Now he tells us

 

Pics as promised. I tried to get as many angles as possible. Don't mind the rust.













And a couple guilty pleasure pics showing my 235/70/15 spare next to my 255/70/17s. Quite the difference!

 

Gary, your pictures only serve to point out how poorly I lined mine up pre-drilling LOL. Has it ever un-latched on it's own? The latch doesn't really seem that strong and I'm kinda paranoid about it opening up, flying out and ripping the side of my truck apart.

I did find some better socket cap bolts so I'll be able to tighten it up a lot better. Hopefully when I put them in, I can re-align the brackets slightly to make it more aesthetic.

Also, I wonder if a GM dealer could re-key one of those wheel locks to match my key. I had planned on using the wheel locks I currently have on and then buy a whole new set of lugnuts and locks for my wheels.

ps: you need a full size spare

 

I'm not sure if it really matters if it's the original key or not for the tire lock. I've turned the airbag on and off in my friends S-10 and another persons Silverado. The tire key doesn't seem very precise.

Also, I know on ZR2 forum, and possible on ebay there is a guy who makes and sells a neat backup latch that works if the first one fails, so you don't dent your rear panel (like mine and all ZR2/carrier models). He sells it for like $55 shipped I think.

 

Wow, that's a lot of pics. No one should have any doubt about how to mount a tire carrier now. No excuse now, all you people who have been on the fence about doing this.

 

Sorry I wasn't able to post them before you mounted yours to save you the hassle. It has never opened on its own. My Wife has 'shut it' a couple times and when I round the corner it swung out. It never latched in those instances though. When I shut it, I double check by pulling on it (and now so does she).

I agree on the full size spare, but I want it all to match so I can rotate it in. Wife's car needs tires before I can get a matching rim and tire for a spare.

 

ranger: is it on zr2usa? I remember seeing one before but I had heard they were no longer made. I'll see if I can find (or make) one...

edit; nvm, I found it

 

Finally got around to putting better bolts in. Even with the old bolts only hand-tightened, it seemed plenty strong. The new ones allowed me to actually tighten it and it's MUCH stronger now. I tried everything short of cutting a notch in the bolts and I could never get a grip on the bolt heads.







They look better than the hex head as well

 

Those look nice, Matt. Nice and clean look. Do the go through to the inside panel? If not, how the hell did you get your hands in there lol.

 

i have to say...very nice...looks a lot better.
i might have to swap mine out for that.