I haven't had a tire on the spare mount of the '96 for about a month now and before that it was only the stock sized spare.  I've noticed the rear door squeaks and rattles have gone from near constant to nothing.  I'd REALLY like to keep it that way.
Not to mention I've seen and heard so much about these things' rear doors cracking by the spare mount I don't want to hang a tire that weighs twice as much as the stocker on it.  My '90 parts rig has a cracked rear door and it NEVER had anything bigger than a stock tire on it.

I've been thinking about making some sort of mount using the stock setup off of the rear door except mounting it on the inside of the truck.  That way I could keep the tire inside the vehicle, off of the door.  I was thinking about using thick plywood or MDF to replace the side panels on the driver's side and then mounting the spare mount to it with bolts run through with some steel plate for strength.  The tire would stand vertically and just touch the floor so that the weight wasn't entirely on the mount.

I know it could be welded in but I can't weld...

Anyone done this?

calmini makes a rear tire carrier that bolts to the frame that holes up to like a 35 inch tire i think but it EXPENSIVE!!

There goes your room back there. I think thats why they've always mounted them on the outside.

AJM,

that would be pretty kewl to see though

especially from a car show standpoint

There's a guy over on Zuwharrie who responded to my similar thread there and did something similar.  However he can weld so he fabbed his up completely.

mntracker, I have no rear seat and right now I have a poorly rigged sound system with two subs in the back thanks to the prior owner.  I plan on losing the sound system so I should have plenty of room for a 31 and a tool box.  That's actually about all I ever carry back there anyways.  A hyperactive 25lb dog sometimes.


musboy, I've seen several rear bumpers that have built in tire carriers...but yeah...they're all expensive.  I've bought whole Trackers for what most of them go for.  My setup ought to cost me some bolts and nuts at the hardware store, everything else I already have.

Gen-Erix...car show people would refuse to let me into the fairgrounds with any of my vehicles...

Yeah, AJM- my backseats hangin on the garage wall. I have sandbags back there for the winter. I love my Tracker, and I don't ****AHEM**** care what anyone else thinks of them, lack of room is the only bad thing about them.

calmini makes a rear tire carrier that bolts to the frame that holes up to like a 35 inch tire i think but it EXPENSIVE!!

actually, calmini says their bumper holds up to a 33x12.5, and will only fit if you have a 3" body lift. that just seems pointless to me

For awhile, I had the tire carrier removed from the back door, and I bolted it to the floor, in the back.  That held the spare flat in the back, just fine.  I put a piece of plywood and a blanket over it, for the dog to have a perch.

Today, I have the Calmini swing-arm, and my spare 33 rides there.  I have a big plastic tub bolted into the back now, for tools and stuff, but I'm re-thinking that.

Sounds like a decent idea. I keep thinking about doing the same thing to my sammi. I would note that using MDF is probably not a good idea. If it draws moisture at all it tends to start falling apart.

For awhile, I had the tire carrier removed from the back door, and I bolted it to the floor, in the back.  That held the spare flat in the back, just fine.  I put a piece of plywood and a blanket over it, for the dog to have a perch.

Today, I have the Calmini swing-arm, and my spare 33 rides there.  I have a big plastic tub bolted into the back now, for tools and stuff, but I'm re-thinking that.

  I did the same thing only backwards.  Had the big plastic tool box in the back but have removed it now and run with the tire laid down back there.  So I can go totally doorless in the summer!!

I built a toolbox setup in the back of mine with the tire and jack bolted flat on top. I got room for tools, recovery gear & fluids as well as my chainsaw and don't have to worry about things flying around inside.