Defender Spare Wheel carrier

My rear door catch is beginning to signs of the stress of carrying the
spare on the rear door and I'm thinking o fitting a spare wheel carrier
on my 98 Defender. There are some listed in the Product Review section
of this months LRO. Anyone any experience of these or any others they
can recommend. The Scorpion RWC-Hl provides for carrying a Hi-Lift, but
it looks as if it obscures the rear fog.
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 21:27:43 +0100, hugh <hugh@[127.0.0.1]> wrote:

>My rear door catch is beginning to signs of the stress of carrying the
>spare on the rear door and I'm thinking o fitting a spare wheel carrier
>on my 98 Defender. There are some listed in the Product Review section
>of this months LRO. Anyone any experience of these or any others they
>can recommend. The Scorpion RWC-Hl provides for carrying a Hi-Lift, but
>it looks as if it obscures the rear fog.

Indeed. I fiited one yesterday, and when the hi-lift is attached it
obscures the reversing light. Here, reverse is on the right had side
of the car, fog is left.
So I would venture it's actually illegal to drive with the hi-lift
attached in your neck of the woods.

Peter R.

In article <[email protected]>, hugh wrote:
> My rear door catch is beginning to signs of the stress of carrying the
> spare on the rear door and I'm thinking o fitting a spare wheel carrier
> on my 98 Defender. There are some listed in the Product Review section
> of this months LRO. Anyone any experience of these or any others they
> can recommend. The Scorpion RWC-Hl provides for carrying a Hi-Lift, but
> it looks as if it obscures the rear fog.

I've got the Bearmach one on my Defender. Got it from Paddocks earlier in
the year when they had them on offer.

I found it a bit fiddly to fit, but that may just be me. I was very nervous
about drilling holes in the bodywork and rear door! Where it mounts to the
rear door caused me a headache as the carrier lifted slightly when open
relative to the door. I got round this by making the holes in the door much
larger than they needed to be and using some rubber hose for a bush, this
allows for the lifting of the carrier.

It's a very sturdy piece of kit that seems well made. In the LRO article
they don't mention that it *does* have grease nipples on all moving parts
despite saying its a very important feature. Mine does have them and you
can just make them out in the pictures in LRO.

HTH

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

I fitted the Bearmach one, which was cheaper than the one from mantec, and
worked fine.

Pieter

"hugh" <hugh@[127.0.0.1]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My rear door catch is beginning to signs of the stress of carrying the
> spare on the rear door and I'm thinking o fitting a spare wheel carrier
> on my 98 Defender. There are some listed in the Product Review section of
> this months LRO. Anyone any experience of these or any others they can
> recommend. The Scorpion RWC-Hl provides for carrying a Hi-Lift, but it
> looks as if it obscures the rear fog.
> --
> hugh
> Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

we have a mantec one. good but expensive


"hugh" <hugh@[127.0.0.1]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My rear door catch is beginning to signs of the stress of carrying the
> spare on the rear door and I'm thinking o fitting a spare wheel carrier
> on my 98 Defender. There are some listed in the Product Review section of
> this months LRO. Anyone any experience of these or any others they can
> recommend. The Scorpion RWC-Hl provides for carrying a Hi-Lift, but it
> looks as if it obscures the rear fog.
> --
> hugh
> Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

In message <[email protected]>, Peter R.
<[email protected]> writes
>On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 21:27:43 +0100, hugh <hugh@[127.0.0.1]> wrote:
>
>>My rear door catch is beginning to signs of the stress of carrying the
>>spare on the rear door and I'm thinking o fitting a spare wheel carrier
>>on my 98 Defender. There are some listed in the Product Review section
>>of this months LRO. Anyone any experience of these or any others they
>>can recommend. The Scorpion RWC-Hl provides for carrying a Hi-Lift, but
>>it looks as if it obscures the rear fog.
>
>Indeed. I fiited one yesterday, and when the hi-lift is attached it
>obscures the reversing light. Here, reverse is on the right had side
>of the car, fog is left.
>So I would venture it's actually illegal to drive with the hi-lift
>attached in your neck of the woods.
>
>Peter R.
Thanks for that Peter - and also every one else who has responded.
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 21:27:43 +0100, hugh <hugh@[127.0.0.1]> wrote:

>My rear door catch is beginning to signs of the stress of carrying the
>spare on the rear door and I'm thinking o fitting a spare wheel carrier
>on my 98 Defender. There are some listed in the Product Review section
>of this months LRO. Anyone any experience of these or any others they
>can recommend. The Scorpion RWC-Hl provides for carrying a Hi-Lift, but
>it looks as if it obscures the rear fog.

I fitted the Mantec one after much consideration of the others
available. It was simple to fit, requiring no extra holes drilling
anywhere, just one needing enlarging as I recall. Mine too had a
tendency to lift as the door was swung open. But with the Mantec one
that can be adjusted for by adding or subtracting the spacer plates on
the cross-member end mounting, until the door and carrier remain in
perfect alignment throughout the arc of travel. Plus it's maintenance
free, having nylon bushes and door attachment piston.

It costs more than others, but I personally believe it's worth the
extra.

HTH

Neil

(Reply via NG please)