The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hi all. I had my wagon duel fuel converted today. A donut tank was put in.
I'd like to put the spare wheel on the rear hatch as I use the interior space, and don't really want a wheel on the roof. I did a forum search "Spare Wheel Carrier", and went in search of 'batesy's photos on the subject. I couldn't find anything, (which is not unusual for me).
If the subject has been covered here, could someone point me to it?
If not, could someone who's put their spare on the back give me the details of how to do it please?

cheers,

Have you seen mine?? There was a similar thing on ebay for only about $60 not long ago... i think it has gone now.

Dave

Here's the link to my build up showthread.php?t=5932&highlight=wheel+carrier
It's for a L series but easily modifiable for any other vechicle.Looked at making one for the outback ,best probably to make a whole rear bumper and carrier.

Subarino, Stamp Licker, thanks for posting the links. I'll check 'em out.

Subarino, nice idea and similar to one I've been toying with.
I need regular access to the hatch space, I'm taking a lot of gear in and out.
I'd need to be able to swivel the arm at horizontal, to one side or other.
But using the tow bar is good. Less weight than modifying the bumper I'd guess, and the tow is already there.

StampLicker, that's not to say I don't like your idea. If it wasn't for the extra work of the bumper modification,
I'd go with it. Good access to the hatch, which I need. How much does the bumper mod and carrier weigh?

Speaking of mods, anyone know the (vic?) road regs regarding how you carry the spare wheel?

cheers,
dave/suberman

Picked up this bike carrier at Super Cheap A*** sale today.
It folds down like your spare carrier, Subarino.
So I figure I'll try and convert it to carry my spare wheel
as well as my bike. It's rated to carry three bikes & up to 60kg, so
the spare shouldn't pose a problem.
I'm after ideas to attach the spare. Is there a minimum regulation height from the road the spare has to be?





cheers, Suberman/Dave

Regulations on that? I'd say the only thing is that your rear number plate is not obstructed from view.

And where is that Steve and Doug (from night at the Roxbury) clip from? Did they do a series or something?

Sorry for the off topic question

Cheers

Bennie

Hi El Freddo, yeah, thanks for reminding me about the number plate. I probably should ring vic roads and find out before I do any modification.

Someone sent me the clip. It's got the comedy central logo on it, and Jim Carrey in the back seat, so I reckon it's from Saturday Night Live series or the like.

Anyone suggest how to fit the wheel? A coupla welds with
the wheel on a crossbar or something like that?

cheers, Dave/Suberman

I assume you have had a good look at my pics and seen how mine is attached. Thats the exact rack mine is made from that you have now.

Dave

SuBaRiNo wrote:I assume you have had a good look at my pics and seen how mine is attached. Thats the exact rack mine is made from that you have now.

Dave

Ahh, I see, you've cut it down and had a plate with bolts welded on.
I'm going to be using the bike rack, so the wheel is going to have to sit flush against the uprights. Where's your rear number plate?

Number plate is now on the bumper to one side. Turned out better than i expected. Use a bit of ally angle screwed in from underneith to mount it.

So your wanting to keep the function of carrying bikes on it??

Dave

Subarino, can you post a pick of your number plate setup please?
Still use the bike rack?
Yeah, I'll be carrying me and my son's bikes. And I do some gold detecting
and want to use my bike to tow this


with my gear on into areas the car can't get. I have to modify it. I should be
able to carry it on the rack as well.

cheers, Dave/Suberman

Hmmm... You've certainly set yourself a challenge! I'm not sure how much you want to mod the bike carrier to fit the wheel and still carry bikes with it.

If you could bend/modify the upright bars to have the wheel close to the car (right above the towball but not against the tailgate) you could still carry bikes on the back of it - the only issue will be that the bike carrier horizontal bar is considered a traffic hazard when not carrying bikes, so you'd have to make this detachable or able to rotate back over the tyre...

Could be a good litte goer if you get it right and make it well.

Cheers

Bennie

Use a longer tongue or mod the base to sit the base plate out.Put the tyre to the inside and bikes go on in the normal spot.Sounds easy.

What i have is a bike carrier that straps to my spare wheel. So then i got the spare and can carry bikes when i need to.

I will see what pics i can find.

Dave

Maybe try getting a space saver spare and put it in between the rack and the tailgate (should save some weight too) and a flat bar should suffice for a cross beam, just drill a hole and file a square and put a coach (round head bolt) through and a nut on the other side then the wheel and use a mount plate off the original spare wheel holder and another nut Otherwise for a quick and easy fix try getting one of those cans of fix a flat its good stuff and just leave it in with your tool kit. Also there are special number plates for bike racks.

A space saver spare? Yikes! Thanks for the idea, Tex, but I wouldn't want to be stuck with that design, and find I needed a proper spare on a trip. I'll take a can of fix a flat as well.

El Freddo - the only issue will be that the bike carrier horizontal bar is considered a traffic hazard when not carrying bikes, so you'd have to make this detachable or able to rotate back over the tyre...

Well there goes the simplicity. Thanks for letting me know that, El Freddo. It explains why I found the bike carrier part covered in stripey alert tape when I parked it in Epworth hospital carpark this arvo.

I'm going to have to do a rethink. Maybe a detachable bike rack part. I don't see where it would be able to swivel.

SuBaRiNo What i have is a bike carrier that straps to my spare wheel. So then i got the spare and can carry bikes when i need to.

I will see what pics i can find.

Dave

Yeah, I'd like to see what you're talking about there.

stamp_licker Use a longer tongue or mod the base to sit the base plate out.Put the tyre to the inside and bikes go on in the normal spot.Sounds easy.

I measured the tyre width. It won't fit between the hatch and the carrier on a mount plate, not without hitting across the bottom part of the hatch.
I'm not sure what you mean about the tongue/base plate sitting out. Can you draw a diagram on my carrier pic and post it?


I thought a full spare wheel would fit as in the pic, along with one and a half bikes (;), as well as allow access to the tow ball . My housemate's friend works sheetmetal. I'm seeing him tomorrow. But I don't think I've got a working idea for him yet.

Thanks for all the thought and ideas guys.

This isn't the exact one i got but this is what im talking about.

http://www.discountramps.com/spare-tire-bike-rack.htm

Dave

So, you saying you're getting something similar made up, Subarino?

I'm not sure how it connects to the spare, but it obviously works.

No i bought something similar (cheaper) off ebay and have used it a few times.

It simply straps to your spare wheel that is on the back of the car and the arms fold down for you to put the bike and and then strap that on too.

Depends how often your needing a bike rack i guess.

Dave

i dont know about u...but it looks to me like 2 poles that sit on top or the sides of the spare and a strap that goes under and around to strap it on...

dave