Hitch mounted tire carrier- rear departure angle

[HARDTRAILZ]

I am building a fold down hitch mounted tire carrier and I have a fixed one, but I keep having the same thought. This will kill my departure angle. I have seen people with a shackle mount barely sticking out of their hitch hit it on some the the steeper wall and rocks we play on. I took out my clevis ball mount... like this one...
http://weathersautoparts.com/i-4312552- ... mount.html

before doing the steeper stuff because I thought it would hit and hang me up. Turned out i had already hit it.

I know the tire mount will stick out at least as far if not farther to get it out past the rear brushguard.

My question is...Has anyone had issues with theirs hitting or hanging them up? Has anyone calculated the rear departure angle with thiers vs without? Any other idea for a rear mount setup that wont kill the departure angles?

I do not like the weight of a big 33 inch tire on the roof or enjoy losing the cargo room, so the rear seems to be the best place, but i dont want to be bashing the mount going up and down obstacles.

I know of one obstacle for sure that I could not do with the rear mount, considering my exhaust hit. Hopefully we can get some discussion going and maybe some idea flowing.

[janesy86]

Thinkin' out of the box a lil' bit...

As this wouldn't be hitch mounted but, I remember seeing some pics before of AlekG having shackle mounts coming thru his rear bumper that I believe were welded to his frame.

What if you did something like that but for two points for a swinging tire carrier to connect to. One side being the latching side and the other with the hinge. And just go with a simpel A frame up to where the tire bolts up... That way it would be at the height of the middle of the bumper.

Just a suggestion as I was just thinkin' it myself. Since I have hit my exhuast and bumper numerous times.

[Trail X]

Remember it's only in the middle... I haven't had problems hitting mine, but I have bashed the underside of my rear brush guard. Infact... I bashed my trailer connector so good that I had to reposition it up inside the bumper.

I feel like clearance is more important than departure angle... at least it has been for me.

CBI does cut the bottom of their hitch mount at an angle so it's less likely to hang up (I guess that's the idea behind it).

[HARDTRAILZ]

I thought about cutting the bumper cover and coming out for a triangle like y ou said. In fact i really like that idea. As it would be easy to add gas and hilift holders then.

I dont keep my trailer hitch plug mounted. i have it ziptied up as high as I can get it to keep it safe. I do worry about the rear brushguard causing issues, but I figure it is like a skid plate. Plus when we remounted it, it is a shade higher and much tighter to the bumper. plus we removed one of the bends from the mounts and it seems stronger.

I asked Alek about his rear shackles and he did not seem to know or remember exactky how they were done, because he needed them done pretty quick for a trip or something. But being able to tie into the frame at the rear would be nice.

[bgwolfpack]

Unless your going to move the receiver into or above the bumper, the CBI James has is the stubbiest I found anywhere.

On the other hand I'll quote janesy86 "Or just have a custom rear bumper!!"

[HARDTRAILZ]

James...Can you measure how far out your carrier is and what the height form the grond to the bottom of the rear most point of it is? Please.

I would definitely prefer non hitch mounted, but options are limited and need something for tecore.

Unless your going to move the receiver into or above the bumper, the CBI James has is the stubbiest I found anywhere.

On the other hand I'll quote janesy86 "Or just have a custom rear bumper!!"

I already have my reciever moved up 3 inches with the body lift, I should be just as stubby with my build as the CBI since I plan to leave minimal clearance between the brushguard and it is already in closer than normal.

Custom bumper will be one day. But I am still working out the front one.

[Zero]

my bastardized carrier that went from Roadie to AlekG, to me also has an angle cut out of the bottom. I did some pretty hairy trails with Roadie and never have a problem hanging up.....keep in mind I have an ext so my departure angle is different because my wheelbase is longer.....so I think if I am fine, you should be fine.

the only way you gona carry a tire back there and not lose any departure angle is to get the swing out tire carrier like Roadie has....but to install that you will have to remove your bumper cover.

[Trail X]

James...Can you measure how far out your carrier is and what the height form the grond to the bottom of the rear most point of it is? Please.

I don't have it on the truck right now, so I can't measure it.... but it's something like 6 inches at the bottom... maybe 8 at the top?

[The Roadie]

As was mentioned, the largest rocks should be closer to the frame lines or the wheel track, not straight on the centerline where they would have just threatened the driveshaft and diff. If you're traversing at an angle, or straight over a shelf dropoff, downslope, it won't hang you up to hit the hitch anyway. It just bangs a bit, and then slides off. Not enough friction in a few square inches of metal to halt your progress. Skid plate the bottom at an angle if you want. Heck, you have seen how my winch reduced the approach angle at Moab, and I just had to take a run at it.

[MrSmithsTB]

You obviously aren't afraid of cutting things, so why not adapt a swingout tire carrier? Couple of cuts in the bumper cover and you'd be able to keep it on. It would also allow you to mount the tire as close to the body as possible, and lower as well to keep the rear view as unobstructed as possible.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I am leaning that way. I found a Suburban with one, but it was a 1500 carrier and it was cut through bumper cover. Pretty sweet but I have not seen the guy again to see how it was done. But it was a new or couple year old burban on 37's. Cant be too hard to spot again.

FWIW--Also found a local guy that SAS'ed a s blazer and am hoping to talk to him soon.