Rear Spare Tire Swing Gate

[Ian R.]

Hello All,

Tomorrow I will be meeting with a guy that fabricates bumpers-and-such for off-road vehicles (Like the one in the image below). He said he would fabricate one for the van :lol:. This may not be be an option for everyone because of the location (Corona, CA), but I think it is an awesome idea for vans with bigger tires or those that do a lot of extended traveling. -There is not much in the way of aftermarket parts for our vans, so I thought I could possibly send more business his way if there is interest.



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[wheelersvan]

I would love to hear what he quotes you on a swing away. This is definitely on my project list for down the road, but recently have not had much time to knock things off that list. Maybe if we get some people in on this we can get a bulk discount?

[Ian R.]

It has been up there on my list as well. The owner said 400.00 dollars. -But I'll let you all know.

[89TownAce]

Count me in as well and I'm local. I've been looking at this for a while now. Here's some more ideas.

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[mountainhick]

Planning to do this on my Previa. With the bigger tires the spare does not fit in the OEM spare holder.

[nikifix]

I just bent p a piece of electrical metallic tubing last week for
a swing gate......not pretty-but functional

[Jdelgado]

Any update on this?
:)

[Ian R.]

Sorry for the delay. The owner runs a small, yet legit, fab shop out of his garage. He is a cool guy that was stoked to make one for the 4x4 Van. The hinge for the swing gate will be a little more complicated, as the rear hatch needs to clear it to open. So, with jerrycan mounts, different hinge, and modified mounting brackets, it comes to 500.00. -Not bad. Next Friday I have to drop the van off for a day for him to put it together. After that I'll post some pictures of the finished product.

[Jdelgado]

Sorry for the delay. The owner runs a small, yet legit, fab shop out of his garage. He is a cool guy that was stoked to make one for the 4x4 Van. The hinge for the swing gate will be a little more complicated, as the rear hatch needs to clear it to open. So, with jerrycan mounts, different hinge, and modified mounting brackets, it comes to 500.00. -Not bad. Next Friday I have to drop the van off for a day for him to put it together. After that I'll post some pictures of the finished product.


No worries! can't wait to see the finished product

[89TownAce]

Could you post this guys contact information? If not on the forums, then at least in a PM to me? Corona is about 20 miles from me, I'd love to check out his work. I have several fabricator friends, but all of them are more expensive than this. It's worth a little drive if his work is good.

[Ian R.]

All welded up. Still need to paint it though.http://www.toyotavantech.com/forum/https%3A//mail.google.com/49cd4658-fe4e-4c05-bdbb-a4a02d6986echttp://www.toyotavantech.com/forum/https%3A//mail.google.com/49cd4658-fe4e-4c05-bdbb-a4a02d6986echttp://www.toyotavantech.com/forum/https%3A//mail.google.com/49cd4658-fe4e-4c05-bdbb-a4a02d6986ec

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[89TownAce]

Hard to see from the one working picture, but looks cool to me. I'm wondering if he could make a double swinging gate for Jerry can on one side and tire on the other. Would require less swing out room too.

[Ian R.]

Yeah, sorry about the pictures. I tried to upload them from my phone. -Did not work to well. He probably would make that for you. Just going to cost/weigh more.

[Jdelgado]

Hard to see from the one working picture, but looks cool to me. I'm wondering if he could make a double swinging gate for Jerry can on one side and tire on the other. Would require less swing out room too.

I found some photos online of a TV with a rear tire gate + what appears to be a boat motor mount, that could easily be swapped out for a jerry can rig

Since the photos aren't mine I can't post them...but Im with you on looking into a tire gate / jerry can set up

[Ian R.]

I should have the bumper painted this weekend. Once I have that done I will post up better pictures.

[Ian R.]

The van is in the shop currently. But here is an image from the other weekend. Still don't have the propane mounted yet. Plus a bonus image of the camper build that is almost complete.
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[Riverology]

So killer, great job! Looks like the camping at Faria is pretty sweet too!

[Chi-Town]

Ian your van interior looks great!

I like the idea behind the bumper. I'm worried that it's a lot of weight on a long arm, does it rattle?

[shanone9]

Nice set up. What is the rear sleep platform dimensions?

I Have been trying (field testing?!) different configurations with mine. Recently acquired the rear bench and like the larger center 'lounge area with couch' after removing the captain's chairs. Bench seat weighs much less than one captains chair and goes in and out in seconds unlike captains chairs.

Can remove bench at camp site to sleep two or fold flat then bridge a Coleman camp table mating to a modular center table to have single sleep platform at window level running length wise.

it would be fun to do a toy van round up this summer and check out everyone's rigs & set ups.

West coast rendevous anyone?

[Ian R.]

Thanks!


The swing gate is very robust and bolts to the existing frame mounts. It holds a 20lb propane tank, 5 gallon gas can, 225 X 70 spare tire, and two bikes with out rattling. When it swings open with all that stuff on it remains solid. I would not jump up and down on the end of the gate while swung completely open however. I just really did not want to store the propane/gas in the van while traveling/sleeping in the van. Putting the bikes and spare tire on the back of the van vs the roof cuts down on drag as well.


The bed is 45" wide but is could be 46 inches. I can't remember off the top of my head:doh:. The bed is 48 inches long and slides out on a 500lb working rated drawer slider to 6 feet. Once bed is pulled out, I slide a slat/leaf in to fill the 2 foot gap and add the additional cushion. I use the engine hump as a bench seat (thinking about making some small cushions for added comfort) and I am trying to come up with an idea for a table that will swing up from the wall.

I was experimenting with the layout too for a while (gone through two different layouts). The goal was to maximize storage space w/o compromising visualization. I like all the windows and wanted to avoid covering them.

It would be fun to do a SoCal Meet Up! I should get the van back next week! My wife and I will be going on an extended road trip at the beginning of July. So I am available between then.

Also, if anyone is interested in following our little adventures my wife has a blog/instram. Not all of it involves the van however. She does a good job documenting things and it might be worth a look. http://www.instagram.com/go_somewhere_new/

[ratatouille]

Anyone seen a front mount on these before? Brain storming if I should go rear mount, up top , or in front. Leaning toward added protection for kiddos sitting in rear with a rear mounted rack. hmmm

[TheCrippler]

Some old man hit my back bumper so I've been thinking about replacing mine with a custom one. I like the swing arm idea.

My friend had a custom bumper and skid plate made for his 4runner that looks amazing. He gave me the number for his guy that runs a fab shop down in gardena. Its a Japanese father and son operation and i think they like to see the old stuff come through. I have no idea the cost but the work quality looked excellent. I'm gonna need the double swing arm though. One to strap each of my kids to!

I plan on getting a quote so I'll post back once i do.

$500 seems pretty good for what you got though. Post some detail pictures of the bumper if you can.

[johnnyvegas]

I thought I recognized @go_somewhere_new. I have found several tire gates at the salvage yard for small SUV. They are about $20 so I wonder if a fab mount would be worth trying. kia sport, isuzu rodeo mostly.

[hughdawgmmkay]

Ian, I've been following you guys on Instagram myself, and even showed my friends the pic of you and your wife in front of the van as my ideal wedding photo!

Great to see you on the forum!

@rogerthevan

[Ian R.]

Hey All! It has been a while since I have bee on the site. The last month and a half have been a whirlwind. We really have not had a set path to follow, which has made it difficult to plan van meet-ups. Also, we are spending a lot of time in the wilderness and with out internet access.

We are currently in Seward Alaska. Pretty cool place. The van has been preforming well, getting 23 mpg even with it loaded down. I may need to change the rear shocks and springs,however, she is really starting to sag. Next will be tires. I am thinking small A/T, either Generals or BFG's. That should boost the mpgs a little more and increase the power going up steeper grades.

We are 7000 miles into our trip and I am about to change the oil for the third time. A helpful tip for long trips is to buy a bunch of Toyota Oil filters before you leave on long trips and always carry your next batch of oil. I find myself changing the oil in rest stops frequently. Haha! Hell, I even rotated my tires in the parking lot of Denali National Park Mercantile with the help of a German man (who by the way had the most epic overlander rig, words can not discribe).

In a week we will be headed to Montana. I will prolly check back in then

-Ian

[hughdawgmmkay]

Hey All! It has been a while since I have bee on the site. The last month and a half have been a whirlwind. We really have not had a set path to follow, which has made it difficult to plan van meet-ups. Also, we are spending a lot of time in the wilderness and with out internet access.

We are currently in Seward Alaska. Pretty cool place. The van has been preforming well, getting 23 mpg even with it loaded down. I may need to change the rear shocks and springs,however, she is really starting to sag. Next will be tires. I am thinking small A/T, either Generals or BFG's. That should boost the mpgs a little more and increase the power going up steeper grades.

We are 7000 miles into our trip and I am about to change the oil for the third time. A helpful tip for long trips is to buy a bunch of Toyota Oil filters before you leave on long trips and always carry your next batch of oil. I find myself changing the oil in rest stops frequently. Haha! Hell, I even rotated my tires in the parking lot of Denali National Park Mercantile with the help of a German man (who by the way had the most epic overlander rig, words can not discribe).

In a week we will be headed to Montana. I will prolly check back in then

-Ian

Love it Ian...I've been following your Instagram and love the progress! Good call on the extra Toyota filters... I'll stock up myself!

[kinger]

FYI, Ian, BFG's are NLA in the stock size for our vans http://www.toyotavantech.com/forum/images/icons/icon9.png

[spacecruisers]

Does anything out there like this exist for the Van? I have a custom rear bumper the previous owner fabbed up with a receiver hitch but something like this would be ideal:

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[AD2101]

That particular fabricator is located in California, and freight shipping would probably be murderous to Utah, but I'm sure you could take pictures of what you wanted to any local respectable metal fabricator and they could weld up something similar and you can avoid freight shipping costs.

[Ian R.]

Thanks for the tip! I currently have samurai wheels. Thinking of going with 205 75 15 grabbers. Maybe a tad bigger.

[Dogfish]

Nice set-up and it looks like a first rate job.

Not to be a wet blanket or ruin anyone's morning cornflakes, but I think I would rather have my spare up front... on the front bumper.

I don't recall ever having a blowout with any of my vans. I have seen them flat or down in the morning and had to change them... but I use my rear door too often to want to be dealing with a spare mounted there.

I have read about collisions with trees and poles in pick-ups that had the spare out front that ended up with the blowing out of the spare taking a lot of the force of impact. We don't even have radiator air flow to block if we mount a spare up front. Seems like win/win. There isn't much except headlights between your feet and the driver or deer that crosses into your lane.

Really a matter of taste though... just offering an alternative.

As of now all my spares mount comfortably underneath on stock or custom carriers, but if I go to larger tires I would put the extra effort into beefing up the front.

I think with some planning I could come up with a cow-catcher reinforced front bumper and spare rig that folded down and doubled as a tow bar, even.

-Jim

[Ace MM]

Nice set-up and it looks like a first rate job.
I would rather have my spare up front... on the front bumper.

a spare rig that folded down and doubled as a tow bar,
:thmbup:
I've been hit from behind a few times, never hit anyone.
Ive seen a minor impact on a rear mount that caused more damage due to its presence.

My Hiace has a spot where a 1" receiver would mount hidden behind the F bumper.
Would use it for a bike rack or a winch or :?:

I also want a ladder.

[johnnyvegas]

:thmbup:
I've been hit from behind a few times, never hit anyone.
Ive seen a minor impact on a rear mount that caused more damage due to its presence.

My Hiace has a spot where a 1" receiver would mount hidden behind the F bumper.
Would use it for a bike rack or a winch or :?:

I also want a ladder.

Tried posting a pic of my van with ladder but i always have trouble eith pictures. I like the tire underneath. The gate is for jerry can and box and bikes or whatever. Safety is a good point though

[kinger]

Thanks for the tip! I currently have samurai wheels. Thinking of going with 205 75 15 grabbers. Maybe a tad bigger.

Good call, and I notice the non-stock wheels now on previous pics (looks good). I just recently switched to the grabbers and must say that so far i prefer them to the BFG TA's. To me they handle more smoothly on the road and seem to get better traction in the light off-roading I've done so far. I'll probably get a set fro my truck next time it gets new baloney skins

[bikerjosh]

Ian, can you take a couple pictures of your bumper where it attaches/anchors to the body? I called the guy that fabricated your bumper to see if he could make another or give some specifics. (longer in Southern California, now in AZ) He said that he didn't save any notes, measurements, etc and would need to have my van during the build process.
thanks Joshua

[LightBlueToy]

I'd appreciate this as well!!

[Ian R.]

Totally! My van is in the shop currently, so I will get some up once I get it back.

After having the bumper for sometime, and putting it to good use, there are some changes that I would make. For instance, the way it is mounted to the body. It is currently mounted into the stock bumper bolt holes. These do not have much structural integrity bc of the unibody design. What has happened over time is the weight that is mounted on the bumper multiplies the force on the mounts. This has caused the bumper to slop down. So an extra support will be needed on either side that attaches to the subframe if you want it to hold a lot of weight. I would also consider having two smaller gates that meet in the middle on the van, instead of one long one. This This would add more weight, but decease the amount of force applied to the bumper mounts.

[bikerjosh]

Uh oh "in the shop"? Is that what the transfer case verbiage in the sig is about?
Regarding bumper, yeah I was a little concerned over all the weight hanging off one side.
Look forward to the pictures, have a small mig set up, but should work for tacking the structure together and then taking it to a friend that relies on his welding skills then some shade tree mech (me).
I need to check out your blog to see latest updates.
thanks

[Ian R.]

Yeah, I made a real bone head move and am paying for it. Toasted my tcase towing the van. I made a lot of phone calls to wrecking yards. It has taken over a month to track a manual tcase down. There is one at a wrecking yard in Little Rock, Ca. But they are as about as shaddy of a company as it gets. Luckily I found another in Wyoming. Being shipped in as we speak.