Spare tire question and ideas

[Longbow]

I have decided to put my new spare tire in the bed since it will not fit underneath, I tried today. As for a bed mount, I want to keep as much space as possible so I do not want to lay it flat. I checked out N-fab and like the angle version, but want it to be tilted more and at a higher angle.
I do not have the means to make one and my searching comes up empty. I want to keep the tailgate so that spare tire idea is out.
Any ideas? Pages to look at? Or thoughts?
Thanks in advance

[BigRed2007]

http://www.tiregate.com/bed-mount-series/

But say goodbye to your bed space, they say there is an upright mount coming soon.

I would look at the aluminess rear bumper. http://www.aluminess.com/dodge/dodge-po ... ar-bumper/ if you got that kind of cash...

[Cactus Red]

You can't get a 35 under the truck? Mine fits if I angle it in above the DT ProFab cover, then cinch it down.

Is that due to the shocks or diff guard?

With hand tools and some thought, you can make a vertical tire mount that bolts to the side of the bed. Lots of options available for that type of mount too, similar to these: http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fd/full.aspx?Page=32

If you go that route, mount it to the left - it won't interfere with your vision that way. I used that type of mount for years - actually had one on both sides so I could carry two spares back in the day when traction tires were bias ply,with nylon carcass, like the venerable Q78-15LT sizes pizza cutters.

[Cactus Red]

Dang - Super Swamper still makes a Q78 TSL! 35.5/10.x15 w/ 27/32 tread depth - just like the old days!

[RAM4ROKS]

If you've got the $$$, this is a cool as heck way to go:

I say "if you've got the $$$ for it" because, for some reason that is beyond me (rarity maybe?) I can't find one for less than $700. I am going to go to the military surplus scrapyard about an hour away and poke around and see if I can find a couple. Anyways, they are (obviously) designed to hold a 37x12.50 spare, and they are designed such that they lock in place in a horizontal position and a vertical one. I am contemplating mounting one in my bed parallel to the back of my cab and running it in the down position whenever I don't need extra space and flipping it to the up position when I need the space. Yes, mounting it in the center of the bed parallel to my back glass means that it will block almost all of my rearward visibility through my rear window when up BUT, I reckon of I am hauling something big enough to need to flip it up, I'll likely be blocking that visibility anyway. OR... you could mount it parallel to the left side of the bed to not lose the visibility, it's just not that out of the way (IMO) since it will have to be spaced out to clear the wheel well. If I can't find one for cheap, I will likely fab my own. If I do fab my own, I can send you the plans so you can get one fabbed if you want.

The other solution I am contemplating is a cantilevered bed rack that goes over the cab and mounting the spare there. That way the only bed space taken up is a little for the tubes (which will be frame mounted) KINDA like this:

[RAM4ROKS]

Dang - Super Swamper still makes a Q78 TSL! 35.5/10.x15 w/ 27/32 tread depth - just like the old days!

That's a sweet pizza cutter right there! Would look perfect on a vintage rig build!!!

[SilverWagon05]

Here's some pics for ideas. Click on the pics and you will see tons of links. There are some cool ideas here.
https://www.google.com/search?q=bed+tir ... 24&bih=673

https://www.google.com/search?q=dodge+r ... sxnlIjM%3A

Here's another link. A lot of $$$ if you ask me, especially since I think most people could easily make this on their own, or have it made for much less.
http://www.straptperformance.com/produc ... ire-Mount/

I'm still trying to decide exactly what I'm going to do with mine. For the past 6 years, I've just secured it in the bed with a ratchet strap or two, wherever I need it. Either flat in the bed (most of the time), vertical against the tool box or angled against the wheel well and bed side (this works very well when I need some extra bed space but also a very secure mount that will hold up to any abuse).

[wingerak92]

I myself am contemplating the aluminess when I get the coinage. Mainly because I am going to go with a topper and it'll match my front bumper. The rear bumper doesn't seem to be far out of line considering the goodies on it. Price wise that is.

[RAM4ROKS]

I agree with wingerak92, if you've got the $$$ the Aluminess rear bumper with tire carrier (and I'd spring for the gear box carrier option too) looks like an AWESOME way to go!!!!!!! Like this:

Just with a slightly shallower box, so it wouldn't stick out any further than the spare tire.

EDIT: Just noticed it's a third gen in the pic but, you get the idea! They make this exact setup for 4th gens too!!!

[ScottWagon1]

Have to say i like all the new rear bumper ideas but what do you do with the camera in the tailgate! would be cool if the companies had a camera that would interface with stock system or put your stock camera on the new bumper/tailgate..

[Longbow]

Well I messed with the spare for 2 hours trying to get it to fit somewhat decent. It will not seat right and sits at a odd angle. So I removed the heat shield, and it fit great, but sits to close to tail pipe.
Hot, tired of man handling this tire I said F it for now. No spare and no heat shield, kinda makes it open under their.

[Longbow]

I agree with wingerak92, if you've got the $$$ the Aluminess rear bumper with tire carrier (and I'd spring for the gear box carrier option too) looks like an AWESOME way to go!!!!!!! Like this:

Just with a slightly shallower box, so it wouldn't stick out any further than the spare tire.

EDIT: Just noticed it's a third gen in the pic but, you get the idea! They make this exact setup for 4th gens too!!!

That's super looking, but i need to be able to access the bed fast and easy. Think it would be hard putting a elk in the back with that on,
BUT gives me ideas......

[verdesardog]

That's super looking, but i need to be able to access the bed fast and easy. Think it would be hard putting a elk in the back with that on,
BUT gives me ideas......


hehe ... why do you need fast and easy? are you poaching those elk?

[TwinStick]

When i am ready, i am thinking of this for the bed http://www.bedslide.com/store/us/2000-pro-hd . I am also thinking a custom made rack/roll/bed bar set up out of HD aluminum that sets on the bed side rails with angle, is also tied into the bed floor sides & is even with or slightly higher than the roof. Roof top tent on top, directly underneath tent would be cross bars so 2 spare tires would fit (one in front of the other & strapped down & lockable) with recessed side bars to mount these http://daystarweb.com/productlisting.ph ... No=&page=1. That way the bed would be free for freezer & fridge, generator & spare parts & tools.

[ScottWagon1]

Well I messed with the spare for 2 hours trying to get it to fit somewhat decent. It will not seat right and sits at a odd angle. So I removed the heat shield, and it fit great, but sits to close to tail pipe.
Hot, tired of man handling this tire I said F it for now. No spare and no heat shield, kinda makes it open under their.

Ah yes I find myself in the same situation now!

[azracer]

I find myself contemplating the possibility of putting my spare tire on the Diamondback aluminum bed cover just behind the rear window and put a cover over the tire. The back portion would still open and I would have full use of the bed with only minimal issues.

When I did similar to my Prerun truck I put a bronco II tank where the spare went on my Ford Ranger and it gave me 22 gallons in the main tank and 19 gallons in place of my spare. They had 2 tanks in the bronco II one @19 and the other @ 22.

I'm thinking that the ramcharger may have something that will work for us. I think there was a 22 gallon tank with skid plate in the 318 and 6cyl and a 36 gallon tank with a skidplate in the 360. I suspect the 22 gallon would be a better choice for what I want. I want to use it to fill toys and refuel the main tank when out where fuel is not available. Anyone heard of this being done in one of our Rams?

[myoung84]

That's a good idea. You'd lose most of your visibility out of the back window though. Maybe keep it strapped down under the cover and when you need the bed you could move the spare to the top of the cover? That could be a pain if you use the bed a lot. That's a heavy ass tire to be moving around. I'm still thinking the roof rack is the best solution.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

[azracer]

I found this, but man that thing is huge @40 gallons and hangs down way too far. possibly they could cut it at 25 gallons so it would tuck it up higher.

http://www.aerotanks.com/inventory/rd40.html

[ScottWagon1]

That's a good idea. You'd lose most of your visibility out of the back window though. Maybe keep it strapped down under the cover and when you need the bed you could move the spare to the top of the cover? That could be a pain if you use the bed a lot. That's a heavy ass tire to be moving around. I'm still thinking the roof rack is the best solution.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

So thought about the roof rack. Would look sweet and give somewhere to mount some lights! This brings the question of sunroof interferance, weight load, and garage room. Will a leveled 4th gen PW on 35''s fit in a regular garage anyway? On the Diamond Back thing-is the weight ok? Would make it a pain to get into that compartment with it on? Custom headache rack with spare tire carrier-would eleminate sun roof delima! now im thinking!

[ScottWagon1]

Ok. Google or Bing ''chase pickup rack"! Oh ya! Have to build one......

[Cactus Red]

I guess it depends on where you go. The additional height would eliminate a lot of places I go. Believe it or not, I have brush/tree limb scratches on my roof. Just something to consider...

Sent via gigawatt laser...

[Ducky's Dad]

Well I messed with the spare for 2 hours trying to get it to fit somewhat decent. It will not seat right and sits at a odd angle. So I removed the heat shield, and it fit great, but sits to close to tail pipe.
Hot, tired of man handling this tire I said F it for now. No spare and no heat shield, kinda makes it open under their.

If the spare fits with the heat shield removed, go to a professional plumbing supply or maybe a welding supply. Get a large asbestos fabric shield that is used for torch soldering copper pipes and sometimes for welding in proximity to flammable surfaces. Wrap the shield around the face of the tire and tie it in place with a couple pieces of tie wire from the hardware store. Loop the wire through the holes in the wheel and twist with pliers or multi-tool to tighten it and keep the shield snug against the tread face near the exhaust.

Another alternative would be to have a sheet metal shop fabricate a shield that fits onto the tire/wheel rather than onto the truck. Cumbersome, but gets that space back.

Or, just do what I do and run a stock size spare. If you need to use it, mount it on the front and it will get you back to civilization.

[azracer]

Well what I am doing at the moment is using the stock location for my 35" spare, but I'm doing it with the tire deflated and a ratchet strap holding it partially collapsed against the trailer hitch assembly. I have a compressor in the truck so I can inflate it when needed. My axle is 1/2" further back with the Thuren long travel springs, I have also that heavy cast cover from Rock Crusher with those large ribs on it, so it is a very tight fit under there. So far it has done fine and it is a 50% used tire so I'm not too worried if it gets a flat spot where I'm compressing it, I doubt it will because it isn't compressed all that much anyway. The majority of the space I gained was the 1" or so the tire was able to slide back to the rear bumper.

I admit it is not the best solution but it is working okay for me.

[GunniPWguy]

My spare was a 315/70/17 when I was running 35's.. It fit fine in the stock location. It will be going back under there when I go back to 35's again. Just saying

[Cactus Red]

Gotta wonder if the '10 and up trucks don't have the same clearance we do on 3rd Gens for a spare.

I think with KP's '09 situation, it's shock interference vs a redesign.