Rusty's Tire Carrier - 1997-2006 TJ / LJ Wrangler

With the success of our innovative JK Tire Carrier, we knew we needed to develop one for the 1997-2006 TJs. When the team at Rusty's started to work on the design of a unique tire carrier, we knew the number one thing was to keep it simple. Among our requirements was that a woman with a child in her arms had to be able to open and close it with one hand, and it had to be able to support a 40-inch tire. We've never been a fan of the bumper-mounted tire carriers that rattle and sag over time, in some instances in just a few months. We chose to go with a much stronger tailgate mount, making the tire carrier a part of the hinge.

The new Rusty's 1/4-inch formed steel hinges bolt to the body with 4 - 9/16 grade 8 mounting bolts. The 3/16-inch steel fabricated tire carrier and tailgate mount is attached to the tailgate with the 8 spare tire mounting holes as well as the 4 for the factory hinges. The ensures years of life without putting stress on the body, but for added support and protection, we also include inner reinforcements. On the inside of the 1/4-inch thick steel hinge mounts, we added 1/4-inch steel CNC formed braces. The upper portion ties into the roll bar mount, while the lower ties into the existing corner bracing. Thanks to the innovative design and the additional supports, the tire carrier assembly will support up to a 40-inch tire with no sagging. The tailgate and tire mount pivot in our 1/4-inch hinge bracket on Oilite oil embedded bronze bearings. These bearings will last for the life of the vehicle and will not wear over time like a traditional poly bushing, which gets soft and decays from the UV light.

Another unique part of the Rusty's tire carrier is the ability to change the wheel bolt pattern. We know that many people are doing axle swaps to handle bigger tires, and these swaps often require changing the lug patterns. The 1/4-inch steel fabricated tire mount has the option for the factory 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern as well as the popular axle swap bolt patterns of 5 on 5 and 8 on 6.5. This mount is even adjustable for maximum departure angle or good visibility out the back window. The tire carrier allows the installation of up to a 40-inch tall tire while retaining a one-handed operation. Because the position of the tire is adjustable, you can be confident that the spare tire will clear most aftermarket rear bumpers.

The Rusty's tire carrier is e-coated for inside and outside protection and then finished in a great looking satin black powder coating. Optional accessories Coming Soon!

KEY FEATURES:

• Made in the USA
• Made of 3/16-inch and 1/4-inch steel
• Included inner fender braces and additional support
• Will carry up to a 40-inch tire
• One hand operation
• Adjustable tire position works with most aftermarket bumpers and wheel offsets
• Three different lug patterns available
• E-coated and Powder Coated Satin Black