Here is the tire carrier that I built last weekend. One suggestion if you are going to do this, and I will add this to mine later... Where the wheel mounts I plan on adding a 2" receiver hitch where it mounts to the tire carrier. Then the part where the wheel mounts will be 2" square stock with various holes at different spots. Then I can adjust how far out the tire is from the carrier. This allows for you to adjust to different size tires. It also allows you to mount the tire to the plate and then pick the whole thing up and slide it into the receiver. Lastly, It will allow you to replace the tire with a receiver mounted basket or bike carrier. I could probably adjust it out about 2 inches and it would let me open the rear window without opening the carrier. Gives you tons of flexibility.
(apologize for the dust and dirt on it. Live on a gravel road... for a few more weeks.)
This is the latch. It is just a bolt with a T-handle welded on it. It goes through a spacer in the carrier and threads into a block welded inside. The washer welded to the carrier is a holder to put the pin in when you open the door to keep from losing it. I've found that if you don't have somewhere to place things like that you lose it.
Notice that the lines of the carrier follow the bends in the bumper and it mounts flush into the bumper when shut. I love that. I still have some cleaning up to do and a few areas to weld. I may try to seal it air tight and see how much air I can put in it...
