DIY Hitch Tire Carrier

[@glzdad]

I have a 4th gen 4runner and was talking to my co worker of fabricating a tire mount and you just gave me some better ideas of what i want to build thank you great looking 4runner

[@dillansgarage]

Awesome! Stoked to help with any ideas at all! Let me know if you have any questions at all

[@DMHRC]

Excellent job on this! There's so much satisfaction when you look at your rig and think "I built that".

[@dillansgarage]

You’re absolutely right. I love using it and knowing I did that. It works great still too

[@hv4285]

I personally would never put this on mine because of how heavy it loads the rear of the vehicle (differeny lifestyle and utility) but your build was VERY technical (especially all the engineering/mechanical terminology i.e. internal shear, double shear, dampening, deflection, etc.) creative and obviously fit your family lifestyle with just basic tools and honed skills. Double thumbs up for a great and budget DIY!

[@dillansgarage]

Thank you!! You picked up on all the important parts. I thought through the weight on the rear a lot, but it’s just the only way to keep a full size spare. No roof on the roof and that would be top heavy. I also figured the spare is in the rear anyway, this definitely gets it further out though. It’s all about what compromises are worth it and that’s different for everyone. Thanks again for the comment and compliment! It’s always awesome getting good feedback from people who know what they’re looking at.

[@curmudgeon154]

Dude tire carrier is sick. Awesome ingenuity and execution

[@dillansgarage]

@@curmudgeon154 thank you! It came out super solid

[@RichBinell]

Spectacularly well done. I may never make this but you did make an old guy want to learn to weld today. Thank you for sharing your passion.

[@dillansgarage]

Never too late to start! Depending on the projects you want to do, welders can be very affordable. If you have Instagram I look forward to seeing your first welding project in my DM. Life is too short to not just do it!

[@kendatiresusa]

Nice job on the DIY Kenda Carrier and great choice of tires! 😎🤟💯

[@dillansgarage]

Thank you! 😊 Excited to make my new tire announcement video! Love them so far!

[@holdenc3082]

Wow great work! I wish I had your fabrication skills. I’ve been shopping for hitch mounted spare tire carriers. The prices are absolutely crazy. $1500 or more. So much stuff in the off road world is insanely priced with what I call the “overlanding tax.”

[@dillansgarage]

@@holdenc3082 the overland tax is real. There’s no way I could afford to buy one. Only a few years ago I couldn’t weld at all. Just take practice! I started on a $200 harbor freight welder. Just takes diligence.

[@MSKhan-dh9id]

i really liked this idea of DIY Hitch Tier Carrier. I own a Nissan Frontier and like camping. I wanted this not for the tire but to build a table for camping etc. Everything I did on my truck is reversible. I never cut any factory wiring or cutting body. This one is simply excellent. Subscribed for reviewing your other ideas.

[@dillansgarage]

I’m stoked do you like it! Thank you for the sub! This tire carrier worked great until I ended up putting a rear bumper on. I honestly think my tire carrier is stronger than my new bumper.

[@isorobot]

Great job and even better narration and videography, after watching I think I can do it (not nearly as well). Thanks for explaining everything, nothing glossed over like other videos.

[@dillansgarage]

Thank you! A few epic compliments in there. I’m stoked you like the video and can appreciate my effort to keep things on topic and detailed enough.

[@GraveDigger580]

Nice work 👍 inspiring me to build one for my suburban.

[@dillansgarage]

Our ‘88 burb will be next to get one of these!

[@ryanbraga5666]

Gonna need you to make more of these and sell me one!

[@dillansgarage]

I just might!

[@superipodmanvik]

💸💸💸

[@Jp-3237]

I need one too

[@dillansgarage]

@@Jp-3237 someday I might have time to build more. Just spending all my spare time on making content and new installs! But if you buy the materials and find a local fab shop, show them the video and anyone should be able to copy what did.

[@dillansgarage]

What would you guys be willing to pay? It would have to be around $500 to make it worth the time. I’ll talk to a local shop and get a quote too.

[@driftless1870]

Beautiful build!

[@dillansgarage]

Thank you!

[@martinnelson3565]

Just upgraded to bigger tyres on my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee so this looks fantastic. Will let you know how I go( bet my welding is worse than yours lol).

[@dillansgarage]

Hope it goes well! When in doubt, weld slower and turn up the heat. I’d rather burn through than not penetrate enough.

[@dillansgarage]

What welder are you using?

[@jaimeromero4433]

Great work 👏

[@dillansgarage]

@@jaimeromero4433 thank you!

[@jacksmith3801]

👏👏👏👏👏 Well done

[@dillansgarage]

Thanks you! It still works great!

[@137adventures]

Soooo crispy! 😲

[@dillansgarage]

Thank you good sir

[@ryankim3612]

Super badass! Thank ya!

[@dillansgarage]

Glad you liked it!

[@knightlangelot5238]

Wow! Great job and excellent skill! I'm curious how much does the whole thing weight without the tire? Approximately?

[@dillansgarage]

Thank you! Good question. It’s not much cause I can pretty easily handle it all myself. Maybe 60LBS? Can’t say I’m the best judge of weight though.

[@jakestephen508]

I love that you drew it up in blender. I’m actually trying to learn that for my jeep tire carrier build!!! Did blender help or could you just wing it?

[@dillansgarage]

Depending on your skill level, you could totally wing it. I appreciate blender for projects that benefit from mocking up variations so I can see what issues I might run into ahead of time. But you have a design in your head that you know will work then you might not need it. I also really like mocking up in blender to help in knowing how much material I need. When you do make yours shoot me a DM on IG! Would love to see it.

[@jaredrod5397]

wow nice one...perfect....

[@dillansgarage]

Thank you! It’s still super solid.

[@yotaowner]

Базару нет четко! Сколько весит без запаски?

[@dillansgarage]

I’m not exactly sure how much it weight. Probably around 50-60LBS. I say that because I’m able to easily carry it alone. It’s definitely lighter than the first steel bumper I had which was 72lbs

[@mirots01]

Amazing job!! How ia it holding after some off-roading?

[@dillansgarage]

It’s holding up great still. Swing out still feels tight and swings smooth. No extra wiggle at all! I’m stoked.

[@user-ie1sf3em9w]

great vid! ty

[@dillansgarage]

@@user-ie1sf3em9w Stoked you liked it!

[@jaylopez900]

What size tubing did you use sir if you don’t mind me asking

[@dillansgarage]

@@jaylopez900 it was scrap steel so I don’t remember exactly but I think it was 1.5x3 and .120 wall

[@miguelagdf]

dude I looooove this video!! One thing I'm wondering that I don't think you mention in the video. What's the wall thickness of the rectangular tube you ended up using? By looking at the video it looks like 4x2 or 3x2 rectangle, but I can't tell what the thickness of the steel is. Any chance you can tell me? I'm seriously considering making one of these for my runner :)

[@dillansgarage]

Stoked you like it! And thank you. 🙏 I didn’t mention the thickness mostly cause it was just a scrap steel project. I just went out and measured. It’s 1/8” (or 0.125”) wall. If I were starting from scratch and buying new steel for this I would go with 3/16” wall. That said this thing has held up really well.

[@dillansgarage]

And the dimensions are 1.5x3” tube. I would probably go with 2x4” 3/16”wall if I started fresh. It would definitely be heavier. But I wouldn’t think twice about it when offroad.

[@miguelagdf]

Great!! Thanks for the advice and being willing to share info dude. Really appreciate it!

[@dillansgarage]

@@miguelagdf anytime dude!

[@trcarrolltontran7447]

Very nice man!

[@dillansgarage]

Thank you! Glad you like it!

[@Shoeless_DA]

Man card awarded

[@dillansgarage]

💥 thank you sir

[@juggy-b9e]

Nice work, how much does it weigh? Looks like 100 lbs

[@dillansgarage]

@@juggy-b9e I never weighed it. Probably closer to 70lbs cause I can fairly easily pick it up myself

[@superipodmanvik]

Fire 🔥!

[@dillansgarage]

Thank you! Open and close it everyday. Still working great!

[@supitown6013]

Very cool

[@dillansgarage]

Thank you!

[@macy725]

I'm going to do something like this when i move into my house. I have an Xterra and every option for a rear tire holder is too expensive.

[@dillansgarage]

Awesome! Always stoked to hear when someone is going to take on a DIY project. Let me know how it goes!

[@RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

👍🏻

[@dillansgarage]

Thanks!

[@joshuagarcia9057]

So whats one going to cost me if you make it.. looks fire

[@dillansgarage]

Thank you! I’ll sell this one for $400 if you want to come pick it up in San Diego 😅

[@joshuagarcia9057]

@dillansgarage if I wasn't in fl I would 😃

[@sarajeffries5565]

How’s the top play movement ?

[@dillansgarage]

It’s pretty solid. Even heavy offroad it doesn’t hardly wobble. Better than I’ve heard about some other swing outs.

[@sarajeffries5565]

@@dillansgarage we built one for our wj and we mounted the latch at the bottom but the top wobbles from front to back , no side to side play , maybe better reinforcement towards the top tied to the bottom ?

[@dillansgarage]

@@sarajeffries5565 how big is the contact patch when you close it? I welded an extra plate to help flush out the contact point and make it as big as possible. Honestly might be that the latch is at the bottom. All that tire weight is trying to pull down, and the latch is pulling in the same direction instead of countering it. Also, what kind of hinge? If it’s not a bearing maybe try making it tighter

[@sarajeffries5565]

@@dillansgarage when closed; the swing arm sits entirely flushed with the bumper and the bracket space is about 1/8-1/4 inch wide. Our arm we’re using is from a stock xj similar to a obs bronco

[@selongshot]

How much is one for a 96 4 runner

[@dillansgarage]

Man I need to figure out how to make these faster. I have no time right now to make more. I’d probably charge around $500 for them not including shipping.

[@selongshot]

@@dillansgarage I could paint it my self

[@giterdun1864]

great job. Id like one built for an 08 Sienna van please. heres my money "$$$".

[@dillansgarage]

If I could convert “$$$” into $$$ then I’d start today! Haha thank you though! I really enjoyed building this one.

[@gogoydollaga3607]

selling one for 3rd gen tacoma? :)

[@dillansgarage]

Man, I wish I had time to make more right now! To make it worth the time I'd have to charge probably $500. And shipping on top of that. If I could have a place machine cut all the pieces for me it'd be different. But dude check this out. I recently found these bumper: ebay.us/ZWfKxp As much as I'd want to sell something, this has to be the better solution.

[@137adventures]

Lookin like your pockets are blow out there bud. Gonna have to weld them suckers on their soon lol

[@dillansgarage]

Haha I just bought new tires so I can’t afford new coveralls 😂

[@137adventures]

@@dillansgarage 😂

[@MyIronman8]

I want one also shit that’s bad ass.

[@dillansgarage]

@@MyIronman8 thank you! You just gotta make one!

[@xterra4hire]

Make me one

[@dillansgarage]

That’ll be one MEEllion dollars

[@D_Cali_Life]

Meanwhile my tire carrier hitch from Wilco Was $1,200 fml

[@dillansgarage]

Oof! Yeah I couldn’t stomach that. Not to say theirs isn’t worth it. It’s probably much more polished. But my scrap steel build really works nicely