Tire carrier hinge options.

[AgitatedPancake]

Alright well as some of you know I'm in the middle of building a rear bumper for the WJ.



And I'm definately looking at incorporating a tire carrier into it as a 35 inside takes up WAY too much space, and I don't want it on the roof. I want to have the hinge point just outside the drivers side vertical support you see in the above pictures. I'm looking for what others have done, and throwing out a few ideas.

Heres a pic from ZJones build thread. I don't know what mfg bumper this is as I don't know the ZJ stuff well, but I don't really like this hinge style because it isnt preloaded and is bound to have some play.
.

I'm more interested in a spindle style with bearings that you can preload to stiffen up such as these.
http://www.rockstomper.com/catalog/pieces/hinge.htm
http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/products_diy.htm
http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/...a.-p-2305.html

Now those would definately get the job done, but one of my wheelin buddies brought up an idea that I think would be pretty badass if it could be done easy enough. His thought was about taking like a 2wd car/truck spindle and building a similar setup as the above links with junkyard parts. It's possible that the spindle would just bolt to the bumper if you wish also, making it removeable for whatever reason if needed. Hell I almost wonder if a golf cart spindle would work.

Anyways, I'm thinking out loud here and open to any ideas/experience. Let me know! I'll be posting any good pics I find to stir the imagination.

[AgitatedPancake]

Thinking out loud again...I could almost use a unit bearing...bolt one side to the bumper and build a plate drilled out to use the wheel studs, then build off that for the carrier. That would be a very short option compared to having a full length spindle. Hmmmm.

Unit Bearing:

[ArloGuthroJeep]

A neighbor a couple years ago used a unit bearing off a D30 and he said it worked fine...a bit big for a hinge though.

[AgitatedPancake]

big around, yes but short in height compared to a full length spindle. I may have to look into it!

[zj95]

unit bearing need to have a shaft in then in order to stay in 1 piece. have about using a spare d44 spindle/hub?

[AgitatedPancake]

I thought about the d44 spindle and hub idea, but those are BIG. I mean you could cut the wheel mounting area off the hub so its just the cylinder but we're still talkin like 3" around or somethin?

I've heard about unit bearings failing without stubs, but look at how much rotation this tire carrier is really going to encounter. It turns somewhere between 90 and 180*, every once in a while. Thats like moving a truck a foot or two. I'm not sure it would fail then...but I don't know.

[zj95]

with 120+ lbs pulling on it it sure as hell will after a few times

[AgitatedPancake]

yeah, see I've never had one fail because of that and it hasn't been explained to me why they fail so I just wasn't sure.

Thats another thing i've thought about here...all these spindles and wheel bearings are designed to have the load pretty much centered between the two bearings in the setup, using them in this design puts the load like 1-2 feet off the center, so even though there is little weight compared to a car there is a TON more leverage than there is on a car, like running a negative backspacing wheel...

[AgitatedPancake]

New random thought...what about using balljoints? I'm sure I could get some steel machined for them to press into, and some more steel with the tapered holes for the carrier to hang off of... or I could chop up one of the spare d44 knuckles I have lying around if I could sucessfully weld to it...

[IndyZJ]

I like the unit bearing idea if the top of your bumper has the width for it, but it seems like it would be a pain to incorporate.


http://www.mcmaster.com/#2705t44/=1cnq30

Two of these inside a ~4" long piece of tubing with a 1" bolt and .25" tabs have worked well on my YJ for a few years now.

[DJJordache]

http://www.rockstomper.com/catalog/pieces/hinge.htm

there is another guy on PBB in teh vendor section that sells good looking hinges as a kit but I could not find it real quick....

I also like the hub lockout idea that you can lock and unlock the hub to make sure it doesnt swing out if the latch fails...

[kfab]

what about two heim jounts

[ATL ZJ]

New random thought...what about using balljoints? I'm sure I could get some steel machined for them to press into, and some more steel with the tapered holes for the carrier to hang off of... or I could chop up one of the spare d44 knuckles I have lying around if I could sucessfully weld to it...

Not sure if the 44 knuckles are or not, but dana 60 knuckles are cast steel (at least the kingpin ones are)... meaning you can MIG weld to them. It's still best to give them some serious pre-heat and post-heat treatment using your oven or BBQ grill though.

[NEVADAGARY]

Here's a hitch mount tire carrier I built for my ZJ and I used a 3/4 grade 8 bolt as the hinge through two one inch bushings welded into the tube. Works awesome. Only thing I would do different next time is make bushings with 2 inch dia heads 1/4 thick for a bearing surface.

[adam99wj]

i used a spindle and hub from a VW golf, the spindle is small and can be bolted on

here are the pics


complete hub and spindle, with drum brake surface cut off



i left a little tab sticking off the side for more meat to weld to.



bearings and stuff


spindle




complete setup




most front wheel drive cars have a setup like this on the rear wheels that you could use for your hinge. it works pretty smoothly

[AgitatedPancake]

Thanks alot Adam, thats exactly what I was thinking about doing if I went with the spindles. Anything you would change? How does it hold up to the bigger tires?

[ROCK!]

I just bought a spindle kit from A to Z fab. It ended up costing about $100 shipped. It is a complete kit, and I like it. I ordered it on a wednesday, and had it on friday! Not only do you get the spindle you get the tire mount, and a t handle for latching it.

http://www.atozfabrication.com/store...0&bestseller=Y

I will be doing my latch a little differently, but this was a pretty good deal I thought.

[adam99wj]

i woild do it exactly the same, it was plenty strong

[SLO MO]

Just go get a 1500lbs trailer spindle with bearings. Make a new smaller outer hub and weld it in to the end of some 2" x 2" tubing.

[PassRunnerZJ]

Overall I have been happy w/my bronze bushings around a 3/4" bolt that I sleeved for my 2x4" lower support. 2.5 years of being a DD, many trips to Moab and Colorado mountains w/33" spare and I think the busings are starting to show some wear, still no apparent rattle, just a little more movement then new. It gets opened at 4 or more times each week. Some weeks way more when I have my kids. They are simple, inexpensive, and available at the hardware store. I checked the tightness a few times when I first built it, but now, maybe every 6 months if I remember.

[jeepin88]

Here's a hitch mount tire carrier I built for my ZJ and I used a 3/4 grade 8 bolt as the hinge through two one inch bushings welded into the tube. Works awesome. Only thing I would do different next time is make bushings with 2 inch dia heads 1/4 thick for a bearing surface.

do youhave more pictures of you carrier i was thanking of the same concept just not sure how it looked.

jake

[NEVADAGARY]

OK here's what the parts I made look like and what it looked like when I was making it.

Bushings




Locking barrel bolt



The build





The anti wobble device(you must have it) and video of before and after installation.

[NEVADAGARY]

Hey Pancake I like your selection of RC stuff!!!I presume you race at Pairie City and Rescue???