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DIY roof rack planning & roof mounted spare tyre?


 
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jejoenje



Joined: 20 Aug 2016
Posts: 785
Location: Alloa, Scotland

PostPosted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 22:30    Post subject: DIY roof rack planning & roof mounted spare tyre? Reply with quote

Does anyone here carry their spare tyre on the roof? I'm thinking obvs L300 but any experience with L400 would be useful to here to.

I've been planning to make my own roof rack / platform for a while and have been collecting bits of steel in preparation for this.
Now I've got a few bits I'm starting to mull over designs, and I've been wondering whether I should consider making some space for the spare up there.

Two reasons I'm thinking this; (1) it would be an easier solution for when I finally get my bigger wheels which won't easily fit in the "cradle" underneath,
and (2) it would free up space underneath for a potential grey water tank (or other such things).
I'm thinking set ups such as this (not my photos or my vehicle!):




However, I don't really have any experience with carrying such weight on the roof. As said, plenty of online info seems to suggests it is theoretically fine,
but is it wise/safe/etc? Does it affect handling much?

Am I overthinking this?
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 22:30    Post subject: Google Ads keep this community free to join!


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Lewis
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Joined: 25 May 2006
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Location: Huddersfield

PostPosted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 8:39    Post subject: Reply with quote

Beware of making it top heavy, which raises the centre of balance and makes it more liable to tipping over when offroad.

HTH
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YOZA



Joined: 07 Mar 2005
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Location: The centre of the universe

PostPosted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 16:25    Post subject: Reply with quote

I put one on a roof crate, it was an epic to get on and off even with the ladder. Confused

I struggled doing a change outside my house, so i thought how difficult woud it be to have to do it on a motorway hard shoulder, dark, freezing and in the rain, no thanks.....so I put a huge sub woofer in it and mounted it in the boot. Idea

I would estimate that my wheel and tyre must weigh 35kgs, so undoing it from a roof crate whilst balanced on one leg via a boot ladder is a workout. Then you have to get it down to the ground, you can’t just drop it as it would bounce all over the place, in my case probably against my truck.

Multi story car parks and fee paying barriers are the easiest way to get it off. Shocked
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andyman



Joined: 08 Dec 2012
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 19:15    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have managed (just) to get my 265/70/15 spare into the cradle, and by making simple 2"/50mm strap extensions to the front hangers on the cradle, it continues to sit snugly under the van, and releases on the same bolt and rear hanger. I had to change it by the side of the A66 when a rear tyre blew after a day of laning. Even hanging the flat tyre back up in the cradle made me sweat! No way would I want it on the roof. I have a 7ft long steel roof rack (flat, no sides) on 3, long-leg roof bars. I've only ever carried ladders on it, and I only need bars for that. Could be persuaded to part with it. Can send pics to an e-mail address.
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jejoenje



Joined: 20 Aug 2016
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Location: Alloa, Scotland

PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 8:49    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the thoughts all.
The points about the pain (ahem) of moving it up and down there are very fair, I had been thinking about that, too.
I guess it just depends on how much I want the "cradle" space underneath for something else, to which the answer is "not urgently".
Perhaps the only real solution is to just give it a go and see how much I hate having it up there.

andyman wrote:
I have a 7ft long steel roof rack (flat, no sides) on 3, long-leg roof bars. I've only ever carried ladders on it, and I only need bars for that. Could be persuaded to part with it. Can send pics to an e-mail address.

Thanks Andy - I certainly wouldn't mind seeing photos! Smile However, truth be told, part of the enjoyment for me would be making it from scratch.Is yours steel or aluminium?
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andyman



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PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 16:37    Post subject: Reply with quote

PM your e-mail, and I'll send some pics. It is a welded steel fabrication - would make a good base for a roof tent.
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Lewis
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 17:17    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is that the heavy one we lifted off Gregg's L400 at Coniston?
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andyman



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PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 18:24    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, that one (I think it was Steve/Illapullito). The difficulty was not so much the weight, more trying to get it off with the bars attached while all standing on tip-toe, and trying not to damage the top of Steve's LWB high roof with the feet. I have re-designed  it so that you fit the roof bars first, then slide it up and on from the side, (I can do this single-handed, and I'm not as fit as I was.) Than it clamps to the bars with some adjustable wing-nut clamps I made.
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andyman



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PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 18:29    Post subject: Reply with quote

PS Steve's bars were rusty-rotten at the ends, I had a pair of Thule short leg bars I bought at a boot sale - much stronger/thicker steel. Third bar was made from the middle bits of Steve's bars, with a welded, wrap-around splint. Then I fitted Steve's legs. Well, the ones that came with his bars! Smile
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