Hey @3TV , I'm looking to go with the Cavfab tire carrier to go with 38 Nitto Trail Grapplers.
I went a different route with my CavFab tire carrier install. I don't have to disconnect anything to remove my spare.
really cool setup, thanks for sharing.I went a different route with my CavFab tire carrier install. I don't have to disconnect anything to remove my spare.
3rd brake light is a ring light behind the spare - does not ever need to be disconnected to remove spare.
Rear camera is mounted in a housing I found on RockHard 4x4's site. They sold me just the mount and housing. Does not ever need to be disconnected to remove the spare.
License plate is mounted on the CavFab rear bumper in the LOD license plate bracket. Bracket has dedicated holes for bolt LED lights.
Good write with excellent photos. I love a bargain, so I used the links you provided and ordered the spare tire reinforcement, the bolts, and the washers. It came to my house today and I started on the project immediately. Installation was as you described. there were a couple of things you didn't mention. First, I cried when the paint came of the hinge bolts when I inserted the T-55 tool. I bet you did too. Second, those durn rubber bumper that came with the kit will not seat for me using normal methods. I've tried so different lubes and different size tools to push with. so far, no joy. I've got the bumpers inside now to warm up before I try again. if you have any hot tips for installing the rubber bumpers, please share.I am in the process of prepping for 35” tires. I have read multiple discussions on whether or not a tailgate reinforcement is necessary for 35s and ultimately decided that it was, due to the following reasons:
- I was already using Metal Cloaks spare tire relocation bracket, which moves the tire out from the tailgate, potentially adding increased stress, particularly because I am going from 83 pounds on the bracket to approx. 105.
- As mentioned above, the tire wheel combo is heavier then my stock 33”s on the rubicon rims.
- I overthink things.
While I am usually a stickler for not cheating out on products, the more I looked into the Mopar support bracket, the more I had a hard time justifying the cost. I found the following bracket on Amazon and decided to give it a try.
https://a.co/d/1k2fjEu
The kit arrived and I was impressed with the overall packaging. There were some burs and remnants from the casting that I had to remove, but considering it was $600 less than the Mopar kit, I was willing to accept these minor issues.
I had read reviews that some of the hardware was soft, so I replaced the mounting bracket screws with the following:
https://a.co/d/57aBu82
And
https://a.co/d/hJNscm6
I used synergy bump stops, but same problem. Took a massive amount of force to get them in with soap and water. Still have bruises on my leg. I think you can dissemble the inside of the tailgate and use pliers to pull them through. In hind sight I would have tried that approach.Good write with excellent photos. I love a bargain, so I used the links you provided and ordered the spare tire reinforcement, the bolts, and the washers. It came to my house today and I started on the project immediately. Installation was as you described. there were a couple of things you didn't mention. First, I cried when the paint came of the hinge bolts when I inserted the T-55 tool. I bet you did too. Second, those durn rubber bumper that came with the kit will not seat for me using normal methods. I've tried so different lubes and different size tools to push with. so far, no joy. I've got the bumpers inside now to warm up before I try again. if you have any hot tips for installing the rubber bumpers, please share.
Anyway, the tailgate inner panel comes off easily. Use a trim tool or a screwdriver to get the first couple of clips out. I started on the passenger side in the hole where the doorstop goes through the trim. When the panel was off, I pushed in the rubber bumpers and then put the tire back on the spare tire carrier, using the tire to hold the bumpers in place. It still takes some soap and water and a strong pull, plus a few wiggles, to seat the spare tire bumpers. I used 9" Lineman pliers and grunted and groaned a little. The bumpers make a satisfying pop when they finally are seated. Project complete!! I like it.
I’m glad it worked. I reused my synergy stops which I had to buy when I installed the relocation bracket. Unfortunately, I trimmed them down for my old tire and rim combo. I had to get creative and make extensions for them so the new wheel touched. I planned on replacing them, but was putting it off because they are such a pain to install.I should have thought of pulling them in from the inside. I'm not sure why here in my late retirement years I get hung up on following instructions. It wasn't that way before.
I like it. Can you give more details on 3rd brake light and rear camera? I could not find on hardrock 4x4I went a different route with my CavFab tire carrier install. I don't have to disconnect anything to remove my spare.
3rd brake light is a ring light behind the spare - does not ever need to be disconnected to remove spare.
Rear camera is mounted in a housing I found on RockHard 4x4's site. They sold me just the mount and housing. Does not ever need to be disconnected to remove the spare.
License plate is mounted on the CavFab rear bumper in the LOD license plate bracket. Bracket has dedicated holes for bolt LED lights.
I like it. Can you give more details on 3rd brake light and backup cam? I was not able to find on Rockhard 4x4 site. What was involved in using with Cavfab carrier? Is that their crawler bumper?I went a different route with my CavFab tire carrier install. I don't have to disconnect anything to remove my spare.
3rd brake light is a ring light behind the spare - does not ever need to be disconnected to remove spare.
Rear camera is mounted in a housing I found on RockHard 4x4's site. They sold me just the mount and housing. Does not ever need to be disconnected to remove the spare.
License plate is mounted on the CavFab rear bumper in the LOD license plate bracket. Bracket has dedicated holes for bolt LED lights.
The camera mount is part of Rock Hard's Patriot Series Rear Bumper with Tire Carrier for Jeep Wrangler JL 2018 - Current. The mount just slides onto the spare tire mount lugs before the spare is installed. You need to know which rear camera you have before you talk to them about ordering the part. I just called them up and told them what parts I needed. Had them in less than a week. This is a crop of the invoice they sent me showing how they listed the parts.
Looks good! Not sure I would trust the highlift not to get hung up on the trail, but it might just be your camera angle that makes it look like a snag trap. As a side, I am usually against buying off brand products, but in this case I couldn’t understand how Mopar justified the price of the bracket.I went with the Mopar bracket and my spare is a 315-70-17 Mickey Baja Boss on a Method 106 Beadlock wheel. I also mounted a part of my Hi-Lift Jack to the spare tire and have ran many trails with no problems.
I purchased my real Mopar bracket from the Jeep dealer and not from that big warehouse full of cheap POS Pandaland stuff.
It’s aluminum, so far no issues with paint. The bolts I chose to replace the kit bolts are showing some rust and I am currently looking for a gold galvanized replacement. Otherwise, I am pretty happy with it.
