Need help brainstorming on XJ Tire Carriers

Here's a pic of my Jeep when I took my nephew on a 3 day hunt. Inside the XJ was my 33" spare (standing up using the carrier bracket) and the rest of the rig was loaded to the gills with tent, buddy heater, big cooler pulling double duty as a chuck box, packs, rifles, chairs, stove, axes, shovel, propane tank and 5 gallon water jug. On the roof is a roof bag with cots, sleeping pad, sleeping bag and misc stuff, bungeed to that is a dry bag with warm bulky clothes. On the back, I used a hitch extender (glad I did since my hi-lift jack is bolted to the bumper and ended up needing it to change a tire) where I attached my cargo rack. On the cargo rack is 5 gallons of gas, smallish Coleman Xtreme cooler for food needing to be stored cold and a chainsaw. The white cooler in between them held some beer and came with in case we got an animal.

My dilemma is I'd like to upgrade the rear bumper to something like the Smittybilt XRC bumper with spare tire carrier to get the spare out of the back. But, I don't believe I would be able to use my cargo basket if I have the spare on the back. Does anyone have this bumper setup on their XJ? If so, how do you like it? I'm open to other ideas as well.

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The smittybuilt bumper has a hitch receiver on it I don't see why your cargo basket wouldn't work. Are you thinking that the tire will be too big to fit the cargo basket on it? I think my friend has a tire carrier on his rear bumper that holds a cargo basket but I'll have to check...

That's my concern. With the tire on the back, I won't be able to haul a cooler in the basket.

Don't get me wrong the sec is an alright bumper....

Yet for your application I th9no doing something custom is a better Idea.
As well as the tire carrier and recovery points are easy to fit when you build to what you want it to be...



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Have you thought about building a trailer? Looks like you've got quite a bit of gear, and one of the nice things about having a trailer is leaving much of that on it between trips. Makes camping / wheeling easier too, you just unhook and go. Just a thought...

I can't since I trailer the Jeep to where I go.

Just do like 3/4 of the XJs I see. Put the spare on the roof.

Putting a spare on the roof raises the center of gravity so if you are in any off camber areas it may not be the best idea but if you aren't in off camber situations it is an option. I agree with Brandon it may just be best to get a custom bumper. You could even see if there is a rear bumper that holds the tire to one side or the other that may help to some degree.

A bit off topic but Rob & I were in Moab and watched a guy with a spare on his roof of his Cherokee do Tipover Challenge. :eek:

I was expecting a flop but he made it much to my surprise.

I know it's frowned upon but have you considered running without a spare? some on board air and a good plug/patch kit go a long way!
I managed to tear a sidewall at Carnage Canyon Boulder and plug it with 6 tire plugs and drive back to Denver to get it fixed. I had my CO2 tank back then.

The no spair thing can be felt with, yet the one time you truly need it, will be the time You don't have it.

xaza has the same bumper, maybe the two of you can get together sometime: [url]http://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?17461-xaza-s-94-XJ-Build/page9[/url]

Your XJ did have a custom built rack at one time. Maybe it's time to look at another roof rack.