To the OP the only good way to mount one is on a swing out rear tire carrier rear bumper/recovery point that is strong and tied into the Class IV hitch mounting locations. This is a heavy item and need quite a bit of support.

 

If you mount it on the side like you want to, you are likely to get a ticket for it as it makes the vehicles wider, and may encroach on width laws.

 

Highly unlikely compared to vehicles made today. Have you ever parked next to any large pick ups or suburbans? Even minivans are huge.

 

But they are made that way...not an addition after the fact.

Kinda like driving down the road with a long 2x4 sticking out the window, you may not be as wide as a semi, but you can still be given a ticket.

just a word of warning.....................especially if done on both sides.


The hit to MPG would also likely be in whole numbers.....

 

Alright well thanks for all the input. There's a guy in my neighborhood running the side mounted bracket on his rig and that's where I got the idea. Might just end up asking him how he has it mounted and if its given him any issues.

 

I hate to be mean but that guy is probably a mall crawler,I haven't see anything off road with anything strapped or mounted to the sides that could get knocked off.The ones that do carry one has it on the rear bumper on a swing out arm.Honestly i wouldn't carry one unless im going to expedition wheeling which you could be gone for days to weeks.You got a 20 gallon gas tank at 15mpg you got 300 miles on that tank.Or even at 10mpg you got 200 miles before its empty.