Wheel carriers for Defenders

[rmp]

Although the '02 onwards Defenders have improved rear doors, I think the strength is suspect. So a rear wheel carrier is on the cards. Didn't want to buy one, but I'd rather not break the door.

Any recommendatins, ones to avoid? Would like a rear light whilst I'm at it.

thanks

[Bushie]

Robert,

I have the Kaymar one on mine and no problems with it. Its independant of the rear door so you cant open from inside the rear, never found that to be a problem though as nobody travels in the back section.

Picked it up second hand (~$270) so price wasnt an issue either. Do some searches of trading post etc see if you can turn anything up.

Rear Wheel Carrier (http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/mkiellor/images/Defender_mod_06.jpg)

Bushie

[lewy110]

i had mate make mine and it only cost $50.

The greame cooper ones are good though they open with the door and lock in place once fully open.

Have a look at their website for prices

[Defender200Tdi]

The Kaymar one, although superbly made, is the best part of $900 new. That's a LOT of money for something that doesn't even open with the door! I've not had any luck finding a second hand jobbie, so I bit the bullet a while ago and ordered a Bearmach carrier through Karcraft in Sydney. They've quoted me $432 + GST plus delivery, which seems like a pretty good price. I asked around on the UK forums and the consensus is that the Bearmach carrier is very well made. The only problem is delivery time. Karcraft don't carry them as a stock item so they order it in from the UK. Delivery time is estimated to be about 6 - 8 weeks, but I ordered mine on 4/2/04 and haven't heard from them yet.

They did make mention that they may be ordering a few extra in since they were becoming popular so it might be worth giving them a call. The blokes name is Mark (02) 97379178.

Troutbeck Sales in Victoria also have the Bearmach carrier listed, but at $690 plus delivery and didn't have any stock the last time I spoke to them.


Paul style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[KEV0044]

...

[Defender200Tdi]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>I installed the Kaymar myself for $ 700 purchase price new . [/b][/quote]

Hey Kev

That's a good price for a Kaymar carrier, may I ask where/when you got it?

Both ARB & TJM quoted me almost $900 plus fitting earlier this year.


Paul style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[aloa9061]

hey gurs i put the graham cooper on mine and it works well. it is an absolute pain in the ass to install though. due to defedners not all being the same it comes with lots of thin washer plates and you need to experiment with it to get it right. around 500 new or 700 ish installed. you can open the rear from theinside whichj is an advantage. if i did it again i would biite the bullet annde get it installed. works a treat now. (make sure you measure numerous times and really check leveling befor drilling into the door. my rear demister cable had an arguement with the drill!!!!!!

[KEV0044]

...

[Defender200Tdi]

At last, my Bearmach wheel carrier finally arrived. There apparently was some holdup with customs and such, so my order back in Feb took until last week to arrive. 8O

I fitted the carrier yesterday and initial impressions are that it is well made and good looking. It took me about 3 hours to fit, but I was in no hurry. It was relatively straightforward, but would be easier with an assistant since the carrier is quite heavy to hold in place and fit bolts at the same time. Four holes need to be drilled through the bodywork above the rear taillight and four more through the rear door. The lower hinge mounts through three existing holes in the rear crossmember, but the handle/bumper thingy must be removed on that side.

The carrier includes a door frame strengthening kit, since it is still bolted to/through the door. However, my 1992 built Defender already had the strengthening kit fitted (by Landrover?) so I didn't need to do that bit.

The carrier opens with the rear door and also holds the door open much better than the existing spring thingy. The door also closes better, now having the weight taken off it, and the carrier locks up quite tight when closed. It also positions the spare wheel very slightly to the right, which makes acces to the door handle better. Also, because of the way the mechanism holds the wheel away from the bodywork as it opens, my 255/85 M/T's don't stop the door opening fully like they did when mounted on the door.

I didn't have access to a camera over the weekend, so here's an image from a UK site:


http://www.paddockspares.com/shop/pages/defender/accimages/ba132_2.jpg

If anyone wants further info or photos, just shout.

Best part of the whole thing was the price. From Karcraft in Sydney $465 including GST and including shipping to me in Adelaide. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif


Paul style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[rar110]

I can recommend the wheel carrier sold by Graeme Cooper.

It is a bit of a pain to install but a very smart design. Like said earlier it holds the door open, which is good for earlier 110's as the mechanism by landrover for holding open the door in the open position is a joke. Importantly the carrier is connected to the door so opens with the cargo door. It also places the tyre a little further to the right so allows slightly improved vision. The carrier is also a very good means of getting onto the roof.

[Pirate]

Like many others I have the Kaymar carrier.

I find it simple but very effective and strong.

I have modified it to mount a Codan HF autotune antenna on which really keeps it out of harms way.

The only thing I want to do with it now is to install a gas strut to keep it open so I dont have to use that pesky pin.

Regards

[rmp]

So it seems the options are:

- Kaymar (fits '02, doesn't open with door)
- Bearmach (doesn't fit '02, opens with door)
- Graeme Cooper (maybe fits '02?, opens with door)


Here is an email trail from Bearmach. I asked about their carrier fitting an '02 onwards Defender. Read from the bottom up.

Robert,
You may post it on the forum, From what i have heard people say, it is nothing even that serious. The old door has to plates that used to cover the old holes for the spare wheel carrier and strengthen the skin when the bracket mounts to the door, these plates will not fit. Where the bracket bolts to the door i believe there is a strghening rib in the new door which partly picks up on the carrier bracket anyway, but i am unsure as i have not seen it. So you are left with the original wheel carrier holes and an unstrengthed point where the bracket bolts to the door (If it misses the strengthening rib). I have also heard that there is some interference with the wiper motor, but again i have not seen exactly how this mounts. The modifications are to get the bracket bolted to the door in the correct place and cover the existing holes.
Regards
Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Pepper
To: gary@bearmach.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 1:17 PM
Subject: RE: wheel carrier


Thanks. Do you mind if I post this on an LR forum and in our club mag, it's been a topic for discussion. Also, how extensive are the mods likely to be, could someone handy with an angle grinder and welder manage it?

Cheers

--
Robert
-----Original Message-----
From: gary@bearmach.com [mailto:gary@bearmach.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 1 June 2004 22:06
To: Robert Pepper
Subject: Re: wheel carrier


Dear Robert,
It will fit with modification on the door, (how much i do not know because we have not had time to try it yet). As soon as we do try it we will obviously bring out a purpose made version, i would imagine that this would be in the next 3 months.
Regards
Gary Torosyan

----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Pepper
To: gary@bearmach.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 1:01 PM
Subject: RE: wheel carrier


Sort of...so does that mean it doesn't fit, and if so, do you plan to bring out a version that does?

Thanks

--
Robert
-----Original Message-----
From: gary@bearmach.com [mailto:gary@bearmach.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 1 June 2004 21:57
To: Robert Pepper
Subject: wheel carrier


Dear Robert,
Our spare wheel carrier will not currently match up to the 2003 rear door. (The blanking and strengthening plates are different). The capping and chassis mounts are however the same. Hope this answers your question.
Best Regards
Gary Torosyan

[Defender200Tdi]

Hi Robert

Having just done the job, I think I actually understand what Bearmach are talking about. The carrier attaches to the rear door approx. where the old wheel carrier was bolted. They supply cover plates that go both inside and outside of the door skin and bolt through. The new doors are probably different on the inside and have a different shaped original carrier on the outside, so I gather they are saying that the cover plates will be the wrong size/shape to either fit between the ribs on the inside of the door, or cover the existing bolt holes on the outside of the door...or both.

I think that would be much more easily shown than explained. I'll try to borrow the digital camera over the weekend and take some shots. If my understanding of their point is correct, the modifications required are indeed minor.


Paul style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[rmp]

Originally posted by Defender200Tdi
Hi Robert

Having just done the job, I think I actually understand what Bearmach are talking about. The carrier attaches to the rear door approx. where the old wheel carrier was bolted. They supply cover plates that go both inside and outside of the door skin and bolt through. The new doors are probably different on the inside and have a different shaped original carrier on the outside, so I gather they are saying that the cover plates will be the wrong size/shape to either fit between the ribs on the inside of the door, or cover the existing bolt holes on the outside of the door...or both.

I think that would be much more easily shown than explained. I'll try to borrow the digital camera over the weekend and take some shots. If my understanding of their point is correct, the modifications required are indeed minor.


Paul style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

Thanks Paul, that'd be much appreciated.

Regards

[Defender200Tdi]

Photos of Bearmach Wheel Carrier.

Apologies to dialup users :roll:

Bottom mount bolt holes are existing. Handle bumper thingy had to be removed. Top mount bolt holes needed drilling.

http://www.aulro.com/albums/album117/001_G.sized.jpg

Fully closed

http://www.aulro.com/albums/album117/006_G.jpg

Partly Open. Note grease nipples on all pivot points.

http://www.aulro.com/albums/album117/007_G.jpg

Mostly Open

http://www.aulro.com/albums/album117/008_G.jpg

Fully open from above

http://www.aulro.com/albums/album117/009_G.jpg

Partly open from above

http://www.aulro.com/albums/album117/010_G.jpg

Rubber Stopper holds mechanism tight when closed.

Black plate is original. White plate bolts over original wheel carrier holes using existing bolt holes. Four small holes need to be drilled through the lot to attach the arm of the new carrier.

http://www.aulro.com/albums/album117/011_G.jpg

Interior view. Black vertical pieces are for door strengthening. They were already installed on my vehicle (by Landrover?). The small white plate in the middle matches the same size/shape plate on the outside and bolts through existing holes.

Wiper motor needed to be unbolted and swung around to get access.

http://www.aulro.com/albums/album117/012_G.jpg

Door now opens further than before, even with 255/85's.

http://www.aulro.com/albums/album117/020_G.jpg


The instructions that came with it are crap, but it's not difficult to work out anyway. It seems well made and strong and doesn't rattle...yet. Only time will tell eh?


Edited to add that the spare wheel now sits slightly to the right of centre. That's not so good if you're into all things symmetrical, but I think it's a good thing because you now don't need a double jointed wrist to open the back door.

Hope that's of use to Robert and anyone else who's interested.


Paul style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif