Hi all I've been thinking about putting on the factory spare tire carrier on the outside of my 78.I'm looking for feedback as to people who like it or don't and why.Thanks

 

I had the interior spare tire carrier in my 79 and there was no room with a tire in there. As soon as i went to 35's it wasnt gonna work. I have an exterior on my 95 and i love it. I can put a pretty good size tire on there. To me theres really no cons when it comes to the exterior tire mount. As long as you have a lock on your wheel then ur good.

 

I have no complaints about the exterior tire carrier. I modified mine a little so I can now carry an extra hub lock.
Kenny

 

I took mine off. I didnt like it bouncing when on bad road (or no road). With my tires I felt like it could rip right off. With stock tires it wouldnt be so bad. The other problem is when you haul something with the gate open, you need some way to secure it. now I only take the spare when on long trips. (it takes alot of room inside)

If I was to put one on, I would make my own. It could be part of the bumper. I would make it lock open or shut. And I would deffiantly put the hub on as per White/Silver. COOL

 

Check out my gallery for information about making certain the OEM external carrier doesn't damage the tailgate over time. I've NEVER had any issues hauling around larger than stock spares on the OEM carrier. I DID invert the actual mount on the carrier when I went to 33's so that it would hang lower and obstruct less of the rear window. Check the red link in my signature for a condition known affectionately as "The Dent" and how to avoid it.

 

I took mine off for fear of the damage from getting rearended even at 5mph, the tire protects the bumper from damage and lets the tailgate take the hit... not good-

 

Assuming you are rear-ended by a vehicle with a nose that is taller than about 28 inches and isn't bothering to try to stop. Not that it shouldn't be a concern but most vehicles are shorter and "diving" at the point of impact anyway. Of course I'm lifted 4" and running on 33's.

 

doesnt matter if they are trying to stop or not, a hit is a hit. my bronco does not have a lift, there is plenty of cars and minitrucks that........ nevermind ill put it back on cause it just cant happen-

 

That reminds me of a time I backed my Old Bronco in to a tree. It hit the spare, but not hard enough to dent the gate. Actualy, the tree was not big enough to hold up. But it is strange to have the tire stick out beyond the bumper. I had two people rearend me in that truck. As Greystreak said, both were too short. There are a lot of tall vehicals these days.

 

Actually, the tire damaging the tailgate is real if you back into a pole or wall. At work I usually park next to a wall in spaces marked "compact" (that's all that left ) and for that very reason, I asked a machinist friend of mine to make a 'bump-stop' that sticks out about inch or two over my spare tire.

 

LOL if i hit something with my tire to dent the tailgate..... well that would give me an excuse to go out and buy a new one because the one i have now is rusty. Today while driving i was thinkin if i got rear ended wouldnt it hurt the quarter panel and where it bolts too? That would be my biggest scare. Or breaking the rear window or bending the window tracks. I still like the room inside without a stinkin tire there, and the looks too.

 

The first time I got hit, it bent my bumper all to hell. The guy paid for a new one. The second time, it didnt do nothing. Both times the other car had to be towed. LOL. Serves them right, how do you miss a truck like mine.

 

I was rearended twice HARD in my '89 ranger, both times I pushed the reset button on the inertia switch and drove away... the other cars -'92 buick and a newer Audi- could not be moved by themselves, they had to call a stretcher truck.... both times I just replaced the bumper. Ford builds 'em good dangit-

 

Where is the reset button? That first time I got hit, it was hard. I didnt do nothing and drove away.

 

I've had Broncos with both the outside spare tire carrier, and with the spare mounted inside. The outside carrier leaves more room to carry stuff in the back, without having to remove the spare tire to gain extra cargo room, but something about the outside spare tire carrier w/ tire says "Bronco", you know? The only drawback to having the outside job is they rust, and put a lock on your spare tire if you have an outside carrier on your Bronco. If it's mounted inside the Bronco, you wouldn't have to worry as much.