OL Spare Wheel carrier buggered again!

[Scallops]

Just for anyone who has an OL wheel carrier, be careful - mine has failed again, but this time in a different spot. These wheel carriers seem to be lacking in some basic engineering, methinks...

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6363/dsc0114smlq0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/dsc0114smlq0.jpg/1/w1000.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img255/dsc0114smlq0.jpg/1/)

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/4320/dsc0116smyq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/dsc0116smyq7.jpg/1/w1000.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img510/dsc0116smyq7.jpg/1/)

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2133/dsc0117smzg9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/dsc0117smzg9.jpg/1/w1000.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img255/dsc0117smzg9.jpg/1/)

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1208/dsc0118smjx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/dsc0118smjx1.jpg/1/w1000.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img185/dsc0118smjx1.jpg/1/)

OK - so I use my truck but these carriers are very poor - I'll see if OL will repair this one as I think my fix to the original break is superior to the way the new carriers are being fabricated.

[RobHay]

I would be getting on to them and letting them know that their product is craap.:mad:

[dmdigital]

That's not good. But at least you've now got somewhere to store your dealer's business cards:angel:

I've got Bearmach's on both Defenders. The Tdi's has been on for almost 2 years now and hasn't had an issue. The one on the Puma's only been on for about 2 months so early days.

How far out from the door does the wheel sit on the OL carrier? My Puma carrier sites about 6" out from the door where as the Tdi one has the back of the wheel only 2-3" from the door. To me this gives a larger room for vibrations on the carrier arms and mounts and I'm trying to work out what's the best way to move it closer in to the door of the Puma.

[crump]

thats BS, I made my own from copying pics of the Bearmach one and have had no probs in 20000kms, I would be asking for a refund.:mad:

[Scallops]

Yeah - I agree - this carrier is junk. Hopefully the OL warranty is longer than 12 months as it's 1 year old and 5 days. :eek:

The carrier sits out at least 6" from the door - so maybe that is part of the issue, dm_td5. But 2 failures - it's not good enough. :(

[dmdigital]

:twisted:
Yeah - I agree - this carrier is junk. Hopefully the OL warranty is longer than 12 months as it's 1 year old and 5 days. :eek:

The carrier sits out at least 6" from the door - so maybe that is part of the issue, dm_td5. But 2 failures - it's not good enough. :(
I agree two failures isn't good. I hope it is covered by warranty.

[one_iota]

The best action is to pass this on to the manufacturer (Front Runner) via the Distributer (Opposite Lock).

I will send this link on to mine...the OL guys are franchisees. My local OL guy drives a Defender and is very keen to do the right thing. Front Runner modified the design of the Defender unit as a response to Scallops last metal fatigue failure.

Things don't happen in isolation and therefore I wonder if the failure of the bottom mount in turn contributed to this failure: the bottom mount failed and the loads were transferred to the remaining mount?

Let's face it there are very few units made in reality and even fewer are tested under tough conditions. These things are very hard to calculate and only experience will help.

I'd be approaching this firmly but positively because in other respects it is not a bad design...maybe a little light metallurgically speaking.

But then again I'm an optimist not a victim.:p;)

[discowhite]

i said to more than one person at the last LR expo in sydney that it wasnt built well. too many stamped and pressed parts.

ide want my money back to put towards another brand.

cheers phil

[Scallops]

To be fair to OL - they bent over backwards to fix my initial failure with this carrier - and I have no reason to believe they won't be as helpful this time. I think if they repair it again - it should be bullet proof.

The purpose of my post was to alert others who have this carrier - so they can keep an eye on potential problem areas.

So again - I must congratulate OL in regard to their concern about my initial issue and their aftermarket support so far - I'll let you all know of the outcome once I've spoken to them today.