The spare wheel on standard Landrovers is carried on the rear door. This can cause problems with premature hinge wear particularly where larger, heavier tyres are fitted. The solution to the problem is to fit a dedicated spare wheel carrier that transfers the load to the body and chassis. Two types are available; those that simply pivot away from the rear door and are held in the closed position with a pin and spring and those that open and close with the rear door. The disadvantage with the former is that it is not possible to open the rear door from the inside until someone has pivoted the spare wheel away from the outside. This is inconvenient at best and dangerous at worst where you are carrying passengers in the rear.
Angus already came fitted with a spare wheel carrier of the latter type and, having looked around the internet it seems to be a ‘Scorpion’ one complete with carrier for a high lift jack. Although the carrier worked OK, it seemed to have been fitted incorrectly. There is a rubber buffer on the bracket that fixes to the rear door. As fitted, the buffer was to the left and served no purpose. Worse than that, it allowed the mechanism to go ‘over centre’ which had the effect of jamming the door in the closed position particularly if parked facing downhill.
Carrier as fitted
I figured that all I needed to do was to flip the bracket upside down and this would place the rubber buffer under the pivot arm, stop the carrier from rattling and prevent it going over centre.
I removed the bracket, flipped it over but it was clear that new holes would need to be drilled to place the bracket in the correct position.
Bracket turned over and re-fitted
I fitted some reinforcing washers behind the mounting bolts. Although there is a fair sized plate fitted to the outside of the door it isn’t particularly substantial. I’m still not happy that the pivot mounts away from the strongest part of the door but it will have to do until the rear door is replaced sometime in the future. I may then replace the carrier with one from Paddocks which mounts the pivot over the reinforcement braces in the centre of the door.
Reinforcing washers. Main door reinforcements can be seen to the left
All fitted back together. The door now opens easily from inside or outside and there are no more rattles as the carrier swings back and forth!
Fitted back together
