Tailgate Reinforcement?

[wubicon]

Have a 4xe rubi with 17 in aftermarket wheels (29.88 Ib) and 315/70/17 KOs (62.4 Ib). Is this weight fine without any tailgate reinforcement?
I see answers on here that if you’re primarily street driving, it should be fine. Otherwise, it’s imperative to get the reinforcement if off-roading pretty frequently.

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[Headbarcode]

Have a 4xe rubi with 17 in aftermarket wheels (29.88 Ib) and 315/70/17 KOs (62.4 Ib). Is this weight fine without any tailgate reinforcement?
I see answers on here that if you’re primarily street driving, it should be fine. Otherwise, it’s imperative to get the reinforcement if off-roading pretty frequently.

If 315's (slightly smaller equivalent to 35's) are the largest you plan on going, I wouldn't, and didn't, see any real need for a full hinged reinforcement. I would suggest an adjustable carrier to replace the factory plastic one. It provides the up/down and in/out adjustments to keep the new wheel and tire dimensions as close to the tailgate as possible, while also fully clearing the rear bumper. This will help minimize any added stresses. The Teraflex Alpha HD carrier is the only one that I ever recommend, as I have hands on experience with how it handled both 315/70-17 bfgoodrich ko2's and 38x13.5's.

You didn't mention the backspace of the new wheels, but I'll safely assume that it is less than the factory wheels. If sticking with the factory carrier, the new spare will sit further from the gate, causing the tire to not fully press into the rubber tailgate bumpers that are meant to minimize unwanted movement that can possibly lead to tailgate damage down the road. Also, if the spare is further from the gate than needed, the affects of its given weight will be amplified due to the cantilever affect.

If there's a good chance of your Jeep eventually having 37's or larger, buy once cry once, and get a hinged reinforcement that includes an adjustable carrier. Better to lay a proper foundation now, than having to spend and swap twice down the line.

This is already getting long, so I'll stop here. Feel free to ask for any further details or for some pics I have, if you like.

 

[wubicon]

If 315's (slightly smaller equivalent to 35's) are the largest you plan on going, I wouldn't, and didn't, see any real need for a full hinged reinforcement. I would suggest an adjustable carrier to replace the factory plastic one. It provides the up/down and in/out adjustments to keep the new wheel and tire dimensions as close to the tailgate as possible, while also fully clearing the rear bumper. This will help minimize any added stresses. The Teraflex Alpha HD carrier is the only one that I ever recommend, as I have hands on experience with how it handled both 315/70-17 bfgoodrich ko2's and 38x13.5's.

You didn't mention the backspace of the new wheels, but I'll safely assume that it is less than the factory wheels. If sticking with the factory carrier, the new spare will sit further from the gate, causing the tire to not fully press into the rubber tailgate bumpers that are meant to minimize unwanted movement that can possibly lead to tailgate damage down the road. Also, if the spare is further from the gate than needed, the affects of its given weight will be amplified due to the cantilever affect.

If there's a good chance of your Jeep eventually having 37's or larger, buy once cry once, and get a hinged reinforcement that includes an adjustable carrier. Better to lay a proper foundation now, than having to spend and swap twice down the line.

This is already getting long, so I'll stop here. Feel free to ask for any further details or for some pics I have, if you like.

its 8.5 width with 0 offset. If I have longer rubber bumpers that hold the spare in place, is it enough to mitigate any stress on the tailgate?

 

[Terpsmandan]

Running similar weight on hers with no issues. The tire just contacts the steel bumper but doesn't impede the tailgate. I put a couple of these on the rubber snubbers to extend them and they work very well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Y75VWW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[lowmpg]

I just added the Mopar reinforcement and it absolutely removed a lot of 'noise' I was hearing from the spare. I have 35 Wildpeak M/Ts which are very heavy compared to KO2s so I knew I would need to do something sooner than later. I would recommend the reinforcement but I don't know that it is absolutely required.

 

[Headbarcode]

its 8.5 width with 0 offset. If I have longer rubber bumpers that hold the spare in place, is it enough to mitigate any stress on the tailgate?

Many here seem to prefer just extending the rubber stoppers. It's great if cost efficiency is the most important factor, otherwise it's just a bandaid. It may help minimize unwanted movement, but does nothing to combat the cantilever effect affect.... not sure on which is supposed to be used here. Haha

I'm a huge believer in spending a bit more and getting all benefits, rather than save a few bucks and only reaping a fraction of the benefits. The Teraflex Alpha HD carrier is worth every penny for its strength, adjustability, and peace of mind in knowing that one area is solid and proper. And again, ask yourself what the biggest tire you will have on your Jeep. 35's will be perfectly fine with just a simple and minimally invasive carrier swap. If 37's or larger are in the foreseeable future, I'd strongly consider a full hinged tailgate reinforcement and adjustable carrier.

Some pics of my JLUR for reference:

315 ko2's on factory wheels and carrier. The tire was lightly rubbing on the factory steel bumper. Also, I took this shot from a crouched position, to mimic the view from a passenger vehicle. Notice the 3rd brake light can't be seen...

Same tire and wheel on the Teraflex Alpha HD carrier. I set it to the highest position, to get it off the bumper and maximize departure angle. I don't like the spare touching the bumper, because it can move independently from the body, opening up the possibility of transmitting undue stress when flexing offroad. Also, the 3rd brake light gets relocated and back to fully useful...

Same carrier, but readjusted to accommodate a 38x13.5 and 17x9 wheel with 4.53" backspace and -12mm offset. The larger tire was less than a spark plug gap away from the bumper. Also, the increased weight was fine on road, but I knew the tailgate wouldn't be happy when bouncing around offroad...

The added weight was too much for the factory tailgate hinges, so I swapped in a hinged reinforcement...

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