New Truck W/ New Wheels And Tires! Need some Advice.

[H2 Doberman]

Do you still have your old steps Tim?

[OrangeCrush]

The door handles aren't hard to take off, they're just a pain because of what goes with them. The real pain is that there is a pin that has to be taken out to switch the handles once out of the truck. The pins are not replaceable.

If you have an issue and you're in NC, stop by one of my bodyshops, I'll swap them out for you.

As far as the spare, I pulled mine from the truck but kept the carrier just in case. I think if the spare matches the rest of the wheels, it looks great.

The only reason I pulled mine is because it's a PIA to have to swing the carrier out to open the tailgate.

[MONSTERMATT]

If you go with the spare, match it with the rest. I had my spare on there for a few years , first a 37 in grappler and then a 37in rockstar. I just took it off, i always struggled with the fact that when viewed fromm the side it looked "droopy" and sagged with that God awful "gap". However, from the back it looks really good. I know lucky1 and i discussed this and he is contemplating fabricating a bracket to snug the spare up closer to the body.

[xZach]

put the spare in the bed... rally truck style

[H2 Doberman]

Originally Posted by OrangeCrush

The door handles aren't hard to take off, they're just a pain because of what goes with them. The real pain is that there is a pin that has to be taken out to switch the handles once out of the truck. The pins are not replaceable.

If you have an issue and you're in NC, stop by one of my bodyshops, I'll swap them out for you.

As far as the spare, I pulled mine from the truck but kept the carrier just in case. I think if the spare matches the rest of the wheels, it looks great.

The only reason I pulled mine is because it's a PIA to have to swing the carrier out to open the tailgate.

I love the way the back looks without the spare. I agree that it is a PIA to have to swing the carrier out to open the tailgate. You can't carry anything long that would require having the gate open either. I still can't make up my mind!

[CG07SUT]

A few people have asked me to post some photos of the custom spare tire carrier that I fabbed for my 07 SUT. Within 5 minutes of owning my truck, I removed the factory carrier as I do use my truck like a truck. I have carried 16 foot lumber in it, and to be able to drive with the bed gate down, the factory carrier had to be removed. This is my third version, still needs some paint so forgive the surface rust.

It is made out of 2" square tube steel, 1/4" thick. It fits in my receiver hitch so it can be snug to the bed for normal driving, or extended for use with the gate down. It is also extremely easy to remove for the clean no spare look. I generally do not keep the spare on, only when I am driving any distance. I also did a couple of things to it so that it can be converted into a couple other pieces that I use from time to time.