| Author | Message | ||
     Kelly Fristoe (Kfristoe) Member Username: Kfristoe Post Number: 82 Registered: 12-2002 |
I remember a while back there was a post about a spare tire cover that had a zipper compartment that would hold a lot of extra trail gear and there seemed to be some responses about being careful to not put too much weight on the spare tire carrier/rear door. I was just reflecting about when I climb on my ladder to get access to the roof rack that I will most likely put one foot over on the spare tire while I'm up there to get better position/stabilize myself while moving things around on the roof rack. Sometimes I've even stood entirely on the spare tire. How bad is this? P.S. I'm 200 lbs. | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 786 Registered: 09-2002 |
I'd advise from doing it too often. The door itself is extremely heavy for the hinges to support. Extra weight like 200 lbs will not be good over long term. | ||
| Tom V (Cozmo) Member Username: Cozmo Post Number: 184 Registered: 09-2002 |
Alan I weigh 150 lbs can I stand on my spare tire | ||
| Mark Albrecht (Markalbrecht) Member Username: Markalbrecht Post Number: 113 Registered: 11-2002 |
Alan -- isn't the ladder also supported by the door? Is there a significant difference between 200 lbs on the ladder vs. the spare? | ||
| Mike Bauer (Mikeb) Member Username: Mikeb Post Number: 122 Registered: 02-2003 |
As long as your rear door is closed all the way and you don't weigh much over 200 lbs, I think you will be ok. The problems with adding extra weight to your rear door comes into play when opening and closing the rear door. Since all of the weight of the door, spare tire, and any extra goodies is born by two relatively thin hinges, the hinges tend to bend over time. When the door is closed, the weight is born by both the hinges and the latch. So, I doubt that standing on your spare while the door is closed will cause a problem. I do it all the time. Thanks, Mike B. | ||
| Roger Sinasohn (Uncle_roger) Member Username: Uncle_roger Post Number: 44 Registered: 06-2003 |
Note - I don't know nothing, but... I would think that a static load would not be a problem -- it's when the vehicle is moving (and the tire is moving up and down) that the weight is more of a problem. If the vehicle drops down off a rock or something, (or hits a pothole,) the downward force on the door would be much more than the simple weight of a person. I don't think I would recommend standing on the tire for an extended period, but I would think that putting one foot on the tire, or even stepping on to it to get to the rack would be okay. I did that a lot to get into our tent before we got the rear door ladder. | ||
| John Lombos (Rover4us) Member Username: Rover4us Post Number: 64 Registered: 02-2003 |
It can't be good to use it as a step. I agree that the hinges LR fitted on the Disco are poor. I have noticed that the door, right before it makes contact (when shutting), is almost "not alligned" to where if you don't push it with enough force-it doesn't have enough momentum to make it over the hump or that peg that the latch grabs on to. I have used my spare once or twice as a step to get to my rack. I grimmaced and held my breath each time hoping I would put less weight on it. Now I just use a ladder (if I'm home). | ||
| Roger Sinasohn (Uncle_roger) Member Username: Uncle_roger Post Number: 45 Registered: 06-2003 |
Actually, Mark, there is a big difference -- the ladder, being farther from the hinges, is able to use more of the door as leverage, and would cause more stress than the tire. As Mike points out, though, the latch (and the door frame, for that matter) support the whole door when it's closed. Again, you have to consider static versus dynamic weight. The weight of the tire and a person is probably a lot less then that downward force of the tire alone when the rear end drops into a San Francisco pothole. One thing to watch out for, possibly, is whether or not the tire mounting thing (it's too early in the morning to remember what it's called) is strong enough and the door skin it's mounted to is also strong enough -- you don't want it weakening and pulling off on the freeway (or worse, when you're standing on it.) | ||
| Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Moderator Username: Axel Post Number: 392 Registered: 02-2003 |
I step on the spare tire all the time when I need to get up on the rack, since I don't have a ladder. The door is always closed and obviously the truck isn't moving when I do this. But, I am a fat f**k, and I haven't noticed any problems with my door or hinges. - Axel | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1057 Registered: 02-2003 |
the consensus is step on the tire. rd | ||
| Roger Sinasohn (Uncle_roger) Member Username: Uncle_roger Post Number: 46 Registered: 06-2003 |
But gently, and no more than you need to. (No jumping up and down, and no swinging on the door ladder.) | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 787 Registered: 09-2002 |
You guys are right about the latch adding support when the door is closed and that was my assumption when the question was asked but it's still something I wouldn't do a lot or use as a primary source for getting up onto the roof. I say just be cautious and gentle. BTW, these are just my own opinions and my own comfort level with using the tire as a climbing/standing point. I also weigh over 200lbs so that probably has a bearing on my opinion.  | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 788 Registered: 09-2002 |
Hey Mike, I see you have a Wayfinder v7000 in your truck? How do you like it? I have the v2000 and find it quite useful except for the temp guage. It doesn't read past -17*C so kinda useless for me as it gets colder than that here quite frequently but other than that I like it. | ||
| Erik Olson (Jon) Senior Member Username: Jon Post Number: 486 Registered: 02-2002 |
Step on the tire, I've done it a thousand times and never noticed sag or deflection. On a D1, you're putting your weight on the wedge at the latch and straight down on the hinges. Don't ever do it with the door open and you'll likely be just fine. e | ||
| Kahbahzahkee (Koby) Senior Member Username: Koby Post Number: 576 Registered: 02-2002 |
A thousand times, eh? Man, that's a lot.  | ||
| Chris Browne (Chris_browne) Senior Member Username: Chris_browne Post Number: 365 Registered: 02-2003 |
I'm on my second set of hinges.... Third could come soon as I once opened the door when Cross axled....NEVER NEVER open the rear door when cross axled...its keeping the rear end square | ||
| Kennith P. Whichard III (Kennith) Senior Member Username: Kennith Post Number: 395 Registered: 05-2002 |
Oh man! Land Rover themselves sell a ladder to climb on the door. It's fine to step on it, it's fine to sit on it, to mount a high lift jack and go wheeling on it, to set a beer on it, or anything you want: As long as the door is closed. The door is heavy, the hinges are tough and adjustable for slip, and if they can handle my never ending onslought of torture, they can handle you loading your roof rack. It's even easy to take off and adjust, and to re-install. Just think about it, a huge spare on a steel rim with a high lift jutting out of the center for leverage bouncing around off road, or a static 200 pound load, it can handle it. Cheers, Kennith | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1062 Registered: 02-2003 |
i would not go adding a jack of the back of it. i think thats not so good. | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Senior Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 378 Registered: 08-2002 |
One thing I didn't see mentioned was the structural integrity of the tire carrier itself. I pulled the spare off a few weekends ago to do a CB install. I noticed that there was serious rusting around the bolts/lugs that hold the tire on. Although I am currently ladder-free, I am standing on the tire as little as possible. I am not concerned about the door sagging as much as I am about the lugs becoming loose from the weight and rust. I intend on pulling the carrier off this winter and either repairing/rust-proofing or outright replacement. | ||
| Blue (Blue) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Blue Post Number: 618 Registered: 04-2003 |
we need someone of known weight to jump up & down on their spare until it fails and keep count to settle this most vexing issue kind of like the wise old owl who determines how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop for that little brat P.S. I use the spare all the time to help get my svelte 185 lbs up onto the roof | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 286 Registered: 04-2003 |
Lets see kind of like "One Jump, Two Jumps, Three Jumps.......take wrecking ball to spare tire.....hmmm Three it takes Three jumps" | ||
| Erik Olson (Jon) Senior Member Username: Jon Post Number: 487 Registered: 02-2002 |
Koby, Maybe more... but who's counting? e | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) Member Username: Newman Post Number: 230 Registered: 04-2003 |
I'm 225 lbs and use the spare with no problems -- and that's with a bolt sheared (shorn?) off of the spare carrier! Andy | ||
| Kahbahzahkee (Koby) Senior Member Username: Koby Post Number: 577 Registered: 02-2002 |
Erik- Evidently you have!  | ||
| Kennith P. Whichard III (Kennith) Senior Member Username: Kennith Post Number: 396 Registered: 05-2002 |
That's right Blue, The only way to properly end the debate must be to conduct tire carrier jumping tests. Look, guys, some things can be over-analyzed, like this. It's a simple thing, many of us have experienced the door being able to hold the spare and a person many times. I have never seen one break. As a matter of fact I recently removed the door for a movie and in doing so inspected the hinge and mounting locations for damage and found none, after all I have done to it. I walk all over the damn car. From the hood, to the windowsills, even the side mirrors. I know everyone has seen people hang from the roof rails with their weight on a door handle. My spare tire supports me and all that I hang on it even though I (like an idiot) ground out a huge portion of the top to make room for the wiper upon inversion. It's infected by horrible rust (I am going to replace it) and still supports me. I haul the jack around all the time because I don't have any place to put it, and no worries. It can handle being climbed on. Cheers, Kennith | ||
| Kelly Fristoe (Kfristoe) Member Username: Kfristoe Post Number: 83 Registered: 12-2002 |
Thanks folks. I think my question has definitely been answered. I sure didn't mean for it to get this involved. Now that this is behind us let's all get back to helping our bretheren with much more important issues. |
