Could anyone tell me if there is a weight limit of what can be hung on the rear door?
The reason I ask is I saw a thread about putting a spare wheel direct on the rear door which got a savage response yet you regularly see pictures of vans with cycle type carriers with two or more jerry cans on them, having weighed a full can it is far more than a spare wheel.
You are right a spare wheel weighs no more than two bikes on a rack but the bike racks are fixed by the hinges and by the lock in the strongest points
If you fit a wheel then you are going to need to spread the load just bolting it through thin sheet is likely to crack it in time
You also may distort the door when opening if its off centre and not centrally fitted like a bike rack
You really have to take bikes off to open the dor easily so consider that also
I see what you say about spreading the load over the hinges,but looking at Jed's van most of the weight is on one side ? I would of thought some bracing on the inside of the door would help, I've seen story's of the VW type swing out carriers causing fatigue and cracking the rear corner, I have a Nissan terrano with the heel on the rear door and the door skin flexes a lot when you shut it and that's never failed.
I've had atleast 50kg on a cut down bike rack whilst off-roading with no issues. Just don't expect to be a able to lift the tail gate safety whilst it is loaded.
Most Syncro rear wheel carriers do not rely on being supported by the tailgate. Most of the weight is supported by the rear quarter.
Think I will make one that fits to the tow bar, the swing out ones are mega money.
I need to move the spare to fit lpg, but I like the look of the rear mount anyway ,luckily I've found a workshop near me that can make pretty much anything out of metal and don't charge the earth also going to do a bit of welding on it for me.