Bonnet wheel carrier

duncanpage4 · Apr 20, 2014

I'm planning a long distance trip & would like to carry an additional spare wheel.
The roof will be full so I'd like to mount a wheel on the bonnet.
Is there a specific carrier I'd need or can I use a universal one?
Has anyone else mounted a wheel on their bonnet?
I was thinking of fitting piston bonnet struts to assist in lifting the bonnet with the additional weight.

Hippo · Apr 20, 2014

Someone put up a pic of a Freelander with a wheel on the bonnet, to take the **** out of the tratterers. It blocks a lot of view on a Freelander. I don't know if the bonnet could take the weight/vibration at speed.

Brack · Apr 21, 2014

Wonder if it's possible to make a 2 up spare wheel carrier - with longer studs to fit two wheels on ...don't know if it would be strong enough and there would be a lot more weight on the tailgate hinges ...just an idea

teddywood1 · Apr 21, 2014

if you have a a frame on the front why not put one on there

Nodge68 · Apr 21, 2014

Brack said:
Wonder if it's possible to make a 2 up spare wheel carrier - with longer studs to fit two wheels on ...don't know if it would be strong enough and there would be a lot more weight on the tailgate hinges ...just an idea

This would be my preferred option. Should be easy enough to make longer studs.

Bonnet mounting would require a frame under the skin to take the weight to the side frame. Less than ideal tbh.

JC600 · Apr 21, 2014

Where's your trip, main roads? Through towns & Cities? If so, it would easy to get a tyre replaced.....if it's all off road, I'd see if you could get two on the back next to each other with a custom bracket. And use a tailboard.

duncanpage4 · Apr 21, 2014

Mains roads to north Italy to stop off at a friends, then down to Gibraltar & into Morocco. It's the Morocco bit that worries me. Being a 2dr I've got the silly roof bars & even having tightened everything up the bars still have a bit of movement, so I don't want to load too much on the roof.
My other cars have always said "max 75kg" on the roof bars but felt like they could take a bit more, these Freelander ones give me the feeling that 75kg is all thee take!

duncanpage4 · Apr 21, 2014

Nodge68 said:
Bonnet mounting would require a frame under the skin to take the weight to the side frame. Less than ideal tbh.

I was thinking of strengthening the bonnet with some 3mm chequer plate.

Would the rear door hinges cope with the added weight of longer studs & an additional wheel?

yellow90 · Apr 21, 2014

duncanpage4 said:
I was thinking of strengthening the bonnet with some 3mm chequer plate.

Would the rear door hinges cope with the added weight of longer studs & an additional wheel?

I would be very surprised if it can cope with that much weight on the hinges, id remove the current spare wheel and holder and make a swingaway to fit then fit both wheels to that, or fit a defender rear door mount onto your bonnet with some strenthing and series rubber pads

Winu · Apr 21, 2014

First of all - very bad idea. Your visibility will be poor, bonnet construction and hinges can't take weight of wheel and forces when driving and braking.

Second. You don't really need two spares in modern world. Just buy an tire fixing tool if you would like be safe, and good compressor.
Guys from 2012 London-Cape Town rally use a ex CT Freelander. They drove through Africa with one spare

JC600 · Apr 21, 2014

If you really have take two spares, you would need something custom made and probs a steel rear bumper to take the strain. And use a trailer lighting board. Like this.

Kaymar Rear Bars, Spare Wheel Carriers, Jerrycan Holders & Accessories

dave21478 · Apr 21, 2014

You are going to Morocco, not the moon! one spare should be fine, but if you are worried, then take something like this....

And a portable compressor.

Quick, easy and efficient. Not strictly road-legal in UK, but will get you out of bother until you can get back to civilisation and have it repaired properly or replaced.

Alternatively, if you know how to remove and refit tyres yourself, a couple of tyre levers and some proper mushroom plugs will see you right. Could even take an entire spare tyre - less weight than a complete wheel and easier to pack.

jacksta · Apr 21, 2014

I saw a discovery on the M62 with a spare wheel mounted on the bonnet. It was just a normal road going disco with a caravan, not a modified off roader.
The way the wheel was wobbling around scared me.
A swing away would probably be the best way if you really think you need 2 spares.
Another option may be one spare and tyre pressure monitor? That way you get some warning of a puncture before it is flat and damaged by the run flat heat.

TD4_4x4 · Apr 22, 2014

If you want a bonnet mount for a wheel, maybe some like this design discussed in the link below?
http://forum.lro.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=73587

]

Thor1950 · Apr 22, 2014

dave21478 said:
You are going to Morocco, not the moon! one spare should be fine, but if you are worried, then take something like this....

And a portable compressor.

Quick, easy and efficient. Not strictly road-legal in UK, but will get you out of bother until you can get back to civilisation and have it repaired properly or replaced.

Alternatively, if you know how to remove and refit tyres yourself, a couple of tyre levers and some proper mushroom plugs will see you right. Could even take an entire spare tyre - less weight than a complete wheel and easier to pack.

Nothing wrong with that fix kit for the tread of a tyre

Have fixed many a tyre and gone thousands of miles on them with out a failure

Nodge68 · Apr 23, 2014

duncanpage4 said:
I was thinking of strengthening the bonnet with some 3mm chequer plate.

Would the rear door hinges cope with the added weight of longer studs & an additional wheel?

Rear door will take the weight ok but obviously will put more load on the rear axle.
If you wanted a bonnet mounted wheel, you would need to make a frame under the bonnet to take the weight. This frame could fit the the body much like a strut brace would fit. The bonnet would then just be sandwiched between the wheel and supporting frame. It's quite some work but the only real way to go bonnet mounted.

duncanpage4 · Apr 23, 2014

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

I'm guessing the weight of the bonnet frame & bracing would be more weight over the front axle than the weight of carrying an additional spare wheel on the rear door over the rear axle.
Rear carrier seems like less work.

Nodge68 · Apr 23, 2014

duncanpage4 said:
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

I'm guessing the weight of the bonnet frame & bracing would be more weight over the front axle than the weight of carrying an additional spare wheel on the rear door over the rear axle.
Rear carrier seems like less work.

Not necessarily. Adding weight directly over the the front axle would have less of an effect than the same weight behind the rear axle.
Rear carrier would be less work though.

Skynet · Apr 23, 2014

So you don't think much of fitting one to 'A' frame in front?

GrumpyGel · Apr 23, 2014

I think I'd be more inclined to carry the Freelander specific bits that are likely to fail - ie a spare IRD or rebuild kits for local garages to fit. If you're worried the locals might not be able to get hold of the right size tyre, see if you can get a 'tube for your size wheel/tyre.

Bonnet wheel carrier

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