Can someone please tell me how to remove the 4 bolts from the spare tire carrier? I can remove the spare tire and the actual carrier itself but the 4 bolts and the black strips of metal remain. I saw a post that said use vise grips and turn and they should come off but when i turn all i am doing is tearing the bolts up. I also have an E torx and torx sockets and tried removing them with them and can't seem to get them to budge. Should i remove the panel off the inside of the hatch and go from the inside? Is there something else i can try? My KJ is an 03 so they have been there awhile but thought they should at least budge after awhile of me messing with them.


THanks.

Tighten the vise-grips more,those 4 studs are thread locked in there and can be very stubborn to remove.Your not going to save them studs either so don't remove unless you do not plan on re-using them.

That's good to know. That was my problem. I was trying to not ruin the bolts.

I have been removing my spare tire everytime i wanted to tow something because the spare tire hangs too far over the hitch that it makes it pretty difficult to hook up a trailer.

Are those bolts replaceable if i decide later that i have to have a spare tire there?

I got 2 numbers

STUD:Repair Outside Spare Tire Carrie

06507016AA
06507623AA

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2008 KK Liberty Sport NIGHT OPS EDITION + GILLS
OEM & Custom Skids - Factory Tow Package - Rock Lizard Skink Super Sliders
Prototype JBA 4 Inch Lift - JBA UCA's - Flowmaster Super 44 OR - Whacked Resonator
Jet Stage 2 - RL Gecko Basket Rack - Custom Winch Bumper - Recon 10.5K Winch

HI Digger Freek,
I'm new to the site so sorry for delays but there is so mouch great stuff to read here.

I am in Australia and have the max rated receiver (2 800kg) fitted to my 2.8 CRD KJ. Also, the dealer supplied an extra long ball carrier so I would not have to wear your problem with the spare. It tows 2 horse trailer easily and coupling up is not a great issue with the spare in place.
Suspension is not particularly distressed by this extra leverage and tows fine.
It is also a tad easier to reverse given less exaggeration of steering movements with the extra distance from the the hitch centre.......the shorter the hitch the harder it is to reverse - any time on agricultural tractors will confirm.

Best of luck.
Auberon

you can always flip the tire carrier around it will give u a inch or two between the hitch and spare. or just get an extended arm hitch or a longer drop...

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2016 JKU RUBICON

other mods coming soon...

I used a regular 4 corner socket on mine and it worked perfectly fine. I bought these fancy torx ones and didnt realize when it got down to that size the sockets went back to the regular 4 point socket. mine came out perfectly