Spare tire mounting options — rear bumper vs roof vs swing-out

Difficulty 2/52–8 hrs$150–11001984-1990, 1991-1995, 1996, 1997-2001

Once you go past 31" tires the factory spare floor location no longer fits — swing-out tire carrier is the standard answer.

The factory XJ spare lives under the rear cargo floor and fits up to about a 30". Once you're running 31s+, you need somewhere new to put the spare. Options:

  1. Cargo floor (inside) — works for 31s, eats your cargo space. Use a Quadratec or Smittybilt tire mount strapped to the floor anchors.
  1. Roof rack — possible but the spare's weight (~60-80 lb) on the roof is right against the often-cited XJ dynamic roof limit of ~75 lb. Hurts handling and is a pain to lift. Generally avoid for daily use.
  1. Swing-out tire carrier (most common solution) — bolts/welds to a heavy-duty rear bumper, swings out for tailgate access. Adds 80-120 lb to the rear. Brands: JCR Offroad, Iron Rock IRO, Rusty's, M.O.R.E., Smittybilt XRC.
  1. Hitch-mount swing-out — uses the Class III receiver as the carrier pivot. Cheaper than a bumper swing-out, but eats your hitch use.

Swing-out is the right answer for 33s+ and most moderate builds. Pair with a third brake light relocate (carrier blocks the original).

Why it works

Trade-offs

Tools required

Parts

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PartVendorEst. price
JCR Crusader rear bumper with swing-outJCR Offroad~$950
Smittybilt XRC swing-out tire carrierSmittybilt~$550
Wilco Hitchgate swing-outWilco~$750

Sources

Related

Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.

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