Is a Rear Wheel Carrier Needed?

[land864]

My 02 Defender cargo door has 3 hinges fitted to it.

Is there still a need for a seperate swingaway wheel carrier?

Pete G

[VladTepes]

Yes, I'd reckon so.
Takes the strain off - and anyway it can't huirt.

[I Love My Landy!]

Yeah i just put a carrier that swings out with the door on my County recently (which also has 3 hinges) and it helped a lot.

[gromit]

Pete,

When I got my Defender about 10 years ago it was only about 5 years old but had been to WA & NT, about 100K on the clock.

I had a split in the rear door frame welded before purchase but soon after getting it I stripped the door and welded up 13 cracks in the frame and re-sealed the glass in place. I had to twist the door while the father-in-law welded. Came out pretty straight, shut easier and doesn't let in as much water as it used to.

I fitted a swing out wheel carrier to take the strain off the door and have never had a problem since.



Colin

[Michael2]

I may have been too "tight" to buy a wheel carrier, so thankfully I bought a Defender with one already on it. I would now decide to get one if I got another vehicle without one.

There are two types

(1) the ones that open with the door offer convenience and are cheaper.

(2) the Kaymar one needs to be opened separately, however this means you can stand on the rear mounted wheel to access the roof rack without worrying about putting any strain on the door. If you back into a post it doesn't damage the door. I've seen a Defender with the attached wheel carrier slowly reverse into a small rotten tree. The force bent the door and broke the window! The Kaymar also allows you to add a work lamp that you can swing out without having to open the rear door.

Either wheel carrier makes it easier to add hi-lift jack, shovel holders or heavy dirty gear bags on without worrying about the extra strain.

[dullbird]

I think yes as it takes the strain of the hinges on corrugations etc..

However I dont know if this is true for sure but I have also been told that by having a carrier fitted because the way they mount to the body and the rear cross member that is enough to allow a bit of movement (due to flexing of two different part of the car) hence breaking the seal on the rear door (only ever so slightly) enough to allow bulldust to be sucked in.

but in all honesty it comes in from everywhere else anyway...we had dust through out the car on our journey and we have one however we have massive great gaps in the doors:lol2:

[JDNSW]

Not absolutely necessary, as long as you do not go over the original tyre size. Probably a good idea if you run on rough roads a lot. My door is still largely intact at 500,000km, although it was replaced at about 200,000 after I backed into a tree!

John

[Tusker]

Has anyone had a problem with the newer one-piece doorskins? I haven't at 150,000 kms with a 35" on it most of the time, apart from the aforementioned pesky trees..

I think the newer wheel carrier spreads the load wider too.

As to the tyres themselves, I found the heaviest combination to carry is with the boost alloys. All the steelies are lighter.

Regards
Max P

[SVX37]

I think it is one of the top priorities is you are going to go off road. If you are sticking to the bitumen, then I wouldn't bother and I would then be wondering what you are doing on a forum like this!:wasntme: :)

The one attached to the door is by far more convenient.....but they are also known to crack and need to be re-welded.

I have the Kaymar. A 2 step process to open and close the rear door but tough as nails.

Mine is less than 12 months old and I am having issues with the paint flaking off and then surface rust appearing.:mad:

Went back to ARB and they have replaced that section no questions asked.:)

The reason I fitted one was based on information I read on this forum.

[Gav110]

Another benefit of some models is that they can apparently be 'tensioned' to assist in keeping the door open. DM_TD5 helpfully advises that a second benefit of fitting one is the effort to open the door on slopes is reduced. See my separate thread on 'back door shocks' for details of the Opposite Lock model.

I never had one on my old TD5 and frequently stepped on the rear tyre to access the roof rack mounted storage boxes; and did plenty of long corrugations without a problem - however I can see the value in spending $600-700 on this after many more years of that kind of abuse, plus given I will be fitting 33s (255/85/16 BFG MT KM2) and especially if it assists with safety and ease of opening with my 4 x young kiddies...

Once fitted I may then go the next step of fitting a back door gas strut/shockie as per Mulgo's version given all the positive reviews - if it's needed. Will only be able to evaluate once I get the wheel holder fitted.

[Loubrey]

I've had a couple fitted to previous Defenders and I found the ones opening with the rear door really convenient. The brand I fitted had a rudementory "piston" type arrangement that soaked up vibration. The piston would retract on opening the door and extend when it was closed. They were sold as "Africa Specification Wheel Carriers" and those who get the UK Landie mags will see them under Craddock's and Paddock's ads. OL seems to have one that might be the same arrangement?

I'm over a 100kg and I regularly stood on the spare to pack things on the rack and I never had any problems with bending, cracking or sagging.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Yep - the powder coating on them is crap! I must have fitted dozens to customers cars in the UK - many of them complain about the powder coating! That said, they are second to none for there reliability & ruggedness.

I spoke to Kaymar about this crap finish at the NSW Caravan and camping show the other week. They just said I must have had a bad one and they knew nothing of it!

My thoughts to date of Kaymar products - Excellent. Customer service though is very poor. Sounds like your better off getting one via ARB and relying on there customer service!

Jon


Mine (Kaymar) is less than 12 months old and I am having issues with the paint flaking off and then surface rust appearing.:mad:

[Jeff]

I have had a Kaymar on my Defender since about 2000, I bought it after I saw a lesser 4wd with a bent rear door from the smallest bump. I thought it would not be hard to do, just backing into a bollard or the garage wall and the door on my then near new Defender would be wrecked. I find the powder coating on mine is still good, much better than Land Rover's paint on the rear chassis and waaay better the the ARB towbar. The biggest problem is the holding open pin, I keep losing them after they get squashed in the working parts. Also it is a pain to open it separately and lots of people open the door into the carrier. You can't open it from the inside either if you carry people in the back-back.

I have seen Army TD5 Defenders with massive cracks through the door frame, probably more noticeable because they have no door trim. They were replaced with the later type door which looked much stronger and had the rear window with the rounded edge.

Now I have a Discovery 2 it is so easy to just open the door, when I use the Defender I find excuses not to go to the back door, unless absolutely necessary.

Jeff

:rocket:

[SVX37]

Yep - the powder coating on them is crap! I must have fitted dozens to customers cars in the UK - many of them complain about the powder coating! That said, they are second to none for there reliability & ruggedness.

I spoke to Kaymar about this crap finish at the NSW Caravan and camping show the other week. They just said I must have had a bad one and they knew nothing of it!

My thoughts to date of Kaymar products - Excellent. Customer service though is very poor. Sounds like your better off getting one via ARB and relying on there customer service!

Jon

Thanks for your comments Jon. ARB have been great in dealing with the issue. They took a photo and sent it to Kaymar. Kaymar then said, they wanted me to drive it to their head office to view it as they wanted to see it for themselves. ARB said that was ridiculous and just replaced the part for me.

I am back to ARB later this week as another section has the black powder coating peeling off.:(

Very happy with it.

A search will show what problems some members have had with their version which is attached to the door.

[land864]

Thanks Guys

Geez , buy a Defender and travel only on the roads ;)

I may look dopey but come on :)

Thanks again all

I have actually bought a new /unused Scorpion racing or Bearmach ? one off fleabay for $ 300.

It's missing the door mounted pivot point but I'll get the boys at work to knock one up.

Good thinking about it holding the door open too!

I will have the cargo area seats refitted and so a one action carrier will be good

Pete

[Drover]

This thread has been good reading, particularly with a trip coming up with lots of rough and corrugated tracks/roads.

I Bought a KayMar today. Should have it by the weekend.

Thanks to all for their thoughts and experiences.

Cheers

[300tdfly]

new here but i have a 300tdi with 127 on the clock very straight tidy car had bull dust in bottoms of doors but the barn door has cracked up dead through the middle they are a light door i would have thought too light for a wheel to be mounted without reasonable bracing running from hinge to latch, have plans to brace mine i will be fitting my own arrangement;) with a tyre gate i am making up.
excelent forum keep it up

[sorefeetseepete]

I have a 2007 defender and was thinking about putting a Kaymar rear wheel carrier on. For people ho have it, does it hold the back door open at all. Or will I have to put a gas stut in. If I put a strut in as well will the one by Mulgo be to quick at opening the door with less weight on it.
Thanks Peter

[Drover]

Finished fitting the new KayMar rear wheel carrier yesterday, Wow how heavy duty are these things !

When it is said that they are "over-engineered" they are not wrong - but it is not going to break any time soon :D.

In answer to previous post - 1/No it does not hold rear door open at all.
2/The Mulgo rear door Gas strut system works better without the wheel on the door.

[SVX37]

I have the Kaymar rear bar which I am taking back again this week to show them the powder coating which is peeling off - under 12 months old.:mad: Very happy with its function however.

My rear door stays open by itself without the need for a gas strut. I spoke to Daniel (Mulgo) and he advised that with a Kaymar bar, there is no requirement.

Just purchased the Bumperettes from Mulgo - will post some photos and start a new thread.

[Drover]

Hey SVX37,

When you talk about the KayMar rear bar, are you talking about the wheel carrier or do you have something extra ?

I have got the Bumperettes from Mulgo, with black checker plate :D, suits the SVX down to the ground. They are another piece of kit that is built supa strong and wont break in a hurry. They look tops as well. You will very happy with them.

[Savanahkelpy]

My 02 Defender cargo door has 3 hinges fitted to it.

Is there still a need for a seperate swingaway wheel carrier?

Pete G

Three hinges are good, but you haven,t mentioned if you have the tapered brass locating block, that takes the weight and stress off the door latch. It seems to be missing from lots of defenders, and i think its such a nifty functional item, i,m fitting a second one. Nearly everyone says to buy an alternative wheel mounting system, but why not beef up, what you already have, first?

[SVX37]

Hey SVX37,

When you talk about the KayMar rear bar, are you talking about the wheel carrier or do you have something extra ?

I have got the Bumperettes from Mulgo, with black checker plate :D, suits the SVX down to the ground. They are another piece of kit that is built supa strong and wont break in a hurry. They look tops as well. You will very happy with them.



Hi Drover, nah, nothing extra. I am talking about the wheel carrier.

I am now saving the pennies to deck out the back of mine like the photos I saw of yours in another post.:)

[nayto]

Three hinges are good, but you haven,t mentioned if you have the tapered brass locating block, that takes the weight and stress off the door latch. It seems to be missing from lots of defenders, and i think its such a nifty functional item, i,m fitting a second one. Nearly everyone says to buy an alternative wheel mounting system, but why not beef up, what you already have, first?

Could u point out which block your talking about? All mine has is the latch, which it rattles on even at full adjustment on the slotted holes. I have a wheel carrier mounts to the chassis, but also the door. Its convenient when im opening the door lots, but im over the rattle!

[sorefeetseepete]

Thanks for replies.
I have just fitted the Kaymar rear wheel holder and it is very strong, very happy with it. It is a little inconvenient but that goes with the car, if I wanted something easy I would have got something else. I went for the Kaymar for its strength and the few reports ive heard from other door holders breaking. Of note, i wanted to mount a jack to the wheel and Kaymar, cant do that with the newer defenders, 2007 and on, or so ive been told.
Thanks

[rijidij]

I have the Kaymar rear bar which I am taking back again this week to show them the powder coating which is peeling off - under 12 months old.:mad:

I was talking to the local powdercoater that does my wheel carriers today, and I asked him why Kaymar might be having problems with peeling powdercoat. He very strongly suggested poor preparation, in particular, not sand blasting well enough.

Murray

[Bundalene]

My 02 Defender cargo door has 3 hinges fitted to it.

Is there still a need for a seperate swingaway wheel carrier?

Pete G

From the original question of this thread. I fitted a rear wheel carrier today, not because I thiught there was a problem with the original carrier, but to protect the door from cracking and stop it from dropping further.

When I removed the original carrier, I found it badly cracked - see the pic

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ (http://img576.imageshack.us/i/dscn1271.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

The cracking is at the top and bottom left bolts of the carrier below.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6354/dscn1266e.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/i/dscn1266e.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
2 corners on one side were like this and about to break away.

Our Defender is an 06 TD5 with almost 60,000kms on the clock. We do travel on many stretched of corrugated roads. We do have a slightly oversized MT tyre.

I am happy I checked this before we headed north on our holiday.

Erich