Best place to hold a spare wheel

Hi

Do people have any suggestions as to what is the best way of carrying a spare wheel. I have a 1990 defender 100 CSW.

I guess it could go on the bonnet, the back door or a swinging bracket. What are the pros and cons of each approach? If I use a bracket on the door, will the hinges hold the wheel okay, as the wheel is really heavy?

What would be the best place to buy brackets

Any suggestions?

cheers

Mike

Try doing a search. Cos funnily enough, you're not the first to ponder this question..

Pikey said:

Try doing a search. Cos funnily enough, you're not the first to ponder this question..

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You're being silly, that would require a tiny amount of effort on his part

I thought about putting mine on the bonnet but the trouble is the blurdy gurt wheel that's already there is right in the way.

blue beasty said:

I thought about putting mine on the bonnet but the trouble is the blurdy gurt wheel that's already there is right in the way.

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TOP TIP: If you drive a fender up the M6 Toll with a wheel on the bonnet you'll get charged as a van.

Almonds said:

TOP TIP: If you drive a fender up the M6 Toll with a wheel on the bonnet you'll get charged as a van.

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And what's the logic behind that?

Must be lots of transits kicking about with the wheel on the bonnet

Thought we were going in a more friendly direction


Re op's question,

The rear door was never designed to hold the weight of the spare, in a few years (if it hasnt already the door will have fracture's around the wheel mounts,

Legally, a spare on the bonnet is illegal past a certain year (95 i think) but that hasnt stopped anyone and as far as I know no-one whos done it to a younger model has been stopped,

Most either throw it in the back or leave it.

Mine's on the bonnet.

Only disadvantage I can think of is it makes the bonnet heavy to open and close.

Fixing kits for the bonnet are quite expensive (MOD ones at least) and you need the fixed bonnet stay rather than the folding type.

Advatages are it's out of the way, looks good and increases MPG.

On the few occasions where I've driven without my spare on the bonnet, I always think the Landy looks naked!

Jonnyb1990 said:

Thought we were going in a more friendly direction


Re op's question,

The rear door was never designed to hold the weight of the spare, in a few years (if it hasnt already the door will have fracture's around the wheel mounts,

Legally, a spare on the bonnet is illegal past a certain year (95 i think) but that hasnt stopped anyone and as far as I know no-one whos done it to a younger model has been stopped,

Most either throw it in the back or leave it.

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Can't be 95. My 96 P has factory fitted Bonnet mount as does the 96 pick up I went to look at tuther day.

Pikey said:

Can't be 95. My 96 P has factory fitted Bonnet mount as does the 96 pick up I went to look at tuther day.

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Not about to go look it up

But its certainly pre 2000

Jonnyb1990 said:

Thought we were going in a more friendly direction
.

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Who int being friendly??

Jonnyb1990 said:

Not about to go look it up

But its certainly pre 2000

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I has had a look Seems LR stopped doing em when the TD5 came out due to lack of room between bonnet & engine. But nothing to say it's illegal. Lots of muttering about EU impact laws & mot regs but no one's posting any proof that it's illegal.

Pikey said:

I has had a look Seems LR stopped doing em when the TD5 came out due to lack of room between bonnet & engine. But nothing to say it's illegal. Lots of muttering about EU impact laws & mot regs but no one's posting any proof that it's illegal.

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If I had to take the choice (and it's not a choice I would like to take), think I would rather be hit by a rubber tyre than the windscreen

sp00k said:

If I had to take the choice (and it's not a choice I would like to take), think I would rather be hit by a rubber tyre than the windscreen

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I imagine the concern is it flying through the air dragging a crumpled bonnet with it in an impact but as Pikey says I've not seen anything to say it's illegal

Pikey said:

I has had a look Seems LR stopped doing em when the TD5 came out due to lack of room between bonnet & engine. But nothing to say it's illegal. Lots of muttering about EU impact laws & mot regs but no one's posting any proof that it's illegal.

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Thats my understanding too, and they made the bonnet "lighter" ie not as strong.

It does depend on what tyres you run too, Ive got 235/85s not sure id want to go much wider or Id loose a bit much visibility.

Re the M6 toll, only if you use an automated barrier, it goes off height at the front axle or summat, use a manned booth and its fine so im told.

As before, they are hard on the rear doors. I keep mine inside unless I need the space. There is a theory that they reduce bonnet noise (panel boom) when mounted on the bonnet. They are heavy buggers, and are a pain to get on and off a bonnet. The roof is even worse, especially with a 235/85 tyre - and you get to watch them bounce/roll into the distance when you drop them off a roof.

No one defending the swing away wheel carrier?

Like the look of one on the bonnet but not the added weight when opening

Inside the load space eats valuable room for me (althoguh rear bulkhead mount is not a bad option at all)

Swing away takes weight off door hinges, and if you buy one that opens with the door (not separately) they work well.

Suprisingly the Bitpaart Paddocks one is very solid - just the usual hassle with holes not quite lining up to fit

One thingto be aware of, the rear door needs to have been designed to carry the wheel, or you'll need to rivet in strengthening struts

Got a swing away on mine.
Works great.
Only complaint is that it rattles.

I have a Mantec rear carrier. I got it for my rear tyre bike rack thing so the extra weight wouldn't bust the door. Works a treat no real problems.

The early stn wgn door carries them OK for years, as long as you keep striker and hinges in good order. Then when they went to defender from 90/110 , panels were thinned etc etc . Since then rear door cracks, and also bonnet splits especially if used on corrugated bush roads regularly . The bonnet became a non issue when TD5, as engine was too tall for chassis, so they had to stop bonnet fitting. Then puma which was even taller, and they had to put bulge in bonnet , which even if it was strong enough would have put wheel too high in line of sight .