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Ayrshirelandy

Member Since: 28 Mar 2015
Location: Ayrshire
Posts: 140

Swing away wheel carrier

I am looking for a wheel carrier that allows the spare wheel to swing away from the rear door to allow easier coupling / uncoupling of trailers with the door closed. All the ones I have seen seem to assist the rear door with the weight as the door opens as opposed to allowing the wheel to swing away independently. Does anybody have any recommendations?

2015 Defender 110 XS Utility Santorini Black, sawtooth alloys, steps and so much more...........

7th Apr 2016 9:09pm

ericvv

Member Since: 02 Jun 2011
Location: Near the Jet d'Eau
Posts: 5816

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

Is it something like in below pictures you are looking for? Australian Kaymar, probably the most reliable and strongest commercially available wheel carrier in existence.
No need for any drilling into the truck body either, the carrier fully bolts on into the chassis via the existing holes in the rear cross member, both the right hand side which carries the load, as well as the left hand side locking plate mechanism. Mine is on for about 6 years now, works as the first day, no play, no give, no need for any maintenance at all, zero rust.
The European importers are Outback Import in France. I contacted them at the time and they referred me to their Swiss distributor, worked all very well.
Here is their website: http://www.outback-import.fr/fr
Does not come cheap though, but you surely get bang for your buck.
One thing, do you have a 5 seater or a 7 seater? Seems in the UK if you have 3rd row seats there is a requirement that those passengers need to be able to open the safari door themselves from the inside.
Eric

Click image to enlarge
In below picture you see my engineering solution to keep the door from swinging closed by itself. That was until Olaf tightened the door stay up. The bungee cord went back in its storage now.

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This one is a very recent picture with detail of the wheel carrier, different mudflaps...

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Detail of the carrying cylinder and spreader plate...

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Click image to enlarge You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o
https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I
https://vimeo.com/201482507
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw

7th Apr 2016 11:07pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

There are basically two types of swing away wheel carrier.

One stage opening, which just opens with the rear door, or two stage opening where you open the wheel carrier and then open the rear door.

As far as I am aware it is illegal in the UK to have a two stage opening wheel carrier if you have seats in the back where the passengers gain access via the rear door. The rationale being that in an emergency those passengers would need outside assistance to exit the vehicle.

For two stage opening wheel carrier your choices are

1) Kaymar as mentioned by Eric, which in the UK is over a £1,000 I believe, no drilling of the bodywork.

2) Allisport/Sonic wheel carrier as 1) with a price tag of about £800

3) Nakatanenga the only stainless wheel carrier at about £650

4) Safari Equip tailgate wheel carrier at about £250 but need to drill the bodywork.

However I am not sure that 1and 2 would be right for you as they have a clamp to be released on the nearside and this long bottom bar may clash with the trailer jockey wheel.. Also need 2 people or clamber over trailer A frame. That last point would also apply to 4) as well.

Now of the single stage opening wheel carrier there are two which might help you.

1) Nakatanenga standard stainless wheel carrier at about £600

2). Safari Equip single pivot wheel carrier.

Both of those lift the spare wheel up by about 50mm.

Depending on your tow setup and how difficult you find attaching the trailer.

Consider an Alko tow ball which has a longer neck.

Space out the standard tow ball or Alko tow ball ensure the new longer bolts are of the right tensile strength 12.9 (?)

Consider a Dixon Bates shock link which moves the tow ball 50-75 mm out from the rear cross member.

Give me a ring if you want more info

Brendan

8th Apr 2016 12:23am

Supacat

Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green

OP - Don't forget to ask anyone that wants to sell you a swing away wheel carrier whether it contravenes The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 - specifically Regulation 19.

Some makes do and some makes don't.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/contents/made

8th Apr 2016 9:24am

Peter D

Member Since: 03 Mar 2016
Location: Surrey
Posts: 28

Another option would be to consider having a rear step tow bar, I inherited one with my 90HT and find it relatively easy to hook up a trailer with the spare wheel in situ.
Here's a couple of pics

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Regards

8th Apr 2016 10:30am

Ayrshirelandy

Member Since: 28 Mar 2015
Location: Ayrshire
Posts: 140

Thanks for all of these........now time to choose. 2015 Defender 110 XS Utility Santorini Black, sawtooth alloys, steps and so much more...........

8th Apr 2016 12:53pm

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