Do I really need a spare tire?

[Wanted33]

Looks like the rack I used to hang on the back of my 1970 VW Beetle. It will not work for my eMTB's ... they weigh over 50 lbs. The link is appreciated all the same.

This is the rack I want to use since it swings away to permit opining the rear door.

https://rockymounts.com/backstage/

You're right, plus an extra 50lbs on the tailgate hinges would be no bueno. Good luck on your search.

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[Garemlin]

No you don't need a spare. Until you need a spare.

 

[HeliPilot]

I used my spare yesterday. Picked up a nail on the interstate. Will have it repaired this week. But, yes, you may want to keep your spare. Although, you could just pedal away if you strap your bike to the rear.

 

[JPye]

Put the spare in a basket on the roof, looks like you have the hard top.

Ya gatta have a roof rack to do that.

 

[JPye]

mountain biker and triathlete here. definitely for you and me (no reason to ask people who don't live that lifestyle), it's worth taking the spare off. My F150 took a swing-away rack easy or I could just hang the bike over the tailgate on a specially made mat. As much as we take the bike on and off the rack, it takes priority. A phone now goes farther than many things. Of course, we would put the spare on to go off-roading or vacationing. The guys yelling no prolly couldn't jog a mile.

My thoughts exactly. Just looking for ideas here, and so far doing without the spare when in familiar environs seems a reasonable risk. Risk analysis asks two questions, 1)What us the worst that can happen? 2)What can you do about it? Carry a cell phone and call AMA are my answer to question number 2.

 

[Roger123]

I ended up buying a 1UP USA rack (1up-usa.com). They make them with reversed side plates as well (you have to call to get info on them though, they're not on the website).

That lowers the rack a bit so the rear door clears the rack. Important for me as I have a 2 door coming. I also called and spoke to them a few times, they make the racks right there in house and are a wealth of info on the technical side. They provided me with detailed plans to I could take some measurements to make my decisions.

I don'y have my Bronco yet but the real issue for me with the racks is being able to open the swing gate (with bikes removed), tire clearance isn't an issue with an extension. 1UP sells an extender to be used with their racks so I figure if the rack manufacturer sells them they must be ok.

This you tube video cleared up a lot of things for me;

It's 2 parts and I had to watch both a couple times to really understand the issues and what I wanted out of the rack.

Reach out if you'd like more info, I have the drawing of the reversed side plates as well if you need measurements.

I put two Aventon Aventure e-bikes on it and it's built like a brick sh*t house, no issues.

 

[JPye]

I ended up buying a 1UP USA rack (1up-usa.com). They make them with reversed side plates as well (you have to call to get info on them though, they're not on the website).

That lowers the rack a bit so the rear door clears the rack. Important for me as I have a 2 door coming. I also called and spoke to them a few times, they make the racks right there in house and are a wealth of info on the technical side. They provided me with detailed plans to I could take some measurements to make my decisions.

I don'y have my Bronco yet but the real issue for me with the racks is being able to open the swing gate (with bikes removed), tire clearance isn't an issue with an extension. 1UP sells an extender to be used with their racks so I figure if the rack manufacturer sells them they must be ok.

This you tube video cleared up a lot of things for me;

It's 2 parts and I had to watch both a couple times to really understand the issues and what I wanted out of the rack.

Reach out if you'd like more info, I have the drawing of the reversed side plates as well if you need measurements.

I put two Aventon Aventure e-bikes on it and it's built like a brick sh*t house, no issues.

With the Rocky Mount BACKSTAGE rack, and the 6" extender, the spare wheel just clears the rack when it is positioned to the side. It will work with the spare still attached. I just noticed some links for a Spare Tire Delete. Has been for the Jeep Wrangler, and there are Spare Tire Delete Kits available by many aftermarket suppliers. Some have license plate holders. I have seen some that provide a mount for recovery tracks. Now that makes me think that there are bigger risk takers out there because I don't think I would want to go anywhere I need a recovery track without a spare tire!

Thanks Roger, I will check out 1UP to see if they have a solution that works for me. Just and FYI, search Spare Delete in this forum and you should find discussions about removing the spare tire if interested. Just pulling off the spare tire will look really weird based on the images I have seen.

This is the best solution for the Bronco IMHO, check the link;

 

[Roger123]

With the Rocky Mount Outback rack, and the 6" extender, the spare wheel just clears the rack when it is positioned to the side. It will work with the spare still attached. I just found realized that the Spare Tire Delete is a thing. Has been for the Jeep Wrangler, and there are Spare Tire Delete Kits available by many aftermarket suppliers. Some have license plate holders. I have seen some that provide a mount for recovery tracks. Now that makes me think that there are bigger risk takers out there because I don't think I would want to go anywhere I need a recovery track without a spare tire!

Thanks Roger, I will check out 1UP to see if they have a solution that works for me. Just and FYI, search Spare Delete in this forum and you should find discussions about removing the spare tire if interested. Just pulling off the spare tire will look really weird based on the images I have seen.

Removing the spare was never an option for me, just too much hassle. It's already a chore to get the rack on and the bikes loaded, LOL. Add in removing and re-installing the tire and I'm tapping out.

And we are planning some trips with the bikes so it's just too risky in my opinion. I carry a plug kit and compressor but swapping a tire is just super easy and it allows you to plug the tire in a more convenient spot. I don't want to be laying on the drivers side on side of the freeway plugging a tire in the dark, cold, rain, or snow. Just swap it out and go!

 

[doccoch]

JPye, really, it's whatever is your personal biggest pain vs your biggest reward. Which would you be doing more? Going off roading / backroading/ vacationing type thing? Or biking ? Putting the tire on and off is a royal pain. But for me, even putting a hitch bike rack on and off is a pain. I'd really love a LOW profile OVER the SPARE simple mount for 1 bike that I could LEAVE on all the time... one that didn't look cheap and rickety or cheesy. I've been working on this. LMK if you find something like that. For now, I'm going Spare-less most of the time.

I'd think we could rig up something that looked good off of this?

 

[JPye]

JPye, really, it's whatever is your personal biggest pain vs your biggest reward. Which would you be doing more? Going off roading / backroading/ vacationing type thing? Or biking ? Putting the tire on and off is a royal pain. But for me, even putting a hitch bike rack on and off is a pain. I'd really love a LOW profile OVER the SPARE simple mount for 1 bike that I could LEAVE on all the time... one that didn't look cheap and rickety or cheesy. I've been working on this. LMK if you find something like that. For now, I'm going Spare-less most of the time.

I'd think we could rig up something that looked good off of this?

If the hinges can take the added weight, I think that is a best of class approach! Problem with the hitch is that it is in the way when you want to open the rear door. That added several steps when using my current best option, the Rocky Mount Backstage rack. If you watch the video you will see there are about 4 steps nessasary to move it to a position where you can open the rear door.

SO, I am inclined to agree with you Doug. Something like the above would be great. My problem is that having 100 lbs of bikes on this would be a huge moment arm on the rear mounts, and could potential ripe it off the rear door where it mounts above the handle, and potentially even the hinges after repeated highway motion like the TCH-1 across Saskatchewan. Believe me, my posterior has made me promise to never ride my motorcycle cross-country on that stretch of highway again. The gaps in the concrete can result in a resonance frequency that would most certainly lead to stress failures. Now, it would be interesting to consider something that would transfer some of the load down to the trailer hitch receiver in transit, that would pop off the receiver when the rear gate was activate. Just a thought. I'm thinking a triangular frame that meets at the receiver with a channel that slides into the receiver, locking it in place during transit, and slides out when opening the hatch. Any thoughts?

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