If you've spent at any time on the trail having a 31-year-old Land Easy riding bike, you quickly realize that finding a spot for a 35-inch spare is really a nightmare, which is precisely why picking a solid fj80 rear bumper tire carrier generally jumps to the particular top of the particular "must-have" list. Let's be honest, the factory location beneath the trunk is usually a total pain. It's fine for the stock tire whenever you're driving towards the grocery store, yet the second you upsize your plastic or go to the rocks, that share hoist becomes a legal responsibility. It hangs low, catches on everything, and if you in fact get a flat in the mud, good luck crawling below there to get it out.
Moving that extra tire to the back of the rig isn't just about looking cool—though it will be does—it's about functionality and saving your departure angle. But there's a lot to think about before you just bolt several hundred pounds of metal onto the back of your 80-series.
Why the Stock Setup Just Doesn't Cut It
Most FJ80 owners eventually move up to at minimum a 33-inch or 35-inch tire. Once you do this, the factory spare tire carrier beneath the rear of the frame is basically useless. Not just will the 35-inch tire often not even fit within that space with no rubbing against the exhaust or the rear diff, but that also acts such as a giant core. You'll be moving off a corner and suddenly thud —you're hung on your spare tire.
By installing a dedicated fj80 rear bumper tire carrier , you clear up everything that room underneath. This enables a person to tuck your own exhaust higher and even install an additional fuel tank where the spare used to live. Plus, having the tire from chest height can make a world associated with difference when you're tired, muddy, plus trying to change a wheel on a hillside.
Single Swing vs. Dual Swing: The particular Great Debate
When you start shopping for a carrier, you'll see two main designs: the single golf swing and the dual swing. There isn't actually a "wrong" reply here, however they certainly change how you socialize with the back again of your truck every single day.
The single swing-out is exactly what it sounds like. The whole arm pivots through one side (usually the passenger aspect so it swings away from the curb). It's less complicated, has fewer shifting parts, and is generally a little less expensive. However, a single hand carrying a 35-inch tire, a few Jerry cans, and also a Hi-Lift jack is incredibly heavy. It puts a ton of stress on a single pivot point, and you need a lot of clearance at the rear of the truck to swing that huge arm open.
Dual swings split the load. Usually, the tire sits upon one arm plus your accessories (like fuel cans or even a ladder) sit on another. This can make the arms smaller and simpler to manage. It also indicates you don't require as much area behind you in order to open the back. The particular downside? You have got to open two latches each time you want to obtain into the tail gate. If you're constantly grabbing gear out of the back again, those extra secs will get slightly frustrating, but most people find the trade-off value it for the better weight distribution.
The Latch and Pivot: Where Quality Matters
When there is one place you don't want to unintentionally avoid a good fj80 rear bumper tire carrier , it's the pivot and the latch. These are the two highest-stress points on the particular entire bumper. Inexpensive carriers use basic bolt-through pivots that eventually start to sag or squeak. You want something that uses heavy-duty pointed roller bearings—basically the same kind of bearings you'd find in a wheel hub. These allow the arm to golf swing smoothly even whenever it's loaded down with gear.
Then there's the particular latch. Nothing is even more maddening than a "Land Cruiser rattle. " If the latch isn't rock solid, that tire carrier is going to vibrate and clank every period you hit the bump. Search for slam-latches or heavy-duty toggle clamps that draw the arm small against a plastic bump stop. When it feels flimsy in the entrance, it's going in order to be a nightmare on a washboard road.
Weight Considerations and Suspension
We have got to talk about the elephant in the room: excess weight. The FJ80 is usually already a weighty beast, and the full steel rear bumper having a tire carrier can simply add 150 to two hundred and fifty pounds to the quite back from the vehicle.
In the event that you're still operating stock springs or even a light-duty lift, your rear end is going in order to sag the moment a person bolt this upon. You'll probably need to look in to heavy-duty rear suspension systems (like the OME 863s or 864s) to pay for the extra weight. It's an integrated system—you can't really alter the bumper without having thinking about just how it affects your center of gravity and your springtime rates.
Even more Than Just the Tire Mount
One of the best parts regarding upgrading to a fj80 rear bumper tire carrier could be the extra "real estate" it provides you for equipment. Most modern styles are modular, meaning you can bolt on all kinds of stuff.
- Jerry May Holders: Cruisers aren't precisely known for their particular amazing fuel economy. Having an extra 10 gallons of gas around the bumper can be the particular difference between making it home plus walking.
- Hi-Lift Jack Supports: These jacks are awkward to store inside. Mounting them on the swing-out keeps all of them out of the particular way but accessible.
- Get away Tables: Some carriers possess a fold-down table inside the swing-arm. It's a total game-changer for making lunch on the trail or even setting up a stove.
- Recovery Gear: It's the great spot in order to mount a shovel or an axe where they won't get the interior of your vehicle dirty.
Dealing with the Reverse Camera and Sensors
If you've retrofitted your 80-series with a back-up camera (a wise move given the blind spots), a rear tire carrier is going to block your view. You'll likely need to relocate the particular camera to the particular center of the particular spare tire or somewhere on the bumper itself. It's a small detail, yet it's one associated with those things that's better to figure out in the garage than when you're trying to reverse out there of a good spot on a trek and realize you're flying blind.
Installation: A Fact Check
Installing an fj80 rear bumper tire carrier isn't generally a "30-minute work with basic hand tools. " These types of things are large. You're should retain the floor jack, a few jack stands, and ideally a pal to assist you line up the bolt openings.
Most high-quality bumpers will bolt straight to the particular frame using present holes, but due to the fact these trucks are usually 30 years aged, frame tolerances may vary. Don't end up being surprised if you need to do a little "clearancing" with a file or a drill in order to get everything in order to line up flawlessly. Also, make sure you're cleaning any kind of rust for the frame horns while the outdated bumper is off—it's the perfect period to hit this with some body paint.
Conclusions
At the end of the particular day, an fj80 rear bumper tire carrier is usually one of those investments that shifts how you use your Land Cruiser. It stops you from worrying about regardless of whether your spare tire is going in order to get shredded upon a rock, also it gives you a solid platform with regard to all the equipment you need for a long weekend in the woods.
Yes, they're expensive, and indeed, they're heavy. However the first time you're sitting on your own tailgate, utilizing your swing-out camp table to brew coffee while looking at your own rig parked securely on a ledge, you'll know a person made the right call. Just make sure a person pick one having a solid latch plus good bearings—your ear (and your tailgate) will thank a person.