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Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 28 Nov 2013, 22:28
by Winchweight
Anyone adapted one of these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Swing-Away-Sp ... 3942228%26" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From what I can see it looks like it would bolt straight on?

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 29 Nov 2013, 11:15
by silverbullet
On the face of it, good value. But...with the catch at the hinge it puts a lot of loads into the bottom mounting. Badly fitted Ortecs etc crack the corner of the body shell because of insufficient reinforcement. IIRC factory-fit wheel carriers have welded-in gusset plates in the rear corner panel, very hard to retro-fit.

Might be worth asking if they can make them with a 5 x 112 bolt pattern, the plate looks pretty universal: the one in the pic looks like its for a 6-stud wheel anyway :idea:

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 29 Nov 2013, 11:37
by orcecaveman
My thoughts too. Without a fixing at the wheel end of that carrier, it would put a mahooosive load on your rear quarter, and im sure it would all end in tears.

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 29 Nov 2013, 11:59
by jes*b
[quote="silverbullet"]On the face of it, good value. But...with the catch at the hinge it puts a lot of loads into the bottom mounting. Badly fitted Ortecs etc crack the corner of the body shell because of insufficient reinforcement. IIRC factory-fit wheel carriers have welded-in gusset plates in the rear corner panel, very hard to retro-fit.

yep two welded plates across the angle of the corner with a captive nut welded to each that takes the third bolt in each hinge directly on the corner - reinforcement and also less pressure on the other two bolts to prevent the hinge twisting

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 29 Nov 2013, 14:35
by Winchweight
Ahh, ok. Fair enough, it was just a thought as an alternative to the hugely expensive T3 specific ones. :run

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 29 Nov 2013, 17:01
by silverbullet
Syncro scene tax or a bit of fiddly work and enginuity? There is is always choice ;-)

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 29 Nov 2013, 17:43
by syncropaddy
If they fitted, everyone would have one - everyone except me!

Image

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 30 Nov 2013, 11:29
by Winchweight
And where did you get yours?

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 30 Nov 2013, 11:37
by lloydy
Paddys is a genuine VW one, as is mine :mrgreen:

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 30 Nov 2013, 16:43
by Winchweight
:ok nice. Pricy but nice....

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 30 Nov 2013, 17:09
by syncropaddy
Winchweight wrote:And where did you get yours?

'twas hanging on the back of the van!

I bought the second one on E Bay :mrgreen:

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 30 Nov 2013, 17:27
by lloydy
Have you seen that guy (German) who is doing exact copies in stainless steel? Dread to think of the price....

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 30 Nov 2013, 18:10
by Winchweight
No? Seen a few Ortec ones but they always look shot.

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 30 Nov 2013, 18:17
by clift_d
lloydy wrote:Have you seen that guy (German) who is doing exact copies in stainless steel? Dread to think of the price....

TK-Carparts in Germany are selling them for 699 EUR.

They're being made by Martin Blank, who makes loads of amazing looking Syncro stuff in stainless steel - £££ kerching.

The shop link above though suggests that the spare wheel carriers are in aluminium???

Re: Defender spare wheel carrier

Posted: 30 Nov 2013, 18:32
by lloydy
yup, thats the guy!