i was in Lowes parking lot yesterday when I saw a newer Suburban on 37's sticking up and drove around to take a gander at it. WOW it had a full size spare on a swingaway hitch in the rear. I looked and they had left the plactic bumper cover like we have, but cut an access hole to the frame on the passenger side and some L shaped steel protruding through to a swingaway carrier. Seems so simple but I had not thought of it. Any issue with us doing something similar?
I would think the frame is strong enough, or cut through both sides and at at each end and then simply find a swinging tire carrier, even if you attach to both sides the crossbar would be below the hatch opening.
Or I thought since you can find take off tire carriers fairly cheap, thinking s-blazers, you could run a bar out from frame, 90 up with a piece of square stock to attach the carrier to and just have stop tabs so it wont swing into the TB.
The Suburban looked better than what I have seen for a tire carrier for us and it fit closer than most I have seen for us. Still kept most of factory look for the bumper, just a lil section cut for the att to the frame. I did not get picks , but I did notice the decal on the truck and emailled the place since it is only 15 miles away. Maybe I can get a better look soon.
So what do you think of mounting one off the frame?