4bangerjp.com
General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: jfrabat on July 16, 2009, 08:03:10 PM
-
OK, so how many of you are running your rigs with this set-up?
I noticed that even with jsut a few days of having changed my tires, the tailgate is starting to act up a bit (I kind of have to lift the tire for it to close porperly). I have not yet extended the bumpstops (I have driven the Jeep less than a week's worth, and about 40 miles per day), but now I am SERIOUSLY considering ordering the BetTop Tire Carrier (I already have an aftermarket bumper, and it does not have a tire carrier (and I will not spend money twice on rear bumpers). The only thing is that I think it will end up interefering with my CB antena mount (passanger side taillight mount).
By the way, anyone with experience with the BestTop setup?
(http://www.bestop.com/images/products/61960-01.jpg)
Felipe
-
The tailgate should be able to handle the weight if the hinges are good. Make sure the tire is sitting solid against the rubber stops or you will tear the metal on the carrier and tweak the tailgate. Space them out with PVC or something if need be. Check out Jeffy's, I believe he's running a 35 on it. I tore mine up with a 31" from not having it sit against the stops. Getting it not to move is the key.
-
I've thought about getting a Bestop carrier since it's a good design. The only downside is that you need to modify it ig you have a body lift. The design gives you the flexibility to but whatever bumper you want.
I still don't have a tire carrier though. I was setup to buy a custom bumper carrier but I ended up not getting it since I wanted to keep the Jeep light. I've had my 34x9.5R15 Interco SS on the rear since 2003. The door hasn't sagged but you to have to lift it a little when closing. It's not a big deal though. I use 2" ABS which is black.
I'll eventually build a carrier or have one built. I want to see if I can offset my tire which no one does. Then I want to move my taillights to the bumper, like a Sami.
-
That would look great, I know TNT will sell corner armor with no cutouts if you need to cover the holes. I'm ordering them down the road like that to accommodate the tails I run and to convert to a TJ fuel filler.
-
On my tailgate, you need to lift it as well; I do plan to get the ABS to extend the bumpstops, but Home Depot had no ABS, so I'll try Lowe's. I'm still considering the tire carrier, but the fact that I have to redo the whole CB antenna mount has me thinking about it... Still, I like the design, and it's rated up to a 3" tire (I am running 33's, and I doubt I'll ever get over 35").
-
Have you looked into TJ hinges? From what I've read only one hole needs to be drilled and they are stronger. Would be a cheap way to put off the carrier for a while.
-
Have you looked into TJ hinges? From what I've read only one hole needs to be drilled and they are stronger. Would be a cheap way to put off the carrier for a while.
I'll start with this ($60 investment with shipping!) and see where I go from there; the main issue at this time is time, as I'll be shipping the Jeep to Panama in August... SO if the TJ hinges dont do the job, I'll have to buy the carrier and ship it to Panama, and since I will be in Costa Rica, God only knows when I'll be able to install it!
-
i have that exact tire carrier. It helps a lot and it looks quite clean, but i also have the TJ hinges. it is convenient since your tailgate would open just like a stock one. Jeffy is right, if you have a body lift there is a bracket that reinforces the bottom mount and that will need to be extended - i removed it and never got around to modify it - i had no aftereffects due to that (paint cracking or anything) and i have it installed for about 4 years now. I also added one of their over tire racks, when i did that the setup was not as strong as before, if you plan to do add something similar i'd say the besttop carrier is not the best choice, if you only plan to have the tire on the tailgate will work just fine for a 33''. I had to extend the bottom bumpstop as on my 95YJ was too short, but might have been that the previous owner replaced it to fit the 31'' tire & rim that had stock backspacing.
-
I'll start with this ($60 investment with shipping!) and see where I go from there; the main issue at this time is time, as I'll be shipping the Jeep to Panama in August... SO if the TJ hinges dont do the job, I'll have to buy the carrier and ship it to Panama, and since I will be in Costa Rica, God only knows when I'll be able to install it!
Well, the order is placed for 2 TJ hinges; $52 total with shipping... We'll see how that works out. This weekend I will extend the bump stops as well.
-
Unless you're opening and closing the rear tailgate all the time, you shouldn't have to swap out the hinges. Like I said, I haven't any any issues with mine and it's been there for a few years.
Also, if you remove the hinges, you'll find that there is no paint behind them. The tailgate was panted with the hinges on so you will need to make sure to paint both the tailgate and the hinges well.
-
tj hinges bolt in. once u get passed the torx. hope to see some in action pics of your rig. its way too clean. lol.
-
Also, if you remove the hinges, you'll find that there is no paint behind them. The tailgate was panted with the hinges on so you will need to make sure to paint both the tailgate and the hinges well.
the TJ ones are bigger so it will cover the unpainted portion, but my heart stopped when i took the first one off :yikes: until i realized you can't see it once the other ones are in
EDIT:
tj hinges bolt in. once u get passed the torx. hope to see some in action pics of your rig. its way too clean. lol.
i remember drilling one extra hole for each hinge, but i guess jfrabat can confirm that once he has his installed. I think the part on the body is wider than the stock YJ hinge but can't say for sure.
-
the TJ ones are bigger so it will cover the unpainted portion, but my heart stopped when i took the first one off :yikes: until i realized you can't see it once the other ones are in
EDIT:
i remember drilling one extra hole for each hinge, but i guess jfrabat can confirm that once he has his installed. I think the part on the body is wider than the stock YJ hinge but can't say for sure.
His problem will be that he essentially unsealed it. Being in the Tropics, I would treat both sides so there is no chance of rust.
-
I have a couple of cans of the Jeep paint (it is slightly different shade because of fading of the Jeep paint, but it is the same original color). I intend to paint the hinges and the unpainted part of the tailgate once I do install the hinges. By the way, are the TJ hinges really that much stronger? I'll install them anyway (already bought them!) but just wondering, as I have not seen any write ups about this...
-
I have a couple of cans of the Jeep paint (it is slightly different shade because of fading of the Jeep paint, but it is the same original color). I intend to paint the hinges and the unpainted part of the tailgate once I do install the hinges. By the way, are the TJ hinges really that much stronger? I'll install them anyway (already bought them!) but just wondering, as I have not seen any write ups about this...
Well, 1995.5 and TJ hinges are larger. Are they stronger? Well, I wouldn't do anything I wouldn't do with my stock YJ hinges.
-
I had a 33" on my stock TJ for a while and it did fine. If you want to keep the stock brake light you'll have to get 1" spacers though, don't know if the YJ has that.
-
You might consider getting a narrow All Terrain as a spare to cut down on weight back there. I haven't gotten around to it but that is what I plan to do.
-
I had a 33" on my stock TJ for a while and it did fine. If you want to keep the stock brake light you'll have to get 1" spacers though, don't know if the YJ has that.
The spacer I already have a plan for (I will use a section of the stock front bumper to raise it about 3"). I still have to extend the bump stops about 3" as well, and I have not gotten around to that, so for now the spare is in the garage to avoid damage.
You might consider getting a narrow All Terrain as a spare to cut down on weight back there. I haven't gotten around to it but that is what I plan to do.
Because I plan to use this rig as a weekend toy from now on, and I will mostly be hitting mud (the clay-like stuff), I'd rather have a full sized MT spare (which I already bought) on, but thanks for the advice anyway!
-
As far as the Bestop tire carrier it seems like a good unit. The only time I have seen someone complain about the is in this thread.
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504825
But I don't think you will have problems with the road salt. ;)
-
As far as the Bestop tire carrier it seems like a good unit. The only time I have seen someone complain about the is in this thread.
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504825
But I don't think you will have problems with the road salt. ;)
'
interesting thread - that looks like bad weld btw, might have something to do with rust which was plenty on that but it should not rust thru to the point that the pipe would break off the weld, but in any case i agree with the guy that it should not just crack like that even though 50 other pple on that thread said he's got his money's worth after 7 years. Besttop should have replaced it free of charge and appologize (and if you're asking me give him a gift coupon as well for not killing the pple behind him or in the opposite lane on the hwy with his 33'' tire flying thru their windshield) - there should be some liability on the manufacturer's end same as Firestone had when their tires were failing. It was probably an isolated incident, but if something bad happened i wonder if their response would've been the same. If it is only meant to last 1 year (length of the warranty) it should be stated on the instructions to be replaced after that, it is a safety concern as these rims/tires weigh a ton not to mention when flying off at hwy speed. And i got quite a bit off topic...
but to get back to the tire carrier it is probably a good idea to give it couple of coats of frame paint or roll-cage paint as looking at mine yesterday i noticed a few spots that are starting to show a bit of rust (nothing like the guy in the thread above) - oh, the reason i was checking the tailgate is b/c i found one of my old tailgate hinges and wanted to see if they are the same hole pattern as TJs - 3 holes match but one doesn't, not sure if YJs had more than 1 kind but on mine required an additional hole on the outer right side of the hinge(s).
-
After looking at that thread, I'd speculate that it was caused by the tire bouncing up and down. The minute vibrations fatigued the weld and after a few years it cracked. Then it after 7, it broke. I doubt that rust had much to do with it. The rust inside the weld area only happened because it had already cracked was exposed. BTDT.
Should Best Top have replaced it? Well their warranty explicitly says:
THE WARRANTY TIME PERIOD IS AS FOLLOWS FOR ALL OTHER “HARD GOODS” MANUFACTURED BY OUR COMPANY (USING PRIMARILY METALS, PLASTICS, AND/OR FIBERGLASS): ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF PURCHASE.
To complain after 7 is a bit much. It wasn't even that difficult a problem. A few minutes with a welder and it could have been fixed. Then again, it's JU.
-
well, i hope i don't end up with the same problem :'(
my guess is it had a crack from the beginning and it took 7 years to make it all the way around - if it was the pipe that broke i'd agree with you but looks to me that it was a bad weld. Anyway, you're right that after 7 years there's not much that you can wait for or demand, i still think that Besttop could've handled it better - i know i would get upset with them if that happened to me - but i might be biased here (hmm, actually i think it's pretty obvious) since i own the same item.
-
well, i hope i don't end up with the same problem :'(
my guess is it had a crack from the beginning and it took 7 years to make it all the way around - if it was the pipe that broke i'd agree with you but looks to me that it was a bad weld. Anyway, you're right that after 7 years there's not much that you can wait for or demand, i still think that Besttop could've handled it better - i know i would get upset with them if that happened to me - but i might be biased here (hmm, actually i think it's pretty obvious) since i own the same item.
You can still see the complete bead of weld still attached to the flat. The pipe cracked right at the edge of the weld. By all of the rust you can see the 1/4" area where it was still attached to before it broke.
(http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/bestop1.jpg)(http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/bestop3.jpg)
-
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g222/sharpxmen/weld.jpg)
thought that came off with the weld, but i might be wrong. anyway, you and 20 others on that thread said he was unreasonable so i'll go by that since it is an overwhelming majority
-
No matter who's tire carrier you have home made or aftermarket you should be keeping an eye on it everynow and then. The cracks should have been spotted before it failed.
I'm with the crowd on this one. 7 years is a bit much to complain.
-
I turned down this one: http://www.jeepaholics.com/support/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32290
-
http://www.gotreks.com/page.asp?pageid=285
Here is another option. It says for CJ but it's bolt on and works with the TJ and LJ so I don't see why it wouldn't work with a YJ. Cost more than the Bestop one thou.
-
http://www.gotreks.com/page.asp?pageid=285
Here is another option. It says for CJ but it's bolt on and works with the TJ and LJ so I don't see why it wouldn't work with a YJ. Cost more than the Bestop one thou.
the tailgate hinges are in the way for TJ/YJ and their mount points are in the same place - in the pic they have the tailgate on the CJ folds down and the hinges are on the bottom. not sure why they wouldn't make one for T/YJ, maybe becaust they would need a bend on the pipes going across to clear the hinges (the bestop is that way think - too lazy to go look)