Does anyone know where to buy a carrier that mounts in the bed..and has the tire at an angle..? I have seen one that mounts with 4 bolts...which is OK...but at $180...there has to be another supplier...Thanks..Jv

 

Fabtech Has Some.

 

Try tiregate .com
probably wont like the prices if 180$ is to much, but the things are built like
a brick poop house.

 

here's a couple more to check out
truckcandy.com
orfab.com
truckstuffusa.com

 

Thanks...I knew I could find more sources here...jV

 

FWIW: I think the way those carriers mount a tire are a pain in the neck and very few people that go off roading use those because it makes the bed useless.

Here is what I have done and what others do. Stand the tire straight up behind the driver's window in the bed on top of a 2x4. This allows room if your tire size changes a bit (like you buy new tires) and allows you to rotate it without dragging on the bed. Also, it allows drainage under the tire.

Once the tire is in place, place a lug hole at the top of the tire. Then using a 1/2" bit drill a hole through the top and bottom lug holes through the first bed wall. Remove the tire and carefully drill through the second wall without putting a hole in the cab. It doesn't hurt to put a piece of wood between the bed and cab.

Now get a piece of steel flat bar wide enough to cover both holes. Roughly 8" long x 4" wide x 1/8-1/4". Run grade 5 threaded rod (only size readily available is 1/2x13 and not the 1/2 x20 which is lug sized) through the holes long enough to mount the wheel and extend one inch or more behind the bed wall.

So the set up will be

nut/steel plate/back of bed wall/bed/front of bed wall/alloy washer/nut/threaded rod/ mount tire/alloy washer/nut.

There are two ways to make sure the nuts to do loosen up, lock-tite or cotter pins. I prefer cotter pins.

Thread the nut onto the rod end, drill and insert cotter pin. Once it fits fine, remove, insert rod into hole, through plate, and onto nut. You can hold the nut in between the cab/bed and get it screwed unto the rod and the holes lines up. Insert cotter pin.

Pull the rods forward, put on alloy washers, and use the second set of nuts to snug everything up until it SLIGHTLY dimples the bed (note you can use another plate instead of washers if you have a tire over 33"). Then drill and cotter pin the second set of nuts.

I like to leave the pressure treated 2x4 wood under the tire so it does not stress the rods by bending it back and forth.

Now for the nuts to hold the tire down, if you go to an arborist store, you can get two of these:



Run a cable or chain through them and it makes stealing the spare tougher and with chains noisy.

The spare will block the view behind the driver, but, it protects your head from bed cargo and you usually look out the pass. side window only and stick your head out the driver's window in a truck because it is harder to turn all the way around in a truck (because your arm cant go over the seat) vs. Bronco to look out directly behind the driver.

 

The web sites i listed have the tailgate style spare tire holder and they do not take up
bed space, and they swing out really nice, the rackes that take up bed space are the
baja style rear bed rackes.