Thread: TDCi Defender - Wheel Carrier

Kaymar retails through ARB. OL will sell you a different brand similar to the Bearmach.

Originally Posted by dm_td5

The Kaymar is a strong unit. Two things I don't like about it though.
1. Costs an arm and a leg
2. Has a separate catch to the door.

I've had Kaymar swing arms on Disco's, they are very good, but the most annoying thing is that they have to be unlatched before opening the door. Now if there was a way around this then I'd be interested.

The new wheel carrier that I'm currently working on will mount on the chassis using original holes. All the weight will be taken on the chassis mount, with a stub axle and bearings, similar to how the Kaymar is mounted, but mine will open with the door, similar to the Bearmach. I think the biggest mistake made with wheel carriers is they allow too much movement. I saw one recently that cost the owner $1000 fitted and it had a rubber buffer that wasn't even touching anything. The carrier itself needs to be stiffened up in the closed position to prevent any 'rattle', and the tyre wall needs to rest firmly against the carrier to stop any movement.

Rear wheel carriers for Defenders/Countys

If my prototype turns out well, I hope to get some time to make a few up and make them available to buy.

Cheers, Murray

Is anyone able to tell me the measurements for the bolt pattern for the wheel carrier on the one piece door. I think it was introduced in '02 and is probably the same right up to the current Puma.
I would like to be able to make my carrier so it will suit any model.

A. is from the top of the chassis.
D. is from the hinge side edge of the door.
All measurements to the centre of the bolt holes if you can please.

Cheers, Murray

If you can hold off to the weekend I can measure the one I took off the Puma and the back of the Puma. The old carrier is sitting in the shed at present and I'm not going to get soaked to the skin going to fetch it. It is currently bucketing down rain.

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. I reckon the others would all need some strengthening or repair at some stage, either to the carrier, the door or the bodywork.

- Michael

Originally Posted by Michael2

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.

I reckon the others would all need some strengthening or repair at some stage, either to the carrier, the door or the bodywork.

- Michael

on the defence of that its also mounted a 3 points which spreads the load over all of them...
mounted to the door to the body and to the crossmember.......where as the kaymar is only mounted on the crossmember, I would be concerned that something that would be hard to damage and support the weight of a wheel on one piviot point would have to weight a lot! my concern would be the fatigue of the crossmember........

I don't think cross members are overaly strong (one of the first things to rust in the uk)...I think having a heavy item hanging off one point on it would not do it any favours either

Originally Posted by dullbird

on the defence of that its also mounted a 3 points which spreads the load over all of them...
mounted to the door to the body and to the crossmember.......where as the kaymar is only mounted on the crossmember, I would be concerned that something that would be hard to damage and support the weight of a wheel on one piviot point would have to weight a lot! my concern would be the fatigue of the crossmember........

I don't think cross members are overaly strong (one of the first things to rust in the uk)...I think having a heavy item hanging off one point on it would not do it any favours either

Hi Lou,

When the Kaymar is locked in, the weight is also taken at the 2nd point, which is near the (L) chassis rail. The design prevents any movement. And given that many Defender tow hitches utilise only the cross member and not the chassis rails, then I think the weight is well within the capabilities of the cross member. Still, I take your point about weight, as so many accessories are just too heavy.

I still prefer the convenience of being able to open the back door easily.

...so back to my original question, is $500 ($525 delivered) for the Bearmach carrier on fleabay a good price or not?