Rear Tire Carrier - Any Regrets in Daily Life?

[Abram]

Some of the corrosion I'm talking about. The strut is pretty strong and I've never fought gravity.

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Oof that is pretty bad. I do live in Southern California for what it's worth and it won't be constantly exposed to inclement weather conditions (though we do have particularly aggressive UV Indexes here).

If that truly pops off with the bolt removal, and @Abram is getting it cheap, just go for it. Only downside is cutting up the bumper cover to install.

If I'm honest with myself I expect if I were to get one and install it, it probably would live on the vehicle 100% of the time because I wouldn't want to be regularly having to try to fit the spare back under the body. Though that is nice to know it would be removable if so needed (though I expect it would leave a couple gaping holes in the bumper!) I wonder if perhaps a plug cover could be designed to fill that space if the carrier were removed.

I appreciate everyone's valuable experiences and insight here, it really helps to hear from those that have these installed and aligns with what my perceived expectations would be. I think to some degree it would be an inconvenience that would initially bother me, but I expect I could / would probably adapt if I were to get one. The cheaper option is to put it up on the roof when it would expressly be useful to have quicker spare access as BajaRack has a mount designed for my specific roof basket. Of course the free option is to just leave it as is and remove the spare in advance when I do tire rotations. I don't love that I have to keep it deflated though (but I do carry a suitable compressor as a result).

 

[scapistron]

I should add that I'm in Massachusetts, no shortage of salt around here.

 

[CRYA]

Does anyone else not live dangerously and drive around civilization without their spare?? Must just be me.
Mine's an emergency thing and I don't do the 5 tire rotation rodeo.

 

[powershift]

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[Abram]

Does anyone else not live dangerously and drive around civilization without their spare?? Must just be me.
Mine's an emergency thing and I don't do the 5 tire rotation rodeo.

Oh I can’t man, I have to have it. Been in enough situations where I’ve had to do a roadside repair (not in this rover mind you). I just feel most comfortable having it.

Plus I don’t have the space to store it elsewhere.

 

[ftillier]

If you carry a compressor, have you considered carrying a plug kit?

 

[Abram]

If you carry a compressor, have you considered carrying a plug kit?

I plan to, just haven’t acquired one yet. I had a kit for my previous vehicle that I sold but I mistakenly left it tucked in a storage compartment and I haven’t replaced it yet.