Need help
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New User
Joined: Mar 2004
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Need help
I have a 1984 Econoline E 150 Ford Van, It has a Spare Tire Rack on the left back door, I am trying to find out if this is a Manufactured item. I got a ticket in it, and if I can prove the tire rack is an original part, made with the van, I can beat the ticket, when I bought the Van, the guy told me that it was, cause he got a ticket also. But I cant find anything from Ford, and I dont have any money for buying books. Can anyone help me, is there a website, that may have pics of it? Thanks, The Tire Rack actually covers the Tag, when the tire is on, I had taken the tire off, so u can see the tag, but a portion of the rack crosses over the tag, so the cop charged me with Improper Tag Display, Its a Mississippi Tag, In Massachusetts, you know how teh north and South feel about one another, geesh Thanks again.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 118
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From: NC
You can buy spare tire covers which have the indentation on them for the tag for us people where the spare covers the original tag plate.
As an aside, my ladder covers my tag right across the middle and no-one cares down here!
As an aside, my ladder covers my tag right across the middle and no-one cares down here!
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New User
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Thank you, But what I need is proof that Ford actually makes the Spare Tire rack that holds the tire, on that vehicle, is there a web sire or something showing it on other vehicles, or if anyone else out there has a Ford Econline, 1984 E150 with a Spare Tire Rack over the tag, that might have a pic, I need to show the court this is how the Van was made, Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 118
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From: NC
The standard cargo vans had the spare mounted on the inside, behind the rear passenger side wheel. Other variants however had them laying on the floor, but once again inside.
However, I did find this in my original manual:
Outside Mounted Spare Tire (Optional)
The spare tire and wheelis mounted on a wheel carrier at the rear of the van or wagon. A padlock is provided to prevent theft. The keys for the spare wheel lock are on the ring with the ignition keys.
Unfortuantly, it doesn't mention what side it's on, but I'm sure it would be on the right door: I can't see Ford offering options to hide your tag.
By the way, JC Whitney sell a front mount tire carrier (sku 12ZX7052P) so maybe that may be the way to go.
If your van is a conversion, there isn't no telling who put it on.
However, I did find this in my original manual:
Outside Mounted Spare Tire (Optional)
The spare tire and wheelis mounted on a wheel carrier at the rear of the van or wagon. A padlock is provided to prevent theft. The keys for the spare wheel lock are on the ring with the ignition keys.
Unfortuantly, it doesn't mention what side it's on, but I'm sure it would be on the right door: I can't see Ford offering options to hide your tag.
By the way, JC Whitney sell a front mount tire carrier (sku 12ZX7052P) so maybe that may be the way to go.
If your van is a conversion, there isn't no telling who put it on.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 996
Likes: 5
From: Albany, Good Ol' USA
I recently had some dumb blonde (here we go..) rear end my '81 shorty Econoline and in the impact she bent my spare tire rack
When I took it to the body shop I was told that in that year Ford mounted their external mount on the right (passenger) side and that finding am exact replacement right side mount was impossible given the age and ALL the aftermarket mounts are on the left. We wound up re bending and welding my original rack. So, you might check with some wrecking yards in your area, and bring your digital camera! Good Luck man!
When I took it to the body shop I was told that in that year Ford mounted their external mount on the right (passenger) side and that finding am exact replacement right side mount was impossible given the age and ALL the aftermarket mounts are on the left. We wound up re bending and welding my original rack. So, you might check with some wrecking yards in your area, and bring your digital camera! Good Luck man!
Last edited by turbogus; Mar 30, 2004 at 05:22 PM. Reason: misspell
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Trailering
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20
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From: Chantilly VA.
Ya gotta pay
My '85 has the spare on the right hand door. Since this is the side you have to open first, it's a pain to have the tire on the door, and - the tire all but blocks the lock. I looked all over for a left door tire mount and found two solutions, one mounted the tire 1/2 way up the window- that's just plain stupid, and the other relocated the license plate onto a hard cover that went over the spare.
It sounds like you once had a "legal" conversion, but the spare tire cover was taken off and the license plate relocated back onto the door wheere it is partially blocked.
I only saw the left door mounts on conversion vans, and never found out where to buy them.
It sounds like you once had a "legal" conversion, but the spare tire cover was taken off and the license plate relocated back onto the door wheere it is partially blocked.
I only saw the left door mounts on conversion vans, and never found out where to buy them.
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Thank you all for your help. I live in the State of Massachusettes. it is more than a fine here, because we were charged with Imporper Tag Display and Having Mississippi Tags here, The Van was impounded. I have the Van back, But I had to go thru alot of BS to get it. They were not going to allow me the Van back because of the Spare Tire Rack, It Violated MAss. Law. SO I have removed the Rack, and Since I have so many replies, I can actually take ths to the court, and possibly get the ticket dismissed, and my impound fee back. It is only a Fine, but This State is very Strict about thier vehicles on the road.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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The FORD spare tire racks for the clubwagon was on the right rear door.
Conversion van makers mounted them on both sides. If they mounted them on the left side they provided a hard cover. If the hard cover was missing it is still YOUR responsibility to display the tag correctly/visibly on the bumper or in some other manner. Sorry, but IMO you do not have a chance of winning in court.
Conversion van makers mounted them on both sides. If they mounted them on the left side they provided a hard cover. If the hard cover was missing it is still YOUR responsibility to display the tag correctly/visibly on the bumper or in some other manner. Sorry, but IMO you do not have a chance of winning in court.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 543
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From: South East Texas
It works both ways. When I first moved to Texas I got hassled to death by the cops with New York plates on my truck. When I got a ticket for it, I went to court and told the judge that for job related reasons I travel back and forth between states. Being that there's no way to prove that my truck was in, or out of that state for the amount of time allowed with out of state plates, he dismissed the ticket. As for the obstructed tag ticket, your pretty much screwed on that one. Here in Texas, they just passed a new law that made everyone remove any kind of licence plate frame that covers any part of the tag, or get a ticket.
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