[timberface]

I bought a spare 31' tyre today and it won't fit on the rack, could I just drill the rack a bit and move it up about a inch?

Basically just modify the rack where it meets the bolts that go into the door and make the original holes a little longer, then tightened up the rack and fit the wheel..

Will the door be able for the extra weight?

[Scrawny]

The door is barely able to carry the original tyre. Keep an eye out for fatigue cracks on the door itself and also around the hinges.

[timberface]

What is a common solution for this problem then?

[henno]

timberface wrote:

What is a common solution for this problem then?

A swing-away tyre carrier is the common solution.

[suzukiboy]

Mine has carried a 30" tyre for years no problems.

My fix.

[timberface]

What is that^^^^

A custom plate on top of the original?

[Scrawny]

suzukiboy wrote:

Mine has carried a 30" tyre for years no problems.

What are the hinges and body around them like? What is years? 1-2? What sort of driving? Not having a go here, just curious

[jimny_timmy]

Jimny hinges hate 30's... So do the gas struts

[suzukiboy]

Yes a flat plate offset for the wheel nuts.

Had the 30" on there for 9 years.

I can't see any cracking.

[timberface]

suzukiboy wrote:

Yes a flat plate offset for the wheel nuts.

Had the 30" on there for 9 years.

I can see any cracking.

Where did you get it?

Could I get one, I've no access to any tools to do this work myself!

[christover1]

I redrilled holes and moved mine up.
Need to clearance the wiper arm if fitted.
I plated behind the holes to spread the load.
It was bloody hard to get into the bolts.
Plate on exterior a much better idea.

[got_bar_work]

Let all the air out and it will sit on the bumper
I has mine like that for years till I got rid of the bumper

[timberface]

got_bar_work wrote:

Let all the air out and it will sit on the bumper
I has mine like that for years till I got rid of the bumper

I would but my compresser isn't wired up..

It's another thing I have to do.

[timberface]

christover1 wrote:

I redrilled holes and moved mine up.
Need to clearance the wiper arm if fitted.
I plated behind the holes to spread the load.
It was bloody hard to get into the bolts.
Plate on exterior a much better idea.

I might be getting a custom plate made up like the blue pic..

How high would I need to put the new plate on the old one, 2 inches?

I lined it up yesterday and it only looked like it needed about 1/2 inch to fit but that was with the wheel sitting on the back bumper..

I don't want it too high that my rear window is unusable!

[christover1]

Bumper is only plastic, so it does give a bit.
As tyre will be further out, and bumper drops away, the lift may be less than you think.
Make it suit the tyre you want to fit,
remembering though, all tyres can be different sizes, if you wish to leave room for any future changes.
Mine was around 25mm lift, but was also to suit available metal in the door.
Theres lots of things in there

[timberface]

Ya I think a inch would be loads, maybe 1 and a 1/2 to be safe.

[Gongon]

Don't have a Vitara at present (will have before June)
Few thoughts: Is a 30" tyre significantly heavier than stock?
When the door is shut, the load is spread between hinges and lock, so is it an issue?
Is it possible to mount a wheel on the bonnet (like an old Land Rover) or would it obstruct vision.
Hope when we get to Perth in May to get a 5 door and equip it for trip to Uluru (lifetime ambition) so two spare wheels would be a must.

[Reubs]

Gongon wrote:

Is it possible to mount a wheel on the bonnet (like an old Land Rover) or would it obstruct vision.
Hope when we get to Perth in May to get a 5 door and equip it for trip to Uluru (lifetime ambition) so two spare wheels would be a must.

If you mounted a spare on the bonnet, it'd obstruct most of your vision, not to mention the lightly built bonnet, hinges, and body under the front stoppers would probably bend out of shape on rough roads. The fastest route Perth-Uluru has about 1250km of unsealed road.

I have traveled the 4500km trip across the country a couple of times via sealed roads and last time carried an extra spare on a roof basket in case of a remote detour. Even roof racks have to spread the 30kg of spare tyre evenly across the roof - I have 4 racks under my SWB length basket on my LWB SE416 Vit. I broke 2 of the rivets supplied with the Rola universal track type mounts with about 100kg on the roof on about 3500km on sealed roads. I have since added additional larger rivets.

[Gongon]

Good stuff! So spare on the roof then (or maybe inside, there will only be two of us in the car)
We decided to emigrate to Oz 5 yrs ago to be with our kids.
Guess there are plenty of hotels or road houses on route to Uluru?
Used to camp but we are both the wrong side of 65 and, whilst I am disgustingly fit (albeit with just diagnosed cancer of the prostate (no big deal)) my wife is not and wouldn't appreciate roughing it.

[just_cruizin]

Standard tyre is 28" so if you lift the mount up 40mm this will put it back to almost factory, however the top of the tyre will be 3" taller thus will take up a heap more vision.

Weight is another issue, all the mass is cantilevered off the door, your tyre will be and extra 5-10kg heavier plus you'll be slinging it 5-6mm further out, not much but probably 3-4% compounded with the mass you'll be applying a heap more force. Could be as much as 40% more

[kirstyandgrace]

Gongon, use this link, or one like it, as a start point and go from there.

http://www.distancesfrom.com/au/distance-from-Perth-to-Alice-Springs-via-great-central-road/DistanceHistory/2773235.aspx

Not sure if outback travel is something you have done, based on your UK location.

You have more to worry about than having two spares.

While the route suggested in the above link is not extreme much of it is remote.

Consider making room for additional fuel, enough water (beer )for a couple of days and so on.

It would however be an awesome trip, especially if time is not a consideration.

If you decide to do it, post up and you will get plenty of good advice.