Carrying crap on your spare tire edition...

[KermitBronco]

How do you deal with the unfortunate concerns of someone (or more like two people) releasing the two straps attaching it to the spare tire and walking off with the entire assembly? That has been my hold-up with investing in this platform. I know locking ratchet straps exist as well as various cable locks to wrap similarly around the spare.

Hi Stromad - NO WORIES! Zero! Ha, ha, ha - as long as you do it correctly!

Just put the ratchets on the side facing the door (I've had to correct quite a few people on this!). On that side it is impossible to loosen the ratchet without opening the rear door.

People get lazy and thread the straps the other way so that it is easier/faster/simpler to get it on and off but never do that. It's still fast/easy to tighten the Mac straps on the door side.

Also, since this is now a matter of public record - I WOULD NOT recommend the new easy release straps from Rhino or Night Ize because you will lose this 100% safe security measure of Mac Straps (and similar).

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[jtgensler]

If someone wants to steal your rack, do you really think facing the straps the other way will stop them?
10 seconds to cut a pair of straps with a pocket knife.

 

[KermitBronco]

If someone wants to steal your rack, do you really think facing the straps the other way will stop them?
10 seconds to cut a pair of straps with a pocket knife.

They can also break windows, etc. fully agreed. so not sure what you're saying. I was asked about making it so you can't just flip the the ratchets open and you can 100% prevent that.

If I have something valuable in the case, I carry the ROAM case into my hotel. But, otherwise, the ROAM is locked to MASS rack and the doors have 2 locks on them (which yes, the TSA locks can also be cut).

 

[Scedwin]

On the topic, has anyone mounted a roof bike tray like 1UP's to the top of one of these over spare tire carrier basket platforms? I was envisioning using brackets attached to the tailgate (like x-rack's) attaching the over spare tire rack to that and then a bike tray on top of that which would make it a whole lot easier throwing a bike on vs the roof. Anyone seen this done?

 

[Bronco21Maybe]

Somehow, this just seems like not the greatest idea.

 

[cynicalrider]

Just got back from a 5 day trip to KY. This setup worked amazingly for me on how I envisioned it would. Ideally the next step is to get the expedition one rear bumper to get the weight off the spare since wood can get very heavy. But usually we just get enough wood for that nights camp, so it's not a ton. Best part is I pull the stuff off after a trip and it's just a rack. I keep premix in that rotopax and regular fuel in the one next to the water on the drivers side.

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