Spare Tyre Location

[rocket rod]

Hi Guys, I'm a Disco 2 owner looking to upgrade the a D4 next year and one of the concerns I have with the D4 is the rear door is not the barn door style of the D2. I will be installing a long range tank and therefore each time to open the rear of a D4 I would have to open 3 things; rear wheel carrier, top door and then lower tailgate. So my questions is (as strange as it may seem) has anyone put the spare wheel inside the car, maybe in one of the storage pockets at the side for instance.

[~Rich~]

Hi Rod,
Jeeze that would take up some valuable space.
Not too many option other that the RWC sorry.

[rocmic]

Rod
Unfortunately Rich is correct. I have a RWC on the D3 (and if IIRC, Rich has as well). It really is not too much of a pain to open the carrier and the tailgates.
The normal location of the spare is a real PITA, both when rotating the wheels and if you are unfortunate enough to have a flat (particularly if the back of the car is loaded).
Cheers
Mike

[BobD]

I undo 4 things. Two spare wheel carriers and the two doors. Even my wife does it all the time with no complaints so, even though it is a bit of a pain, it is not a real problem.

We often put small stuff in the boot by folding down one rear seat for access. It is also often best to just open the top door and leave the bottom one closed. Easier to reach in and stops stuff falling out. The lower door is a fantastic table. I always miss it when I go out in the barn door GQ Patrol with sagging rear door hinges due to the over sized spare wheel.

Bob

[BMKal]

Yep - I also went from a D2 (son still has it) to the D4 and have fitted a single RWC to the rear of the D4 so that I could install a long range tank.

Doesn't bother me at all having to swing the wheel out to open the tailgate.

When we're out shopping, we generally don't "latch" the wheel carrier in the closed position. The gas strut is strong enough to hold it either fully open or fully closed. Just swing the wheel out of the way as you walk up to the vehicle to open the tailgate.

And as already said by BobD - you'll find that you don't open the bottom half of the tailgate all that often anyway. You can reach most things simply by opening the top half.

[rufusking]

So my questions is (as strange as it may seem) has anyone put the spare wheel inside the car, maybe in one of the storage pockets at the side for instance.

The tyre won't fit between the C and D pillar but it can fit standing up in the back but you will lose ~270mm of width. If most of your touring is with a trailer or camper and you only keep a cooler and a few things in the back it could work.

[scarry]

I have thought about this a lot.
What i would do is risk not having the spare at all around town,i would carry plugs and the air compresser,maybe a can of that temporary repair stuff.
When away,up on the rack it goes.

I do run LT's,and have not had a flat in over ten years.

But my only concern is if i did this,for sure Murphy would turn up:(

If i was going to put it in the back,i would probably strap it to the cargo barrier,if you have one.

[AnD3rew]

Like others I really don't find it a huge problem to open the RWC and the tailgate doors. Ocassionally it is a minor pain but most of the time I don't even think about it.

[crawal]

Big Red came with twin wheel carriers , I took off the LH side , and trained everyone how to use the back doors and fold the seats up or down to gain access into the rear .
It is different coming from the Patrol , but is a small issue given the better vehicle .

[sheerluck]

I started to design my own RWC, that instead of the usual manual clasp I was considering using a tailgate latch with a door actuator that I was going to bolt where one of the trailer connectors is. Was going to piggyback the top tailgate release electrics, and add a gas strut so when you press the key fob, the top tailgate pops open, and the RWC unlatches and swings open.

I've been playing around with a couple of spare door actuators, and the tailgate latch and striker from a car I've got sat outside. I'm not convinced it will be strong enough to stop movement of the RWC though. I need to find something dustproof and hefty.

[sheerluck]

I've got a sketch of what I was considering. Will find it and post it.

[crawal]

Rod, this is on ebay now
Landrover Discovery 3 4 Frontrunner Swing Away Spare Wheel Carrier | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Landrover-Discovery-3-4-Frontrunner-Swing-away-Spare-Wheel-Carrier-/161304447364?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item258e7e8984&_uhb=1)

[~Rich~]

I started to design my own RWC, that instead of the usual manual clasp I was considering using a tailgate latch with a door actuator that I was going to bolt where one of the trailer connectors is. Was going to piggyback the top tailgate release electrics, and add a gas strut so when you press the key fob, the top tailgate pops open, and the RWC unlatches and swings open.

I've been playing around with a couple of spare door actuators, and the tailgate latch and striker from a car I've got sat outside. I'm not convinced it will be strong enough to stop movement of the RWC though. I need to find something dustproof and hefty.

Sheerlock have you seen the 4x4 intelligence locking mechanism? It uses what you are thinking of using, I'll take some photos and post them for you.
Works great, a simple lever unlocks the carrier.
Unfortunately the brand is no longer available.

[sheerluck]

Sheerlock have you seen the 4x4 intelligence locking mechanism? It uses what you are thinking of using, I'll take some photos and post them for you.
Works great, a simple lever unlocks the carrier.
Unfortunately the brand is no longer available.

Rich, I've not seen one of those. If you could take some pictures, that'd be very helpful. I'm trying to design something that doesn't have anything jutting out (except for the gas strut), and unlocks itself when the tailgate is opened.

[~Rich~]

unlocks itself when the tailgate is opened.

Not sure how you will achieve the last statement, please enlighten.

[sheerluck]

Not sure how you will achieve the last statement, please enlighten.

Same principle as the upper tailgate. If you press the third button on the key fob (assuming you have it configured that way), it powers the motorised latch on tailgate and pops it open. So if I can piggyback that power feed from the upper tailgate to a similar motorised latch for the RWC, then opening the upper tailgate would release the RWC at the same time, and the gas strut would pivot it away from the car.

[BMKal]

Same principle as the upper tailgate. If you press the third button on the key fob (assuming you have it configured that way), it powers the motorised latch on tailgate and pops it open. So if I can piggyback that power feed from the upper tailgate to a similar motorised latch for the RWC, then opening the upper tailgate would release the RWC at the same time, and the gas strut would pivot it away from the car.

Dave - will your gas strut push the RWC away from the car without assistance ?

Mine actually holds the RWC in either the fully "open" or fully "closed" position. I can (and sometimes do) drive the vehicle with the RWC latch left open - the gas strut holds the RWC closed by itself even on rough / uneven road surfaces. It takes a bit of effort to "push" or "pull" the wheel through either end of the travel of the gas strut - once you get past that initial resistance, the strut will then push / pull the RWC the rest of the way to the fully open / closed position.

[BobD]

BM Kal, you obviously don't have a Kaymar rear wheel carrier. The strut is virtually useless for anything on them but it does push the bar open as soon as it is unlatched. It opens with force and bangs against the stop at fully open. There is even a warning sign to tell you that it will open quickly. It sort of holds it open until the strut wears, which happens really quickly.

Bob

[sheerluck]

Dave - will your gas strut push the RWC away from the car without assistance ?

That's what I'm aiming for. The positioning of the gas strut is going to be key in letting it be able to push as soon as it unlatches, and I think there may be a little bit of trial and error in getting the right force so that you don't need to be superman to close it again.

[BMKal]

BM Kal, you obviously don't have a Kaymar rear wheel carrier. The strut is virtually useless for anything on them but it does push the bar open as soon as it is unlatched. It opens with force and bangs against the stop at fully open. There is even a warning sign to tell you that it will open quickly. It sort of holds it open until the strut wears, which happens really quickly.

Bob

No - I've got the one that's made here in WA (can never remember the name of it). Was supplied & fitted by Lifestyle 4WD in Morley. The strut works very well on mine - but wouldn't work for what Dave is planning on doing.

[rocmic]

No - I've got the one that's made here in WA (can never remember the name of it). Was supplied & fitted by Lifestyle 4WD in Morley. The strut works very well on mine - but wouldn't work for what Dave is planning on doing.
That would be Outback Accessories

[~Rich~]

Sheerluck here are the 4x4 Intelligence RWC latch photo's:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/690.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/VSK5/media/D3/6232AD98-1642-40E1-A9A4-B84B33555A79_zpsuyvthpct.jpg.html)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/691.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/VSK5/media/D3/00123755-9E49-4754-B5DB-24D50576C600_zpsuodkp32g.jpg.html)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/692.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/VSK5/media/D3/03AFAD73-F2E9-406F-9B97-A6EE94D89CE8_zpsvvgfncbe.jpg.html)

When I first got it I was concerned I might get that section snagged on something doing damage, not to be - all good.

[sheerluck]

Thanks Rich. That latch with the handle (or a motorised version of) is what I am considering attaching to the chassis, replacing one of the two towbar electric plugs.

Do you find that it rattles, or does not grip properly at all?

[~Rich~]

Thanks Rich. That latch with the handle (or a motorised version of) is what I am considering attaching to the chassis, replacing one of the two towbar electric plugs.

Do you find that it rattles, or does not grip properly at all?

I found it took a bit of mucking around getting the adjustment right but once I got that sorted it's great. Solid as a rock.
The wedge shape of the keeper together with the pin mechanism keeps it located and solid.

[sheerluck]

I found it took a bit of mucking around getting the adjustment right but once I got that sorted it's great. Solid as a rock.
The wedge shape of the keeper together with the pin mechanism keeps it located and solid.

Ahhh, right. I didn't notice that bit. Thanks, that's given me food for thought.

The issue I'm having is the couple of latches I've tried have a bit of slop in them, and don't grip the striker as firmly as I would like.

I think I'm going to have to do a tour of the scrappies to find something chunky.

[rocket rod]

Sorry for not looking at these replies earlier as I've been away but this has certainly given me a few ideas, the best of which is I leave the wheel at home when travelling in town. I do have a camper trailer so I usually have a lot of room in the back of my D2 but I intend to do a CSR or Simmo trip soon and the wheel might come in handy for those so I have the get a long term solution together. Perhaps I'm creating a bit of a mountain out of a molehill but when I'm in the bush I'm always considering the amount of effort required to do anything and finding ways to cut it out. It's like when you first go camping; you take absolutely everything and use 1/3 of it. Once you know what's going on you refine it down to exactly what you need. So far it's taken 15 years of refining so the extra couple of latches and buttons to open can mean a great deal to me. Thanks very much for the interesting conversation.