Getting spare wheels on/off roof racks

Have someone give you a hand ?

Onbly if a helping hand is available at the time. Its not for me but for RedGibber

Thanks Willie,

Yes my system incorporates a 2000lb electric winch (about $100- off ebay). However, I'm only lifting the tyres (35") up about 6' off the ground and onto the wheel carriers on the back of the box on my truck.

To use a similar system to get the wheel/tyre onto a roof rack would involve a bit of extra engineering.

I'm envisaging attaching the winch to one side of the roof rack (let's say the driver's side). Then you'd attach your ladder to the passenger's side. It'd need to be able to pivot on the top railing of the roof rack. You'd need to have a support for the tyre to rest on at the bottom of the ladder. The winch cable would go across the top of the rack, and down to the wheel/ladder position. You'd operate the leccy winch which would gradually raise the ladder (and wheel) to a position a bit more than horizontal. (You'd be operating the winch from up on the roofrack). Once the ladder was at the dessired position, you would would be able to slide the wheel towards you and onto the rack.

The ladder would need to be strong enough to be used in this manner of course, as would the roof rack railings etc. I'm envisaging an ARB rack or similar and a steel ladder with "feet" at the bottom for the tyre to rest upon.

Hope you get the idea?? haha

Hi Mal and others,
The biggest problem with just chucking them off is not so much fetching it from where it stops but not getting the chuck right.
Did it once from a rack on top of a series 3 Landrover van, got it wrong and the tyre bounced back and put a bloody big dent into the side of the Rover. Bugger

Don't like tyre and rim assy's on roofracks, usually pretty heavy and as every one says too hard to manhandle down. No easy cheap solution.

Disco