How to remove spare tire rack 2007 Classic

[Sky]

Hi

I want to remove my spare tire rack from 2007 classic. I am going to weld extensions to accommodate 16" wheels. As seen in the picture, there are 2 bolts going through a frame cross member. Does anyone know if the frame is tapped for the bolt threads, or is there a nut on the other side of the frame? The belly pan starts at the frame cross member, so if nuts would fall after removing the bolts I have a problem.

I will loosen the bolts a little and see if they wiggle, but I was hoping someone here knows for sure.

Thanks
Dale

[PKI]

Mine was tapped. I added a pair of flat bars with holes to lower the rack . Got the bars from the Ace Hardware down the street. Another member - Switz, had a new rack fabricated. Another poster said they were able to bend the rack to fit.

Good luck with your adjustment. Pat

[ROBERT CROSS]

Let some air out.🤔

Bob
🇺🇸

[thewarden]

I simply bent the 2 bars outward, just slightly, and my 16" spare fits the tire rack just fine. Not sure why you would want to remove the whole rack to make mods, if all you want to do is get the 16" spare to fit.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by thewarden

I simply bent the 2 bars outward, just slightly, and my 16" spare fits the tire rack just fine. Not sure why you would want to remove the whole rack to make mods, if all you want to do is get the 16" spare to fit.

X 2, no need to remove or weld/cut. Just drop the front down, get a short pipe to gain leverage, and bend the rods out about 1to 2 inches.

[Sky]

I assume you guys are bending it like this?

[Wanderer2604]

I had to enlarge my spare carrier when I went to 16" wheels. I added to the bars with pieces of pipe.



http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438...ml#post1766978

[Wayne&Sam]

Ditto on just bending the front bars.

[thewarden]

Originally Posted by Sky

I assume you guys are bending it like this?

Attachment 345760

Less of a bend of the horizontal bar and a bit of a bend on the vertical bar is all that is needed. You are only trying to accomodate a tire that is about 1" larger in diameter, meaning each bar needs to provide 0.5 or so of an inch of extra room. It does not take much of a bend to accommodate this.

[Sky]

Thank you everyone. I bent them and they naturally bent like my diagram. The spare fits great now. Thanks again you saved me a lot of work.

PKI thanks for the info about the cross member being tapped. That is good to know.

Cheers
Dale

[jcanavera]

Yeah I did the bend trick to the vertical bars on my Classic. Didn't take much to provide the clearance needed to tuck the 16 wheel and LT tire in.

Jack