Which Is The Best Alternative Defender Spare Wheel Carrier

[Pickles2]

We will picking up our new "90" in a few weeks.
It will be Wifey's everydayer, so she will be using the rear door for shopping etc, so the rear door will get a bit of use.
I've noticed several alternative carriers around that will take the weight off the existing hinges, I suppose the Mantec item is the most common, that I've noticed.
We won't be doing any "heavy duty" off road type stuff, so don't need/want anything "super heavy duty", just a good, solid, well made item, that will use original bolt holes.
Whilst I'm here, I might as well ask another question. I think I've seen somewhere, a "strut" for the rear door, mounts on the bottom?...keeps the door open etc. Can some-one also advise on those please?
Thanks, Pickles.

[Judo]

I haven't got one yet, but it's on my future shopping list and I'll almost certainly buy one from here:

Home - Rijidij Off Road (http://rijidijoffroad.bounce.com.au/)

You can buy a fully made one or a "kit" with all the necessary bearings etc to build your own. Rijidij is also a forum member and has done a number of forum only specials for items in the past. :)

I haven't priced a lot, but I understand it's quite cheap compared to a lot of other brands but still excellent quality.

[steveG]

I was lucky as my County came with a pretty reasonable carrier when I got it. Think its a home-made hybrid so can't point you to the brand.

Definitely get one that opens and closes automatically with the door. I recently did a trip with a D3 that had a carrier you had to latch in place. He was continually forgetting to latch it and it would swing open as he started moving (or at the first corner).

If I didn't already have something reasonable, I'd be buying one from Rijidij Offroad as Judo has already put up the link for.
I'll declare up front that Murray is a mate of mine, but that's not the reason I'm recommending his carrier.
I think its got the 3 key things you need in a Defender carrier:
- Opens automatically with the door
- Latches open so holds the door open
- The design supports the weight of the wheel straight onto the chassis when travelling.

With it being your wife's daily drive, ease of use is probably the most important thing, so see if you can find any local members that have the carriers you are considering fitted so you can try them out. Even better if she can go along with you.

Steve

[weeds]

Mulgo expedition does the strut for the rear door

[chezzter]

I haven't got one yet, but it's on my future shopping list and I'll almost certainly buy one from here:

Home - Rijidij Off Road (http://rijidijoffroad.bounce.com.au/)

You can buy a fully made one or a "kit" with all the necessary bearings etc to build your own. Rijidij is also a forum member and has done a number of forum only specials for items in the past. :)

I haven't priced a lot, but I understand it's quite cheap compared to a lot of other brands but still excellent quality.

Yeh I too will be looking at one of those .....probably the dual wheel setup.....looks awsome with sawtooths......where to put the rear plates though :cool:

[TimNZ]

Mulgo expedition does the strut for the rear door

+1 One of the best and simplest mods I have ever done to my Defenders.

[ATH]

I've been thinking this through for quite a time now and still haven't made my tiny mind up.
Rijidiji is by far the most expensive but does away with the necessity for a separate additional ram to hold the rear door open so it is my preferred option at the mo.
Mantec and a couple of others will certainly do the job at a good couple of hundred less but won't hold it open.
My only problem is which one will fit as well as the rear corner protectors I have fitted?
Or maybe I can cut and weld the corner bits to fit around the carrier.
No rush so I'll wait and keep looking at what others have.
AlanH.

[Lagerfan]

We have the dual wheel and jerry can carrier from Murray at Rijidij (http://rijidijoffroad.bounce.com.au/#/defender-dual-rear-bar/4567122838), it's on the expensive side but brilliant.

There is also a stand alone spare wheel carrier option (i.e. no jerries). Both of them open with the door and can lock in the open position so you don't actually need the gas strut thingo.

[alittlebitconcerned]

Rijidij all the way. Best thought out, most convenient to use and well engineered.

[jasonedu]

I have a Rijidij. Very happy with it

[jc109]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the strut is still useful for assisting with opening the door and will help keep it open in the event you aren't able to open the door fully (eg. backed against a garage wall, etc). Both items are on my wish list.

[Marty110]

Mantec and a couple of others will certainly do the job at a good couple of hundred less but won't hold it open.
My only problem is which one will fit as well as the rear corner protectors I have fitted?

AlanH.

I have the Mantec carrier fitted with the Mulgo rear step/corner protectors and the Mulgo door strut which keeps it open. Has done and survived some severe terrain with no probs but I did all this before I discovered Murray's carrier - time over I would go the dual wheel carrier from Murray. Pic below of how the setup looks/works

[rijidij]

Yeh I too will be looking at one of those .....probably the dual wheel setup.....looks awsome with sawtooths......where to put the rear plates though :cool:

The dual carrier comes with a number plate mount like in this pic............

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/10/904.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/rijidij/media/Wheel%20Carriers/Defender%20dual%20rear%20bar/Defender%20Dual%20Rear%20Carrier/Defender-90-wheel-carrier_zps5cf0f00f.jpg.html)

The number plate mount isn't fitted to the 90 on the website............

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/10/905.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/rijidij/media/Wheel%20Carriers/Defender%20dual%20rear%20bar/Defender%20Dual%20Rear%20Carrier/Defender-dual-wheel-carrier-1.jpg.html)



..............My only problem is which one will fit as well as the rear corner protectors I have fitted?
Or maybe I can cut and weld the corner bits to fit around the carrier........
AlanH.

The Rijidij single wheel carrier shares two mounting bolts with Mulgo type Bumperettes, but I have recently modified the design of the chassis mount so the top of it doesn't connect with the bodywork on '02> models, so the bumperettes and the carrier mount will now occupy the same space where they previously overlapped in this picture. This might be overcome by cutting a notch in one or the other, but I haven't tried it yet to make sure. I haven't tried other brand corner protectors, so I don't know which ones are compatible.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/10/906.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/rijidij/media/Wheel%20Carriers/Puma%20Wheel%20Carrier/Mulgo.jpg.html)


Correct me if I'm wrong, but the strut is still useful for assisting with opening the door and will help keep it open in the event you aren't able to open the door fully (eg. backed against a garage wall, etc). Both items are on my wish list.

Correct, the gas strut is useful whether you have a carrier fitted or not. Whether you have the spare on the door in the original position or a wheel carrier which opens with the door, the gas strut compliments either setup by assisting with opening the door.

Cheers, Murray