Trailering with External Spare

[glennc]

Is anyone else having problems with interference with the external spare tire carrier and trailers? My motorcycle trailer won't let my carrier swing open enough to open the back.

[glennc]

...Oh and my hitch drops 10" and back away from the H2 about a foot.

[glennc]

...and I had to put a swing-away style jack on the trailer so it wouldn't hit the spare tire when turning the vehicle. All is well now to tow the little trailer but I still can't open the back due to the spare tire carrier hitting the front of the trailer.

[DRTYF? (the imposter)]

Yeah I ended up removing the carrier.. Looks better without anyway. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[PARAGON]

I have a 37x12.5 MT/R on the back and have no problems trailering. It's all in preparation. Get the right hitch bar and a decent trailer and there is no problems. My 18' enclosed has the jack in the center of the "V" at the front of the frame. All it does on it is keep you from jack-knifing it hard.

Look for a hitch bar called something like Alumastinger. It's rated at 14,000lbs with a 1,400lb tongue weight but it moves the ball further back away from the vehicle. 3 or 4 more inches than the average pull bar. This allows for more turn radius before or if you hit the spare.

[PARAGON]

Originally posted by glennc:
...and I had to put a swing-away style jack on the trailer so it wouldn't hit the spare tire when turning the vehicle. All is well now to tow the little trailer but I still can't open the back due to the spare tire carrier hitting the front of the trailer. On 2 of my trailers I have to jack-knife them just right to get the carrier to swing all the way open.

[glennc]

That is what I figured (jack knifing) in order to swing away the spare and open the door. This is a hassle. In some ways I wish my '05 didn't come stock with the external spare tire carrier though it does give more internal space. I guess there is just no optimal option for this issue. Thanks all.

[TXSUT]

Originally posted by glennc:
I still can't open the back due to the spare tire carrier hitting the front of the trailer.

Would a receiver extender work? I have one (made by Curt) which I think is about 13" long, and it, along with the "Alumistinger" 8"-drop, gave me the clearance I needed to clear the front rail of my dirtbike trailer.

[PARAGON]

There were no extensions I found that had the weight capacity I needed for my trailers.

[TXSUT]

Originally posted by PARAGON:
There were no extensions I found that had the weight capacity I needed for my trailers.

I was assuming that glennc was pulling a pretty light-weight trailer by the way he was talking.

[PARAGON]

After you brought that up I went and looked again and found this. Might work.

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PR...62&Category_Code=RTH (http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=E&Product_Code=45162&Category_Code=RTH)

You can cut it off to set it up for a 24" extension and it has a 6Klb rating.

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/dt/bm/45162.jpg

[TXSUT]

What's "WC" vs. "WD" when they talk about load ratings?

I like the fact that it has chain hooks on it. I was going to get some welded onto mine, as I currently have to use a second safety chain to reach all the way back to the receiver.

[PARAGON]

I am not sure. It's not standard language but I would guess "Weight Carrying" and "Weight Distributing."

[TXSUT]

Ah, I bet you are correct.

[glennc]

Thanks again for the additional thoughts on this subject. I will just leave my setup as is and deal with the door opening issue for now. The thought of the receiver extended is good for my motorcycle/utility trailer but won't work for the boat I wish to pull. Thanks again.

[dochummer]

Originally posted by DRTYF?:
Yeah I ended up removing the carrier.. Looks better without anyway. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

When did you take yours off Drty? I've been thinking about getting a rack, and throwing the spare up on top....