Spare tire on bonnet?

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Author Message   AsphaltGypsy Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 04:44 am:    I'm seriously thinking of doing it - got a local vinyl sign maker that will provide the black vinyl to protect bonnet surface, but need to find two hydraulic struts to make it possible to open bonnet with tire mounted. Anyone know where I can find such struts?   nadim Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 06:59 am:    Struts and paint not the problem, the problem is the bonnet itself. I have been thinking of a way to do it, but nothing seems smart, since the bonnet cannot withstand the weight of the tire+rim. Defender's bonnets are designed to carry the load and I have seen may that are bent or cracked... If you are to be successful, you have to think of the structure of the bonnet. The way it is from the factory will not work. I though of having some rails (like the ski rails for the roof), but that will increase the high of the tire, and you will not be able to see anything at all... Any suggestions?   Chris S. Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 08:41 am:    How about some reniforcement from under the hood, say some flat steel or aluminum bars which run across the hood? These could be welded in possibly, thus providing added rigidity. I would love to have the spare on the hood, I think it is a great look, but I know the hood is too weak as-is. Chris   M. K. Watson (Lrover94) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 09:38 am:    i see that another problem is that the metal that composes the skin of the hood is soft...very soft, i done think any kind of reinforcing would prevent the hood from buckling. you may consider an ecto-skeleton (se) type of reinforcing and mount the tire to it. imho mike w london, ohio   nadim Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 10:44 am:    Guys, let us really look into this...because it will save me a lot of trouble when I plan to turn the Disco into a convertable (somewhat serious)... I will look into it myself and go talk to my brother (structure engineering) and see what I can do...   Milan Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 11:53 am:    I think a sheet of 3/16" aluminum diamond plate cut to the shape of the hood and riveted/bolted to the hoods ribs should be enough. I don't have th evehicle here, so I can't say how well it can be attached. I also don't know if I'd like even more obstruction limiting my view. I mean most of the time I can't see much as the roof of the vehicle is at my eye level - well not really but you know what I mean. Furthermore, the spare on the hood works OK if it's a skinny one.   Clif Ashley (Cta586) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 04:44 pm:    If you had the diamond plate on the outside and then bolted/riveted it through the skin to reinforcement inside,would that work?   Ho Chung (Ho) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 05:01 pm:    what size tire are you all thinking of putting there?   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 05:10 pm:    LOL, might want to just set your spare up there and then climb in the driver's seat to see how much you like it from the inside... don't you guys have back doors or roofs?   AsphaltGypsy Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 05:16 pm:    I'm thinking my stock spare (235/70/16). I like the aluminum plate idea, especially since I just bought some for my interior rear door!   AsphaltGypsy Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 05:17 pm:    Also been trying to find those struts! Anyone?   Dee Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 05:45 pm:    Might need to add a periscope to see out the front after you add the spare   Robert Sublett (Rubisco98) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 06:10 pm:    We need one of the guys on here that is good with the photoshop stuff to make a picture of a Disco with a tire on the hood. Have to say that I would stick to the rear door or roof, but I'm definitely not you, b/c that just wouldn't be me Do as you please and post your results on here.. I'm sure we're all a bit curious deep down.. Peace.. RS   Greg French Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 06:12 pm:    Check the junkyards for some hatchbacks and use the hydraulic struts from them? Be sure to post pics when you are done!   BP Guy Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 06:23 pm:    Wow. I don't think I could look at that all day long. Parking would be fun though...   Ho Chung (Ho) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 06:36 pm:    if the spare was something like this ... you know, something low profile... then i might consider.   Dee Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 06:50 pm:    Space Saver MT spare on the hood LOL, Ho that would cover up that purdy decal.. You should have said just do it   Ho Chung (Ho) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 06:57 pm:    well, very few people realize how inconvenient it is to have a tire on the hood.   E Snyder Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:04 pm:    I've thought about this as well. There are two reinforcing members under the skin of the hood, that run front to back. If you put cross bars (or a solid piece) between those, tack welded them in place, it might be strong enough. You would then have to put three bolts, attached to this piece, up through the hood (seal around them) long enough that you could put a spacer nut that would hold the tire just above the paint of the hood. Basically same principle as the Series truck hoods. Those hydraulic arms are readily available in any auto parts store, you just need one that has the right configuration, and figure out how to mount it. My series truck hoods were heavy as shit to lift with the tire on them, the hydraulic arm is a great idea. I probably would have tried it by now, but it is hard to see over the tire when wheeling. I don't think highway would be a problem. There was a kit floating round for RR hoods.   Wendell Cotton Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:07 pm:    The best way to see what structure youe need to support the tire, would be to snag some guy with a Series, and look at the underside of the hood. Even then the series uses a special hood (bonnet) for the tire. (It has a dish in it for the tire, and may also have additional support. The additional support may come with the tire mount though.) The spare never bothers me on my series, but then when I am diving that, I seem to be in a very slow universe. On a Disco, I would think that the extra air drag might be a concern. Wendell Cotton   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:16 pm:    before:   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:17 pm:    after:   Dee Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:20 pm:    Good one Blue, Does that have the fancy Rhino cover.   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:21 pm:    no, unfortunately it's the giraffe, because that's what you have to be to see over it. But underneath it's white letters out, baby!   Greg P. (Gparrish) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:23 pm:    Heres the side view with the real tire cut off and pasted.   Greg P. (Gparrish) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:24 pm:    looks somewhat ridculous unless you have some camel trophy tires and a recessed hood mount.   Ho Chung (Ho) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:25 pm:    ahh, so it boils down to "wanna be camel"? LOL but camel discos dont' got spares on there anyways.   Greg P. (Gparrish) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:28 pm:    It doesn't for me, Ho. I think it is an impossible idea on a disco. Besides, if I put a tire up there it might cover up my RANCHO stickers...   Ho Chung (Ho) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:31 pm:    you have a rancho sticker on that hood? OH the HORROR!!! LOL   Greg P. (Gparrish) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:33 pm:    nah, but I just couldn't resist the chance to say RANCHO to ya.... Isn't it quiting time out there yet?   Ho Chung (Ho) Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:59 pm:    almost time for traffic... but since i dont' have a tire on the hood, i can steer clear from the little bugs in front of me.   Milan Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 08:38 pm:    Cliff, Diamond plate on the outside is what I was thinking. Good one Blue and Greg, The pics just confirm how much pain it would be in terms of visibility. I also think that if you do do it, it should be white wall down, otherwise the reflection might impede your vision further. LOL   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 01:55 am:    I cannot believe I am reading this. It is an absolutle practical impossibility to this to a Disco. I can barely see upwards to a stoplight and I am short of 5'10". Put a flipping 265/75 up on the hood and I will not see the ground either. This is possibly the worst idea I have ever heard for a Disco Curtis   Greg P. (Gparrish) Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 07:26 am:    I stopped last week at the N.C. Auto Racing Hall of Fame on my way through North Carolina. They had used racing slicks for sale at only $10 each. Maybe we could buy them up and strap them to our hoods just to be cool........... I think it is a bad idea too on a disco, which is why I posted the picture above. The only way it would work is if you were running those little dirt bike tires HO posted above. If you gotta have a tire up front, why not build a mount to sit on your front bumper when you go off road? May not be any better, but it can be made to support the weight.   Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 08:24 am:    If you look at a Series (or a Defender for that matter), you'll notice that there's a scuttle.... the area where the dash-vents are. The bottom of the windscreen is at the top of the vents, so you've got an extra amount of clearance. That's the big difference, not the dished-out bonnet. My Series has the spare-tire mount on the bonnet, and isn't dished out.... only the deluxe bonnets were dished out. The bottom of the Disco's windshield meets the back of its hood, you don't have that extra allowable clearance there. I've thought about it before, and the only way I could really see making it work, clearance of view aside, would be to create a "spider"... have a mount that has four legs that run to the four corners of the hood, thus keeping the tire off the hood. But, that's a lot of work to make a visual obstruction..... If you want the tyre on the bonnet, get a Series Rover, IMHO..... -L   Dee Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 03:01 pm:    Raise the body 4" dish out the hood 4" and reinforce it to accepet the extra weight then your only looking at 3" to 4" of tire, Or take the cheep way out put the tire up on the roof rack   Tate (Tate) Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 03:14 pm:    Another thing to keep in mind if attempting this project would be crash dynamics. For instance, if you were to just weld in two heavy duty supports front-to-back under the hood, in a frontal impact, these could act as individual spears for the passengers. It would be a really good idea to run the idea by engineer to see what the crash behavior would be.   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 03:42 pm:    Tonight I'll slap my secondary spare on the hood and snap a couple pics from inside & outside. Meant to do it last night but forgot. I imagine that in reality, my little microsoft paint quickie pic has a little vertical exaggeration. hehehe maybe I'll secure the wheel with ratchet straps and go for a cruise to see what it's like...   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 04:08 pm:    For the love of God Blue, just keep the damn thing on the rear door! Curtis   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 04:16 pm:    Do you think I'd go through the trouble of dismounting my spare for this experiment? Remember, I'm a lazy bastard. I'll plop my sixth castor & tire on the hood for the full "expedition look"   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 07:03 pm:    I think Jay may have some chrome sand ladders he can loan you to complete the picture   E Snyder Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 11:22 pm:    The idea of my tire on the hood and someone rear ending me at highway speed is a bit disconcerting. Got rear-ended in a VW once and it popped the radio out of the dash! MMMM. Trac-Edge sandwich.   Erik Olson (Jon) Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 11:55 pm:    I just about busted the spare off the back last night, but I'm even lazier than Blue. If there's a big tire on the hood, how will you see the stoplight reflection in the paint and know when it's time to go? e   anon Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 07:59 am:    I'd be worried about the insurance ramifications, if it was properly designed and approved by your State motoring bodies,you may need an engineer's certification, hell it would be one law suite if the damn thing cam adrift and killed or injured someone. just my 5c woth   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 02:39 pm:    it doesn't look right   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 02:41 pm:      Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 02:42 pm:    can't see a damn thing from the driver's seat either:   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 02:42 pm:    can't see a damn thing from the driver's seat either. And that's just a 225/75.   Ho Chung (Ho) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 02:45 pm:    LOL lovely!!!   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 03:32 pm:    Blue, While you are at it, do you think you could strap it to the front and rear doors? I figure we could carry an extra set of wheels and tires if we can pull this off. It would really complete the B2B Expedition look. You know: street wheels mounted and A/T's on the doors in case you mistakenly wondered off pavement Curtis   niall forbes (Forbesn) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 04:28 pm:    Well, at least it blocks out part of the Exploder in the interior pic ;-)   Michael Villanueva (Michael) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 04:51 pm:    I will pop my 265 up on the hood this evening and take some pictures. Now I am intrigued.   Michael Villanueva (Michael) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 04:53 pm:    And Curtis... Wondering off pavement is what the whole idea of rovering is about. You should know that.   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 07:07 pm:    LOL niall. I tell you, that V8 Explorer is one comfortable and powerfull ride compared to my Disco dog.....   niall forbes (Forbesn) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 09:43 pm:    Yeah, well, wait till it's a year old. Then we'll see what you think ;-)   Michael Villanueva (Michael) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 10:38 pm:    Ok. I agree Curtis. This looks insane. Pictures do not do the visual carnage justice. Your eyes feel raped and your toes throb. Here is the basic front shot. The tire is a 265/75/16. Then we have the inside Driver's Seat Shot: Followed by the wonderview seen by the backseat passengers: And we close with the KVT Expedition Especial: This was both painful and funny. I really wanted to get some bugie cords and attach the tire to the outside driver's side door just for the hell of it. But... the initial excitement quickly evaporated when I saw how stupid this looked.   John Robertson Clark Ramsay (3toedsloth) Posted on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 11:02 pm:    Why not go dualie. You'd essentially be carrying two spares. Try to flip a Disco dualie, I dare you.   Wendell Cotton Posted on Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 01:48 pm:    Two more things to remember ; 1. The tire should be far enough forward that the hood will open. 2. When opening the hood, you will need more muscles. Good luck   niall forbes (Forbesn) Posted on Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 02:02 pm:    BTW Blue, I'm not trying to dump on your wife's new car, just joking around. I am stunned at how totally stupid it looks with the tire on the hood. I didn't think it would look good but I never expected it to be so hideous. I'm shocked. Micheal, what rack is that you have? I've never noticed one with a front like that.   Michael Villanueva (Michael) Posted on Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 03:18 pm:    It is a custom built job -- the front end has a drop-curve little section. we were thinking either a series of lights-- or some type of a tank in that dropped section. The tank idea was stupid; I first mounted my PowerTank up there (the width and depth dimensions on that section of the rack were made so to accomodate the 15lb PT) -- but it looked stupid -- about as comical as the tire on the hood. I just have not gotten around to putting the lights up there.   niall forbes (Forbesn) Posted on Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 05:36 pm:    It looks cool. The rest of it looks a lot like the Wilderness rack that AB sells. I find most racks aside from the Safari one look stupid on a Disco since they have to be so damn high to clear the roof. This one looks decent though. I like it.   Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco) Posted on Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 07:04 pm:    Michael, Who made your bumper? I don't think I've seen that one around before?   Ho Chung (Ho) Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 12:46 am:    hmmm, al, can you hear me now?   Michael Villanueva (Michael) Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 02:16 am:    Al The bumper is a rare KVT. First the proof: Here is the truck without the KVT: And here it is with the KVT: The bumper was made by this man, Kyle, who by virtue of his multi-ethnic heritage actually pissed hot metal which he molded into the bumper: The end result is pure coolness: mv   Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco) Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 02:23 am:    I want one! I'm getting tired of bashing my ARB on rocks and digging out my fairlead. Looks like that washer fluid bottle needs to be relocated   Michael Villanueva (Michael) Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 02:40 am:    I got innovative with that water bottle. I sprayed it with a can of Krylon Black Bar B Que Paint. Look carefully at the last picture with the Michelin on the hood above. You can barely see the outline -- but it is there. Quite stealthy. The approach angle on the KVT is just phenomenal.