Well I'm wanting to mount a spare to the rear of my XJ but I don't have the money to buy one or the skills to fab one. I know that early model Cherokees had them. What years did they come stock on them?

 

I'm wanting one like this one

Here's the same one on a XJ same model as mine

 

They weren't stock per se.

They were a factory option at extra cost. Or I guess you could buy the parts over the parts counter and have them put on.

Your best bet would be to find one in a salvage yard and get everything. Don't forget you have to relocate the license plate and its light too.

Or you could just throw your tire on top of the Jeep and tie it down. Cheaper.

 

Mounting anything over a 30" tire is iffy, so I've heard.

 

Stands to reason. I don't think the factory ever put anything larger than a P225/75R15 on XJs. Most came with the temporary spare, even the 4X4s.

 

If you have a trailer hitch and know anyone with a welder, you could make one for fairly cheap like mine.

 

 

There were two OEM XJ tire carriers that I've seen. The first version attached to the bumper and the body like the older Izuzu Rodeo. The second had a single mount point that attached to the bumper. I don't know what the change over year was between the two carriers, I estimate early 90's.

They are very hard to find, either one. I've owned XJ's continuously since 1994 so I've spent a lot of time in local junk yards looking for parts. In all that time I have come across just one. And I got it. I've had it for several years now but haven't mounted it. I would really like to get a donor lift gate to tear up rather than do it to the one on my XJ now.

All I can say is just keep looking and hope you get lucky. If you do find one it will be easier to remove with an impact driver and a larger star bit to remove the swing away arm before unbolting the bumper mount. Good luck.


The carrier change happened starting in the 1990 model year. Ended for the 97+ tears.

 

This is my carrier.

 

My 96 Country 4x4 came with the full size spare with the matching rim.

 

That carrier is the early version.

 

To me it looks like one from a Nissan pathfinder or another suv like that . I know I've seen it on something else .

 

Curtis sells a trailer hitch that swivels straight back with a removable pin. I just bought one on amazon for around $24. All you need to add is a piece of square tube to length for spare tire to bolt to. Should be able to do it for under $40.

 

I prefer the later mount. There's no drilling into the body

 

Did you ever use the spare mount you found out of the junk yard. I’m looking for one too mine has all the hardware just need the swing gate
all the brackets are still on the Jeep
I have a 1988 Cherokee pioneer with 50000 original miles. Going to keep it all factory