Land Rover Spare tyre holder Question

:-) thanks for your advice ... you have both helped me decide .. its a bonnet mounted 7.50x16 wheel ... and just maybe a diamond hidden :-)

Just don't fix it to the bonnet using pop rivets , I did when I was younger & nothing gets the heart racing like watching your spare tyre sliding across your bonnet & bouncing across Mona Vale road through traffic!

My brother has 31" x 9" tyres on his S11a and we fitted the tyre on the bonnet as we wanted to get it off the tailgate. Well we drove home from the bolt shop with the tyre on the bonnet and decided it was way too dangerous to have it on the bonnet.

I had a standard 7.50 on the bonnet of my grey wagon and the blind spot was quite acceptable.

Chris

I carried a 750x16 on the bonnet of my Series III for 200,000km over a couple of decades, including the Oodnadatta Track, the Tanami, the Cobbler Desert, and the Gibb River Road.

I never found the weight a big problem. Visibility was rarely a problem, except when cresting a rise.

According to a mob in South Africa, actually having the wheel on the bonnet makes the flying brick more aero dynamic ( off a very low base admittedly ) by about 8%.

Can't remember where, when, etc as it was a while ago I came across the article but it was a reviewed university thesis.

Cheers guys ... Interesting feedback and a lot of help

With a 7.50R16 and steel rim on it I can lift my bonnet with one hand whilst the other operates the lever. I'm no strongarm either. Bend your knees, get the heel of your palm under the edge of the bonnet, and lift with your legs.
That said if I am doing prolonged repairs, I take the wheel off.

Craig,

Hello again - from Launceston on tour.

Given the nature of the travel you have in mind from our various pm's, it might pay to also consider looking out for a wagon rear door with the spare mount. That way you can carry two spares without losing space in the cab.

Cheers,

Hi ... I have been looking at that idea ... either a swing mount .. or .... can a wagon rear door fit my S3??????

Unfortunately, my dad found that mounting the wheel on the back door of his series 2A broke the door frame. Especially, when as a kid, I would slam the door.