Why I like the Kaymar.
I bought my Defender with a Kaymar wheel carrier, in all honesty, I would have been too tight to spend that kind of money myself.
However, now that I have it, I can compare it to others.
(1) it is MUCH stronger
(2) it doesn't touch the back door. Now I know you all want the convenience of something that opens with the back door, but on a recent trip a member with one such wheel carrier gently reversed into a dead dried out tree with a 6 inch wide trunk, that just fell on impact. That nudge was enough to bend the wheel carrier, and at the same time dent the back door and break the glass on it. I don't believe the Kaymar would have flinched in such an impact, and even if the impact were strong enough to flex or bend the wheel carrier, the door would still be safe.
(3) Because it's locked at 2 points on the chassis, I feel comfortable stepping on the spare wheel to get roof rack access, I wouldn't with a lighter duty carrier that hinges onto bodywork and the door.
You could justify the Kaymar by projecting costs over the life of the vehicle.
Quote:
I reckon the others would all need some strengthening or repair at some stage, either to the carrier, the door or the bodywork.
- Michael