Project ZU: Rear Tire Carrier

[Triathlete]

Fashionably Late to the Party

Fixed it for you

[tom4bren]

With the skid plate off I should be able to cut the 2 inner mounts & weld the tank higher. Looks to be a fairly easy project & the result will look much better with a tucked gas tank.

A little more than that. IIRC, the shield at the back of the tank is welded to the tank and to the rear crossmember. That's a cutting/welding job that a pro would hesitate on. It can be done but be careful. Don't want to lose any family members in a blaze of glory.

[djvx]

Contact our buddy Vic and drive down and get the Foxfire rear gate! He'd probably sell it separately.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/250979098149...ht_1316wt_1187

Kat, awesome, thanks for the link. I started looking last night and there was a couple in Illinois too.

[djvx]

Contact our buddy Vic and drive down and get the Foxfire rear gate! He'd probably sell it separately.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/250979098149...ht_1316wt_1187

He listed his cell number on Ebay, its too late to call tonight, thanks for the info!!!

[VX KAT]

He listed his cell number on Ebay, its too late to call tonight, thanks for the info!!!

My hubby grew up in Lake Villa, tells me it's really far far North Chicago, maybe 10 miles from the Wisconsin State line, so it's only 55 miles total for you from Milwaukee... good luck, Vic has been real good to deal with and good prices. He really wants to just get rid of them, so he'll probably be great on price.

[Ldub]

After seeing this in person....

All I can say is WOW...

This will be done to Suzy, but alas, won't be NEARLY as well done...

After grindering & reinforcing what's left, I'm-A gonna do out the whole dealio with diamond plate...

Of course...DON'T hold yer breath...

[VXorado]

After seeing this in person....

All I can say is WOW...

This will be done to Suzy, but alas, won't be NEARLY as well done...

After grindering & reinforcing what's left, I'm-A gonna do out the whole dealio with diamond plate...

Of course...DON'T hold yer breath...

Right on Dub!!!

I can't wait to see your take on the tire carrier... And diamond plate should look real good. Let me know if you need anything along the way. I recommend learning from my mistakes

[Ldub]

Right on Dub!!!

I can't wait to see your take on the tire carrier... And diamond plate should look real good. Let me know if you need anything along the way. I recommend learning from my mistakes

Yeh Buddy...

Any pics "in process" that haven't already been posted...

THAT would help...

[VXorado]

Hmmm, I'll know I have some... not sure how useful they'll be but i'll look through them and let you know. I can take some close ups of the inner framework as well.

The only thing I want to fix/change is the cladding under the tire. I hate how the cut off is visible. Maybe fiberglass will fix that?

Sue's pics from Moab:

[Thatguy]

This is kind of an old thread, but how did your hinges hold up? I was recently rear ended and interested in doing this to my VX. Did you have to beef up your hinges or have any problems with the latch?

[VXorado]

This is kind of an old thread, but how did your hinges hold up? I was recently rear ended and interested in doing this to my VX. Did you have to beef up your hinges or have any problems with the latch?

No problems at all. I've even tagged the tire on a few rock ledges without any repercussions.


I think this has helped a lot to keep stress off the hinges and latch.

[Thatguy]

Thanks for the response! I hope to have this done in the next few weeks. Where did your bump stop come from?

[VXorado]

It's from the front suspension, upper bumpstop. I had the bumpstops lying around after replacing them with a low profile set from indy4x.

[Boonetown123]

Awesome idea man! Honestly one the best looking VXs! I actually took your idea of the snorkel and ordered one myself and put it on.