea, and I'd like some feedback.

I know I need to use jerry cans for longer trips...(1) I don't really like the idea of having to hoist them on top of the rack I have...(2) I don't want them inside...and (3) I don't really want to attach them to the spare tire carrier.

So...what about this...get a trailer hitch mounted "basket" so that I can store a few cans, and maybe a cooler and some accessories, then get something like the hannibal holder to lock them down well?

I attached pics of both parts for you to consider...

And, of course, being so low(er) to the ground, I know it's not optimal for offroading...but more for longer camping trips and such...whereas the others are definitely better for offroading...

Thoughts?

[Mike Hippert]

Will the spare tire get in the way of ptting suff on the basket? I always thought one of those cool small trailers would be the best. When you set up camp you just unhook it and go out wheelin.

[OCD90]

Yeah, I'd considered spare tire space in that...I guess I could go to one of the accessory stores and measure it out. I like the trailer idea...it's just the "getting there" thing with those small tires and all the twisting over slightly uneven road...

[Mike Hippert]

I wouldn't buy a Home Depot trailer (kind with small wheels), I would either try and make or buy a trailer made out of the back of a pickup or better yet the Tub of a Defender. Anyway just an idea. The way that hitch looks if it was stuck in the back of my 90 the spare would take up allot of the room and mostly be in the way. Did you think about how it will be in the way when you try to open the rear gate? Not trying to shut the idea down, I just don't want to see you with something that doesn't work.

[javelinadave]

I have looked at the idea of jerry cans and the spare tire holder on a ST. Each can filled weighs between 35 and 40 LBS. My concern is the total weight of the spare and a can or two will rip the carrier off the body or realy bend the carrier. I think that the best solution is to throw the spare in the back and weld up a bracker that fits the swing away tire holder. That is my next project to tackle. I will post pictures when I am done.
I welded up a basket that slides into the receiver hitch last fall. It is great for carrying oversized or dirty things around. I have not tried off-roading with it but I am sure it would get bent or torn up at some point by the trail. Also, if you have a bunch of stuff on it you can't open up the tailgate.
I would not recommend carrying gas cans on your roof rack or in the cab. I know it has been done for years but it sure does not sound that safe to me.

[Nobrega]

Hello all, I am in the market for a new tire carrier as mine has succomb to rust. I am now loking at the different options. I would prefer to have it mount in the same holes as the original, so that takes Mantec out of the picture and I don't need one which carries jerry cans. So I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to where I could find them, and which different models I should look at. Thanks - Nobrega

ps. does anyone know if the carrier DAP enterprises carries is the same as the stock model?

[norros]

Do you want it stronger than the original ?

Or does the weak design of the original and the fact that it will ruin your rear door after some time mean nothing to you ?

Any after-market unit that mounts in the same holes as the original will be just as degrading to your rear door.

Also, what kind of 'spare' are you putting on it ?

Nicholas Orros

[chrisvonc]

Merged 4 threads on this topic

[Nobrega]

Cool, didn't see that before, thanks Chris

[DJ Menasco]

Here we go, some of other aftermarket rear carriers

The BP/TReK Outfitter units (discontinued):
http://www.d-90.com/trail/moab2003/day2/images/Dsc00057.jpg (http://www.d-90.com/trail/moab2003/day2/images/Dsc00057.jpg)
CVC...is that your AA D90 in the picture?

DJ

[Berty]

For anyone considering the WVA carrier or bumpers make sure you request they galvanise them. I'm off to the shotblaster this morning to get my piles of junk blasted, then galvanised. The fabrication quality of WVA's kit is excellent but badly let down by the coatings in my experience. I have already had the carrier re-done once. This time I'm going for galvanised & leaving it silver. More of a retro look like the early 90/110's.

p.s. the sliders I built so no-one else to blame :rolleyes

[Cyborg]

Thanks guys for all the ideas and links to pix. I believe based on the descriptions of the original tire carrier causing issues with the tailgate that I do have an original carrrier. I am finding that though most of the weight of the spare is carried to the frame that it is still applying some pressure to it and causing the top of the tailgate to flex outwards.

Looking at some of these other options I could use them but I have the taillight guards and Safari Guard bumperettes and it appears that these would need to be removed to mount one of thes other types.

Are there any options to reinforce or mod the original carrier? I could probably mount my Jerrys on the outside of the 33" spare but this would only exacerbate the issues with the tailgate.

Anyone have any options??

Larry

[mikeslandrover]

I'd second that on the WVA swing away wheel carrier. The coatings are not long lasting, pressure washed a great chunk off just recently :eek: :angry
Galvanising seems to be the way foward here. :)

[neo812]

Can you still get the Expidition Exchange tire carrier? I didn't see it on their site.

[chrisvonc]

EE never offered one. :) The one in the linked pictures on their site is made by Rockware.

[chrisvonc]

Anyone have some good detailed pictures on an SG unit installed on a ST? I am looking to possible sell my BP/TReK unit for an SG one and would like to hear and see any input from those ST owners who have them.

Follow-up Post:

Actually now that I think of it, does anyone have the install directions too? I went to Safari Gard's site but it doesnt look like they have the product install guide section anymore.