Rear wheel carriers for Defenders/Countys

[rijidij]

I'm half way through designing and constructing a new rear wheel carrier to suit a County / Defender.

When it comes to a carrier that attaches to the chassis, such as a Kaymar in the second pic below, what are the differences in the rear chassis member, if any, from model to model, including the '08 Defender, as far as all the standard holes are concerned. I'd guess that they are the same from Countys to Defenders up to about '02, but I'm not sure if anything changed from here on the rear member. My carrier will be attached to the chassis using original holes.

I've also read elsewhere on the forum that you have to modify a Bearmach rear wheel carrier to fit the latest Defender. I presume this is the type of carrier that attaches in 2 places like the one in the first pic below. What is different on the new '08 (Puma) Defender that it needs to be changed.

I'd like to see details of the different models, but I suppose what i'm basically asking is, if, and which wheel carriers are transferable between which model Defenders/Countys etc etc

Cheers, Murray

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/783.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/784.jpg

This is the rear of my '99 Defender

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/785.jpg

[Sleepy]

I have a Kaymar carrier on my 05 td5. Originally fitted to my 2001 110 but transfered it to the 90.
Had to slightly cut the rear cross member to make it fit. My 05 defender is a South African and has slightly different rear cross member to body mounts.

Bit hard to explain but can post a pic if you're interested.

[dmdigital]

08 Defender is the same, the door has changed (slightly) but the cross member is basically the same and has the same holes.

[crump]

which ever way you go, either make the mounting plate to the rear cross member BIG or insert crush tubes on the bolts within the cross member or both, or it will distort.

[rijidij]

Had to slightly cut the rear cross member to make it fit.

Bit hard to explain but can post a pic if you're interested.

Do you mean you had to cut the cross member on the vehicle itself, or cut part of the carrier mounting bracket to make it fit.

[rijidij]

which ever way you go, either make the mounting plate to the rear cross member BIG or insert crush tubes on the bolts within the cross member or both, or it will distort.

I made this wheel carrier for my County. It's been on there for about 9 years with no problems, and that's with a 255/85/16 tyre, a high lift jack and a 20 litre jerry hanging off it. No crush tubes, but it's got large backing plates for the bolts and the main bracket covers the chassis rail from top to bottom where it's strongest.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/767.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/768.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/769.jpg


This is what I've done so far on the new one........I'll be making this one open with the door...........

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/770.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/771.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/772.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/773.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/774.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/775.jpg

[Bearman]

12860

12861

12862

12863

12864Murray,
Heres a few pics of one I built about 15yrs ago and it was originally fitted to a S3 wagon. When I bought my County I transferred it after adding the rear roof (mine was a bicentennial dualcab before transformation) The S3 has a rear door and the 110 only has a tailgate so it will fit both types and mounts on the body not the chassis. I have done many outback trips on corrugated/washed out roads and there is no sign of fatigue damage. I built it pretty robust and the tyre is a 235/85/16 mounted on it. Regards...Brian12860

[rijidij]

I have done many outback trips on corrugated/washed out roads and there is no sign of fatigue damage. I built it pretty robust and the tyre is a 235/85/16 mounted on it. Regards...Brian

Thanks for the pics Brian,
It is amazing what punishment some accessories
actually put up with. I've been guilty of over engineering things in the past, but you learn with experience.

Murray

[Chucaro]

[QUOTE=rijidij;894088]I made this wheel carrier for my County. It's been on there for about 9 years with no problems, and that's with a 255/85/16 tyre, a high lift jack and a 20 litre jerry hanging off it. No crush tubes, but it's got large backing plates for the bolts and the main bracket covers the chassis rail from top to bottom where it's strongest.


This is what I've done so far on the new one........I'll be making this one open with the door...........

Very nice and strong job.
Just fit a grease nipple in the bush to keep the berings fully lubricated.
I am looking forward to the finished job.
Are you going to sell them or is a one off job?

[rijidij]

Just fit a grease nipple in the bush to keep the bearings fully lubricated.

Are you going to sell them or is a one off job?

I actually just bought some grease nipples today.

At this stage I am making 2 wheel carriers to start with, hoping that the sale of the second one will cover my costs of the project.
I'm very happy with how things are coming together so far. I'll post more pics as the project continues.
I'll see how these turn out first before deciding wether to make any more.

Cheers, Murray

[EchiDna]

seen this:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/35602-defender-spare-wheel-carrier-kaymar-copy-how-make-your-own.html

[crump]

Damn thats some nice looking work:cool:, not doubting your skills, but dont the earlier defenders have a stronger cross member?

[rijidij]

seen this:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/35602-defender-spare-wheel-carrier-kaymar-copy-how-make-your-own.html

Yeah, even though I've been meaning to make some wheel carriers for a while, Clarkie's thread got my **** into gear because of the flangeless hubs. Getting the hubs saved a whole lot of mucking around (even if you can only get them from WA)

Cheers, Murray

[rijidij]

dont the earlier defenders have a stronger cross member?

That's why I asked the questions at the start of this thread. If I did end up selling a wheel carrier to a fellow member, I would feel bad if it didn't fit, not that I wouldn't be happy to sort out any problems of corse. I'm just not sure if there are any differences from one model to another. I prefer to do things right the first time if I can. :D

Cheers

[rar110]

some good looking wheel carriers there.

Murray how is the round axle held in place, and what diameter did you use?

I am looking at making a swing out camp kitchen based on the same setup.

thanks

Peter

[rijidij]

Murray how is the round axle held in place, and what diameter did you use?

thanks

Peter

G'day Peter,
The axle will be welded to the bracket.
It's a 39mm diameter standard stub axle.

Cheers

[isuzubob]

I'm just not sure if there are any differences from one model to another. I prefer to do things right the first time if I can. :D

Cheers

County's until (I think) 1987 still had the bracket for the hinge for a drop down tail gate. When Fred Smith made up my carrier over ten years ago he simply cut the bracket off.

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6775/countychassis001mq0.th.jpg (http://img210.imageshack.us/my.php?image=countychassis001mq0.jpg)

HTH,
Rob

[rijidij]

County's until (I think) 1987 still had the bracket for the hinge for a drop down tail gate.

Rob

Thanks for reminding me Rob. I knew there would be something i'd forget.
Nothing an angle grinder wont fix......afterall, how many Countys have you seen fitted with a drop down tail gate.

Murray

[rijidij]

I'm still on holidays, so I've managed to get a fair bit done on the carriers.
Looking at wheel carriers, there doesn't seem to be a lot to them, but if you break it down it's surprising how many bits there are.
This picture shows all the individual components.......approx' 104 pieces so far.
Once I've drilled a few more holes, tapped some threads etc etc, I can start welding things together.

Murray

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/597.jpg

[rijidij]

A bit more progress. It's the fiddly little bits like this that take time.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/536.jpg

[rovercare]

Fantastic work!:)

[Dave_S]

That really is looking pretty special. Keen to see the end result - shame you'll have to hide it behind a wheel:D

[pooky]

Hi Murrey

I was just wondering were you got the steel boss from i am looking at doing the same thing. I have the stub axle but don't have the steel boss

Kev

[rijidij]

Hi Murrey

I was just wondering were you got the steel boss from i am looking at doing the same thing. I have the stub axle but don't have the steel boss

Kev

G'day Kev,
It seems the only place you can get flangeless hubs in Australia is in WA >>>>>>>>>> Martin's Trailer Parts - Category Listings (http://www.trailerparts.net.au/shop/shopsb.php?CategoryID=1099637554&PHPSESSID=d0c988e3025e5046e9916e9212196ebd)
Part number C0131 fits a standard 39mm round stub axle, and comes with the bearings.

Cheers, Murray

[idletorque]

Murray,

You'll find the major differences in mounting due to the rear door changes. Not so much the chassis.

Post Td5 they went to all steel doors. All models before that had aluminum skinned doors with a steel frame that was prone to cracking and thus caused the need to have a separate carrier.

Having one that operates when opened with the rear door is the only way to go if you ask me. One handed operation and no silly separate locking mechanisms required!!

Yours looks the goods - good luck with it!

Best regards,
Greg

[rijidij]

You'll find the major differences in mounting due to the rear door changes. Not so much the chassis.

Post Td5 they went to all steel doors. All models before that had aluminum skinned doors with a steel frame that was prone to cracking and thus caused the need to have a separate carrier.

Best regards,
Greg

I had a look at the new type door yesterday. The Defender I was looking at had a swing away wheel carrier on it. The owner still doesn't trust the new door to handle the weight of the spare.

Another thing I noticed is the 'tags' are missing from the rear chassis member on Defenders from sometime in 2002, and the gap has been filled at the top of the chassis with a new fixing rail. Previously, this gap has been used to get a fixing plate through to the inside of the chassis.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/331.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/01/332.jpg

[rijidij]

As this has turned into a sort of project thread, I've started a proper project thread in the project section. Lots of pics etc etc >>>>>>>> http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/72442-rear-wheel-carrier-defender-county.html#post907025

Cheers, Murray