CavFab Installation Experience

[[DELETED USER 82058]]

I think first and foremost, do you want to go thru the trouble of painting your own or want it to come powder coated already? I think answer that and go from there.

I would take it to powdercoat.

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[[DELETED USER 82058]]

The top choices are Cavfab, Motobilt, Rusty's, and Teraflex.

I would only ever opt for a seperate hinged carrier and rear bumper. My thoughts and reasoning:

The rear bumper is hard mounted to the frame, whereas the body is soft mounted to the frame, via rubber isolators, to allow independent movement. When adding something that bridges 2 independently moving points, like a rear bumper mounted tire carrier that also attaches to the body, an extra level of stress is introduced. Not only does the single cantilevered pivot arm have to support the weight of the carrier and spare, it's also going to try to limit the body from moving on its rubber mounts. Inevitably, something has to give, and it will. It's just a matter of what gives first. That's why the only bumper mounted carriers that are quiet, are the ones that haven't been on the Jeep for too long. Again, just my thoughts.

Rusty’s and Motobilt are within the state. I work 10 minutes from Rusty’s.
These reinforcements just seem to have very invasive installs as opposed to a bumper with swing away. OR…I could just say screw it and delete the spare. Why in the hell Jeep didn’t consider a 35” tire and wheel combo would weigh over 85 lbs is beyond me.

 

[Dyolfknip74]

I'm with @Headbarcode , my installation was flawless. Like zero issues. Loomed all my wires and plastidipped camera. It is actually one of my favourite mods.

 

[kdiff]

The feedback on the install from everyone is super helpful. I was planning on buying a CavFab tire carrier this week or next but I’m going to see where this thread goes. I don’t mind some work on the install but having to buy washers to shim things seems… a bit lacking in design.

Edit: How does Evo compare? I have a friend with a JK that swears by them.

 

[j_stew762]

Ironic, but I just started installing my Cavfab tire carrier today after getting it back from being painted.

I thought I was losing my mind when I couldn’t find basic install instructions (glad to check here and confirm it doesn't come with any). Pretty straight forward though if you pay attention to what bolts come out of the factory carrier, and what factory bolts get re-used.

The hinges do NOT come with shims, or at least mine didnt. A little frustrating at first.

I dont have my 35” spare and aftermarket wheel on yet, and I’m sitting about 1/8 inch high on the latch side. This should settle once I get my 100lb wheel/tire set up put on.

 

[72Blazer]

I would take it to powdercoat.

Go teraflex then.

 

[72Blazer]

The feedback on the install from everyone is super helpful. I was planning on buying a CavFab tire carrier this week or next but I’m going to see where this thread goes. I don’t mind some work on the install but having to buy washers to shim things seems… a bit lacking in design.

Edit: How does Evo compare? I have a friend with a JK that swears by them.

Mine came with spacer and super easy to install after I got it figured out. EVO is overpriced IMO.

 

[72Blazer]

Ironic, but I just started installing my Cavfab tire carrier today after getting it back from being painted.

I thought I was losing my mind when I couldn’t find basic install instructions (glad to check here and confirm it doesn't come with any). Pretty straight forward though if you pay attention to what bolts come out of the factory carrier, and what factory bolts get re-used.

The hinges do NOT come with shims, or at least mine didnt. A little frustrating at first.

I dont have my 35” spare and aftermarket wheel on yet, and I’m sitting about 1/8 inch high on the latch side. This should settle once I get my 100lb wheel/tire set up put on.

That’s sexy color matched

 

[ChuckQue]

design is decent. Is it the best? No. But why am I going to pay $1400 for a Teraflex carrier? How many times am I going to remove the spare to justify the cost difference? In all honesty, I just removed my Teraflex tire carrier to replace with the full CavFab tire carrier and the Teraflex wasn’t the fastest and still required tools to remove. Heavy? Which carrier isn’t? I guess for most females or girly men, it would be considered heavy. I did the install on my previous JL on my own.

Huh? What tools are required to remove the spare tire from the Teraflex, aside from a lug wrench?

So you already had the Alpha mount from Teraflex, but removed it to replace it with the full carrier from CavFab? I assume you are selling or sold the Alpha, but I don’t understand why you didn’t just keep it and finish off the setup with the carrier. I first bought the mount, then eventually bought the carrier. Both went on with zero drama and almost no adjustment needed.

 

[CavFab_mfg]

I'm actually glad this thread came up.
we were a very small company (3 people) that grew extremely quickly, and currently growing significantly. initially we never really had the resources to develop extensive installation instruction manuals.
along with the application parameters that arise when many more wheel and tire combos and other accessory compatibility comes into play.

We recently bought a 2023 (i goofed and put 22) ecodiesel so we can re-visit the install procedure and thoroughly document the process with video and produce an installation document for all our products to be visible on our website.

I totally get the frustration some of you have experienced, and i really apologize about that.
we hope the process documentation that we are investing into our products for you guys with this build will help you tremendously.
we wont necessarily be clogging up the thread with the steps, but we will have formal documents posted on our website.

check it out below and we really apologize for not being able to produce this sooner.

(10) CavFab 22 Diesel JLU Shop Build | Jeep Wrangler Forums (JL / JLU) - Rubicon, Sahara, Sport, 4xe, 392 - JLwranglerforums.com

 

[Jackalope]

Ironic, but I just started installing my Cavfab tire carrier today after getting it back from being painted.

I thought I was losing my mind when I couldn’t find basic install instructions (glad to check here and confirm it doesn't come with any). Pretty straight forward though if you pay attention to what bolts come out of the factory carrier, and what factory bolts get re-used.

The hinges do NOT come with shims, or at least mine didnt. A little frustrating at first.

I dont have my 35” spare and aftermarket wheel on yet, and I’m sitting about 1/8 inch high on the latch side. This should settle once I get my 100lb wheel/tire set up put on.

Couple of thoughts:
Nice paint job on the CavFab, looks like a good match.

I would think your 35" spare and aftermarket rims would fit on to your lug plate just fine. I think most folks are investing in new rims. I decided to keep my stock OEM rims and they did fit without modification.

You said you are "sitting about 1/8 inch high on the latch side" but it looks pretty good to me. I thought the same thing about my setup, but I found that once those hinge bolts are snugged tight, that tailgate isn't dropping at all.

 

[72Blazer]

Huh? What tools are required to remove the spare tire from the Teraflex, aside from a lug wrench?

So you already had the Alpha mount from Teraflex, but removed it to replace it with the full carrier from CavFab? I assume you are selling or sold the Alpha, but I don’t understand why you didn’t just keep it and finish off the setup with the carrier. I first bought the mount, then eventually bought the carrier. Both went on with zero drama and almost no adjustment needed.

What tools are required to remove the spare on CavFab? Allen wrench and socket, same as the Teraflex.

Inquiring mind wants to know. I purchased the current JL used in December. Instead of shelling out another $800 to finish off the Teraflex setup, I went ahead and started the install of my previous CavFab carrier I removed from my previous JL I sold in 2021.

 

[ChuckQue]

What tools are required to remove the spare on CavFab? Allen wrench and socket, same as the Teraflex.

Inquiring mind wants to know. I purchased the current JL used in December. Instead of shelling out another $800 to finish off the Teraflex setup, I went ahead and started the install of my previous CavFab carrier I removed from my previous JL I sold in 2021.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I only need a lug wrench to pull the spare on my Teraflex. The third brake light has a quick disconnect on it, no tool needed….

I mean, if you already had the CavFab then sure it makes sense in that scenario. Otherwise I would’ve just popped the extra $200 to finish off the Teraflex.

Again, nothing against CavFab it just seems there are issues with fitment, plus I think the Teraflex looks better. That’s just preference though.

 

[72Blazer]

Maybe I’m missing something, but I only need a lug wrench to pull the spare on my Teraflex. The third brake light has a quick disconnect on it, no tool needed….

I mean, if you already had the CavFab then sure it makes sense in that scenario. Otherwise I would’ve just popped the extra $200 to finish off the Teraflex.

Again, nothing against CavFab it just seems there are issues with fitment, plus I think the Teraflex looks better. That’s just preference though.

I had to use an Allen to remove the third brake on mine as it was over tightened.

$200? Maybe I’m missing something?


https://teraflex.com/jl-alpha-hd-hinged-spare-tire-carrier-kit.html

 

[ChuckQue]

I had to use an Allen to remove the third brake on mine as it was over tightened.

$200? Maybe I’m missing something?


https://teraflex.com/jl-alpha-hd-hinged-spare-tire-carrier-kit.html

I was figuring in the cost of powder coat for the CavFab.

I mean, if it’s over tightened then yes, you’d need the Allen wrench. Far from a deal breaker.

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