How to get spare wheel & tyre onto roofrack

Hi Desert Tripper,

Have you thought of fitting a spare wheel carrier to the back of your vehicle.

Even then they are a bit of a lift but no where near as bad as lifting up onto the roof rack. Just a thought there Desert tripper.

I fitted one to my previous 80 and it worked well.

Good luck mate and all the best.

Bruce.

There is a couple of options but as always comes down to the effort you want to put into the project and the cost to do so. Like all lifting excercises you need to get above what you are lifting. You could make a "A" frame that pivots off your roofrack bit like the frames used to sink a bore or could purchase a small hand winch lifter similar to what the wreckers have on there utes to pick up gearboxes etc. My preference would be the "A" frame as it would weigh very little and be able to be used on maltiple cars.

Regards
Craig

Hi Desert Tripper,

I initially set up an A-frame gantry/winch arrangement such as Craig describes above. On lifting, when the wheel reached its lift limit at the gantry pulley further winching caused the gantry to pivot over onto the roof rack with the wheel on top.
It worked well but I became critical of having the gantry and winch on the roof rack as I was trying to reduce weight up there.

So then I resorted to a block and tackle system such as you described. Using stainless yachting gear, with a single block at the top and a double block at the wheel and thick soft rope such as used on yachts so as to be easy on the hands. The pull is managed whilst standing up on the roof rack but I do not experience the friction problems you describe as the pulled rope section is only in contact with about 20 degrees of the rack top bar. Before lifting, a strap is attached to the bottom side of the wheel so that on reaching the rack, with the rope tied-off, the strap is used to rotate the wheel over the rack top bar and onto the floor of the rack.

By the way, the old gantry and hand-winch is still sitting in my shed. If you want it as a gift, just let me know. But you would need to collect it from the Sunshine Coast Qld.

The rig I am just in the process of selling.... (a 2000 GU Patrol cut-down to dual cab and with 6.5 V8 Chev diesel) has a spare tyre provision above the roof; cantilevered off the canopy.

It is about 2 meters above ground level and at 56, even though I'm 6'1", there was no way I could lift a 45kg tyre/wheel above my head these days.

I made up a jib using galv water pipe bent to a 90 degree angle. At the apex there is an electric 2000lb winch attached with the wire cable leading to a pulley at the horizontal end. This jib locates into a stubby piece of water pipe, the next larger size in diameter, which is firmly attached to the top of the steel canopy.

When not in use, the jib lays across the back/outside of the canopy. I use a 50amp Anderson plug arrangement to provide power to the winch, from 3rd battery, inside the camper.

This works well and I can lift the wheel from ground to maximum height, pivot the jib so that the tyre is above the mounting position, then drop the tyre/wheel into position and fasten in place with a large wing nut arrangement.

I carry a 3-step ladder under the canopy in order to be able to get the height I need for this sort of job.

Roachie

Desert Tripper!! Are you towing!! Michael

G'day Desert Tripper, if you have a winch on the front of your vehicle, is it possible to run the cable over the bar work and bonnet and roof rack to the rear of the vehicle. Half sections of thick pvc tube could be used as temporary protection where the wire rope rubs on the bar work. Never tried it, just an idea that just might work.

Hi Desert Tripper,
A few years ago I made a simple winch for a mate to lift his spare wheel to his roof rack. I did a post on another forum, but here is a link to a video clip showing it in action.I hope that it can be of some help to you. Four wheel spares are definately not light or easy to handle above head height.
Safe Travels,
Regards,

MichaelSite Link

I do something similar but divide the effort by two. The rope goes through the centre of the wheel. My wife pulls on the rope ex the single pulley - I roll the tyre up the back doors of the landcruiser and over the roof rack bar. If you think about 45 kg divided by the two of us that not much more than the 20kg bags of chook food we chuck around at home.

harv

Buy a set of tyre pliers. Then you can throw the ligher weight carcasses up there, and carry more for the same weight.
Using a decent set of tyre pliers really isn't that difficult.
Assuming this is a second spare tyre, there isn't really too many places I'd bother carrying two spare wheels as well anyway.