Front-Mounted Spare

Post by **Trundler** » 06 Oct 2006, 13:01

I've finally come around to thinking that maybe a front bull-bar is a good way of mounting the spare wheel (mainly due to a mate having a the bar off his South African Caravelle for sale). BUT the undertray is in the way of the mountings under the front of the van - so that will have to be modded/replaced.

I'm a bit worried that the weight of the thing, with wheel in position, will be a lot for the two front chassis rails to hold. There's no upper bracing.

Has anyone any experience of this or any tips to pass on?

Also - is cooling still OK with a wheel in front of the grille?

Post by **syncroand101** » 06 Oct 2006, 13:18

Terryvanman of thisvery forum had a very nice 2.1 Syncro which he ran around with a spare on the front. Don't think he ever had over heating problems...

Someone will have a picture somewhere!

Post by **Pickles** » 06 Oct 2006, 13:58

My syncro Ambulance has the spare mounted under the front as per 2wd T25s. It was converted to an Ambulance in the UK from new. I don't know if it came from the factory like that or was altered in the UK.

Post by **syncroand101** » 06 Oct 2006, 14:01

Pickles wrote:has the spare mounted under the front

That is also standard on Some syncros. The only trouble being you can't fit much larger than a 205/70-15 - even that is a tight fit and you need to modify the carrier slightly....

Post by **terryvanman** » 06 Oct 2006, 15:23

no overheating problems

Post by **HarryMann** » 06 Oct 2006, 15:35

no overheating problems

unless you have a diesel, then I wouldn't recommend it. I've heard even an Audi 5-cyl 2.5 is Ok with front mounted spare (at 111 mph) but would definitely caution a TD diesel and a 1.9TD particularly.

The tyre should be a wee way in front of the panel, not against, so air gets sucked a round it (should)

Post by **Trundler** » 06 Oct 2006, 17:33

Hmmm, interesting. That's certainly an impressive set-up on your van tvm... Does it have upper mountings somewhere? The one I'm considering is simpler but is made of very heavy-gauge tubing and only has two flat mounting plates at the bottom - to be bolted through the front chassis rails. The bar and wheel together seems a lot of weight to hang off those (4) mounting bolts.

My wheels are EMPI 5s with 205/70-15 so may fit under the front with the 2WD tray arrangement. I'm getting to like the idea of the bull-bar now though....

Post by **HarryMann** » 06 Oct 2006, 18:58

TerryVanman doesn't have 'that' van anymore...

The bars were cantilevered entirely off the underfront rails, and fine, but of course, quite a heavily flanged/webbed design to prevent 'wobbling'

I've seen some some like this that have also have a simple support at the top (mid radiator panel height) going through a clearance hole in that panel to the cross member behind, IIRC

Post by **bigbluebus** » 06 Oct 2006, 19:23

BUT the undertray is in the way of the mountings under the front of the van

I had a VW bullbar on my 16 briefly, the lower mounts attached using the radiator mounting bolts and cleared the front bash plate ok.

I sold it in end because it seemed to effect the balance / handling of the van. They don't seem that heavy to lift but the steering was distinctly heavier and it was very noticeable on a particular down hill - into roundabout - at speed section of road I use

Just an angle on things of course, not a scientificly tested fact

Post by **terryvanman** » 06 Oct 2006, 19:32

I've seen some some like this that have also have a simple support at the top (mid radiator panel height) going through a clearance hole in that panel to the cross member behind, IIRC

yes mine had these you can see them in the second photo
it also had power steering so i didnt feel and heavy steering
if you know what i mean

Post by **HarryMann** » 06 Oct 2006, 19:51

Ah, thats handy Terry, didn't know that and hadn't noticed it either..,

If BB's right then a shim plate about 1/32" or so (18 swg to 17 swg) should sort that out I'd imagine.

Oh, placed under the front springs, of course, not in yer handbag or on yer 'ead

Post by **Ray** » 06 Oct 2006, 22:04

I have a syncro with the spare mounted on the front. Its a fabricated bracket attached to the crossmember below the upper rad grill. The wheel rests on the front metal bumper and is secured with two nuts to the backet. The bracket is offset so that the grill can still be removed when the spare is taken off. The wheel is 205 14c. Even though the wheel has a vinyl cover I have had no overheating problems caused by it and it was there when I bought the vehicle 2.5 years ago. I am though, considering a rear spare carrier if I can find one cheap enough.

Post by **Ye Olde Syncrospares** » 07 Oct 2006, 08:21

something to consider here,if you have a knock in the front with the wheel hanging off the bullbar you stand to destroy the whole front of your car including the windscreen,something to think about?.