Rear-door spare tire carrier

[DanDweller]

Hello all, I just bought a 2015 Ford Transit Connect and would like to somehow mount the spare tire on a rear door.  Does anyone know of a spare tire carrier that would fit?

 

[highdesertranger]

did you search the internet? the tire carrier must mount to the hinges the sheet metal is not strong enough to mount a tire to. if nobody makes one there is probably an issue with mounting them to the hinge. do you have the compound hinges? there is always mounting them to the bumper or trailer hitch. highdesertranger

 

[DanDweller]

Hi, thank you. I like the trailer hitch idea, except then I'd have to move the spare tire every time I want to open the back doors. I see there are some bumper mount carriers that swing out when you need to open the doors, but none of them for a Transit Connect.
What would be nice is the kind of mount that goes on the two hinges. I don't see any online for a Transit Connect. I'm not sure what you mean by compound hinges. If it's what I think you mean, the doors can stop at 90 degrees, or by pressing a button, they will stay put at 180 degrees. I would post a picture of the hinges but after trying a few times to post pics to this forum, I haven't been able to figure out how to resize them to be able to upload them. Uh oh--if I can't even figure that out, how am I going to convert a van? I guess.

 

[highdesertranger]

if you are running windows you can resize in paint. once you do it a couple of times it's easy. or just adjust the settings on your camera to take lower resolution photos. the forums likes pics with resolutions about 1MB or less. highdesertranger

 

[B and C]

I found this: https://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/accessories-add-ons/65409-door-mounted-spare-tire-carrier.html

It is not hinge mounted as HDR suggests and the transit hinges don't look like you can have a hinge mounted carrier because of the hinge design. This looks like it could work though as it is mounted where the goor has some reinforcement on the hinge side. Looks like it could use a piece of pipe around the bolts on the other end (inside between the two sheet metal panels) though for more strength.

 

[highdesertranger]

I just looked at the carrier that B and C posted. I see by the picture that those are indeed compound hinges. yep no mounting to those unless you are going to get real creative/expensive with the mount. I read the instructions for the mount here is what I can see,

PROS,

1. it's a spare mount they say can take over size tires.
2. has reinforcing brackets for every mounting point
3. installation seems pretty straight forward. difficultly level is low.

CONS,

1. still mounts to the sheet metal
2. reinforcing brackets look underwhelming for the job. especially the one "Z" bracket.
3. the way the tire mounts to the carrier.

are you serious 500 bucks for a carrier and the tire mounts with a piece of all-thread? who was the rocket scientist that thought that was a good idea. all tire carriers should have at least 2 mounting bolts(6 and 8 lug, 5 lug should have 3). even more is better. with only one bolt that tire is going to shake rattle and roll especially with an oversize tire. and what's going to get fatigued? right the sheet metal.

CONCLUSION,

if you have tires that are smallish and light weight. this carrier might work if you stick to smooth pavement.
however if you have big tires that are heavy I would stay away.

highdesertranger

 

[JD GUMBEE]

I would be damned careful about it.
I have made inquiries to more than one friend about the inability to winch out the new vans without having the doors closed.
(It isn't only Promasters.)
We are seeing the end of the full frame vehicles, right now.

Freaking paper thin garbage. SMH

What about a roof mount?
(Dead Serious)

 

[flying kurbmaster]

The roof could work or maybe the front end as well, I have mine mounted on my front bumper, I know you will not be able to do this on the transit but often there is a couple of spots under the front end that are pretty strong like for bull bars or towing hooks that you may be able to make or have made something to hook a tire on.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Hey guys the OP has a Transit Connect, not a Transit.

The Transit Connect is a smaller front-wheel drive van (or wagon).

The links posted above take us to a Transit forum with links to a Transit spare tire carrier.

Just sayin....

 

[B and C]

Ah, the small one. Roof top is about the only option I can think of and that is if they make a carrier strong enough.

 

[bullfrog]

What about a hitch mount with an slide/extender so it can be slid out to open the door and then pivot 90 degrees at the tire mount to make a table when parked? I've got one that pivots down so a tailgate on a pickup truck can be opened so maybe a fab shop could add another joint or two and have something more usable than just a spare tire mount.

 

[B and C]

How about a swing away hitch carrier: https://www.stowaway2.com/swingaway-hitch-frame

Mount your tire flat and have an outdoor table built in?

 

[eDJ_]

Thought it would be worth throwing this on the table. 

On my one ton High Top Ford Van I installed a carrier that is shaped like a 60/40 triangle.  It bolted up to the hinges on the door with no problem.  BUT....it bolted to the sheet metal of the door near the door handle and created a problem there.
It actually cracked the metal and it began to tear thru.  The spare on a one ton is quite heavy.  I've reinforced it now but I wish I had realized what I was getting into earlier and could have taken the appropriate precautions.

 

[DanDweller]

Well thanks for all the useful input.  I like the idea of a hitch mount carrier that swings away.  I already have such a thing for my bike, which I used on my old van.  Maybe I could just have it modified, weld on a metal flange to accept the spare tire on the same bike rack.  But then the tire would end up in the middle between the two doors.  I was hoping to have it on one door, to cover the cat-door I plan on installing.  Oh the logistics...

 

[DanDweller]

And then I found this:

https://www.etrailer.com/Spare-Tire...DGIeghiUUSaMH1149XhqFkVsIM1d7hJRoCnNsQAvD_BwE

Anyone tried one of these bumper mount spare tire carriers?  Looks like a good solution--just need to make sure it fits my bumper.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Where is the spare tire now? I assume its inside, and under the rear cargo area with a cover of some type. Do you need to occupy that space with something else? Whatever that something else is, could that be put on a hitch rack instead of the spare?

 

[seak]

This won't let you open the door from the inside and it's pretty expensive, but looks like it's rugged enough.

Wilco Offroad Hitchgate

https://www.wilcooffroad.com/shop/hitchgate-tire-carrier-ford/

 

[wagoneer]

If you can get a front 2" hitch attached that might work?

 

[highdesertranger]

dang I can't believe the prices they are asking for these. but on the other hand it must be pretty heavy duty for traveling off road, plus the labor involved. I can see why, now that I think about it. highdesertranger

 

[bullfrog]

I found mine abandoned after the owner bought a truck camper and it no longer fit. Maybe I should get it out of the scrap pile! I know a welder in Grand Junction Colorado that will build one custom if you give him the specs for much less. Aaron West [email protected] or 970-260-6777 tell him the guy from Bullfrog sent you!