before i buy or make a tire carrier rear bumper i was hoping for some input on a tire carrier rear bumper vs a roof rack. i like the idea of a roof rack but im not convinced that they would hold up or cause more damage than good.

 

If the rack is attached right, and built right it'll save some. Here's what mine looked like, then a video of the rollover I had with it on.




After;



That said, I now have a swing out carrier. I can tell the difference of the weight, but I miss the rear visibility.

 

Lifting a full size spare to the roof rack of a lifted jeep is a huge pain in the ***.

 

Agreed. That's why I put a roller bar on the rear of the rack I had. I also had made a ladder that hung on the side, so you could climb on top. But now, I love the convenience of the rear carrier.

 

I think a hitch tire carrier and roof rack would be the best combo, both for the price of just the bumper/carrier...



(Shamless plug; https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f73/hi...3/#post2279917)

 

Look at B. Lee from the vendor section. He makes high quality roof racks at a decent price. Very strong and will hold up to anything you need it to. I dont like loosing the visibility out of the rear window. Keeping a spare up on the roof isnt that bad.. Unless your blowing a tire and needing it weekly.

 

I would prefer the tire carrier over the roof rack.

Roof racks get caught on trees and stuff too easily. And Detours tire carrier costs the same as most decent roof racks.

 

Ive had a rack and hitch mount tire carrier and a rack is nice if you run wide trails and aren't worried about being top heavy. Ive had my set of 5 tires for five years and never used the spare so the rack was the easiest (Im 6'). Now Im running more off camber trails and the extra weight on the roof started making me nervous (plus I got tired of putting my rack in the trees) so I sold it and made a low pro roof slider thing. Then I got tired of a hitch mount tire carrier and built a steel shelf in the trunk. Now Im in the r&d stage of building a tire swing lol.

 

Nice recovery :-)

 

Right now I have my spare on top and I know it is killing the gas mileage I can just tell it is, but soon I am going to get a swing out tire carrier from http://www.detoursusa.com/tailbone.php and he is a better here too although I don't remember who...

 

Jcr has some nice stuff for good prices

 

i know exacly where that is, you made it out of the pit pretty whell. im going with a pile of buddys there in march in your interested

 

Already have plans to go the 9th and then hazleton area on the 30th. Maybe I'll see you there.

 

Attachment 171428
Hey what fender flares are these?

Attachment 171429


Hey what fender flares are these in the first pic? Thanks..

 

Years ago (2002ish?) I found a dealer option roof mount tire carrier that mounts to the rails of my factory roof rack. IIRC, was $72. The dealer negotiated me up, but only charged me list price and didn't even charge shipping.