My new yorkshireman wheel carrier

[Pickles]

silvebullet, my pivot is only in use when I swing the carrier out, normally the carrier is sat on top of the bumper.

[silverbullet]

Ah! That's a key difference with your design then.

[hotpod]

a simple way to catch the arms at the centre till you think of something better would be to drill through each of them into the top of the bumper then tap the bumper and just bolt them down. it would help a bit with the rattling and flexing issue and only take an extra minute to use the rear door. it looks like you will have to get used to not using the rear door so much anyway. as long as your oil and water flap still opens enough, i dont imagine it will be much of a problem.
i do think that with the weight of a wheel or a couple of jerry cans, your pivot point set up looks too weak. i think you will bend something if you arent careful. it might pay you to get some gate hinges ( like on the rack paddy posted)

(£2.99 screwfix)
and some bigger bolts.

[syncropaddy]

Cant bite my lip any more ....... constructive criticism .........

Any design is as strong as its weakest point. There are a lot of weak points on that design as it stands, material section isnt big enough, M8 bolts on what looks like 40mm box which will eventually hold a 35kg wheel, no triangulation anywhere.

You too can embark on a three year around the world trip with that on the back of your Syncro ...... just dont bank on it being there after Dover though!

Had a good look at the American Blog link - total fail on the front bumper