Thread: Spare Tyre Location

Rod, this is on ebay now
Landrover Discovery 3 4 Frontrunner Swing Away Spare Wheel Carrier | eBay

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Originally Posted by ~Rich~

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.

Originally Posted by sheerluck

unlocks itself when the tailgate is opened.

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

Originally Posted by ~Rich~

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.

Originally Posted by sheerluck

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.

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

Originally Posted by BMKal

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.