Spare tire under or on the back?

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:15 pm

Do you think the KK would look better with the spare tire on the back, or not having it showen at all?

Jeepman56 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:56 pm

On the back 100%. This to me is a big part of Jeep style, plus fabbing a spare mount on the back would be a cool personalization of your Jeep. (Is that a word?)

ryno · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:25 pm

I don't really think it's a case of what looks better; it's more of a matter of functionality. If you put the spare on the back of a KK it would have such a long rear overhang that it would render the Jeep almost completely useless on any sort of graded trails.

But to answer the poll, a rear-mounted spare would probably look fine on the KK. However, you would have to mount it really high in order to clear the bumper, unless you had a custom bumper made with a place cut out for the spare.

Here's a picture I whipped up in good old MS Paint:

toy4everyseason · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:17 pm

the whole tail gate lifts up on the KK. Having a tire on that would be impossible for it to open unless it swung to the side like the old blazers.

Supalive · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:31 pm

Put it on the Roof

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:37 pm

The KK has the same departure angle (give or take) as the XJ. I've seen people put the spare on the back of an XJ (swingaway carrier), but it works a lot better on the roof.

mcd001 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:08 pm

The salesman I worked with at the dealership told me that Jeep had done some research about the rear-mount spare tire during the redesign process and that data indicated more people preferred the tire be mounted under the KK rather than on the rear hatch.

It sounds like it was more than just an aesthetics decision... Jeep received many complaints about the rear-mounted spare.

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:16 pm

I guarantee they received those complaints from people who had never CHANGED a flat tire. :lol:

bob_in_IL · **Joined:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:22 pm **Posts:** 12

If you ever have to change the tire out on the trail I definitely want the tire on the back or the roof. But for most urban cruisers out of sight is better.

Pote · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:39 pm

dog_party wrote:

I guarantee they received those complaints from people who had never CHANGED a flat tire. :lol:

....while running to soccer practice to pick up the kids before she hit the grocery store!!!

toy4everyseason · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:40 pm

Getting the tire down isn't soo bad. Stick the tire tool down a cover in the back and down it comes. Don't know how easy it will be with mud and snow packed up there thou.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:35 pm

mcd001 wrote:

The salesman I worked with at the dealership told me that Jeep had done some research about the rear-mount spare tire during the redesign process and that data indicated more people preferred the tire be mounted under the KK rather than on the rear hatch.

It sounds like it was more than just an aesthetics decision... Jeep received many complaints about the rear-mounted spare.

It might be a better place for it, but I know my KJ has loads of mud on it most of the time and dripping from the wheel wells and frame. I feel that I would need a shovel to get to the tire if I ever needed it. LOL

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:42 pm

I want mine in the roof

toy4everyseason · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:55 pm

Diggerfreek wrote:

I want mine in the roof

do you still have the stock spare under there?

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:06 am

Rock Lizzard Rear Bumper with a Swing-Away Tire Carrier would look and function fantastically. Then add an extra long range fuel tank in place of the OEM Spare.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:56 am

I think the spare tire under the truck looks terrible. (on any truck)

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:32 am

first thing I always did when I bought a new truck jerk the spare out from underneath, never liked them there never will, still wondering who they interviewed to come up with the results that people like them better underneath

rickm · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:39 am

I had a 97 Kia Sportage that had the tire on a swing arm thing on the back. Getting it on/off when I had to change tires was no problem.

Next I had a 2001 Isuzu Rodeo with the tire underneath. Getting it off/on when I had to change tires was no problem.

Next I had a 2004 Jeep Liberty with the tire mounted on the rear gate. Getting it off/on when I had to change tires was no problem.

Now I have a 2008 Jeep Liberty with the tire mounted underneath the rear. If I have to change the tire, I suspect it will not be a major problem.

I will say one thing about the Jeep/Chrysler roadside service. When I had a flat on my 04 Liberty. One time I called them to tell them my tire was flat, and I swear the guy was knocking at my door to change the tire for me within about 2 minutes of me hanging up the phone.

The next time, I did it via the internet. The guy was in my parking lot at work to change the tire for me within 5 minutes.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:51 am

So you dont change your own flat tire? Oh well I guess a lot of people dont anymore, would never think about calling anyone but thats just me. Nope guess you will never have a problem then about where it is! :lol:

TheJawsOfDeath · **Joined:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:56 am **Posts:** 305

I happen to like the spare tire on the rear. Easy access, looks rugged too I guess but I'm not so concerned about appearance. A spare under the rear can be good for packaging reasons, but I find them annoying. Changing a tire on my Dakota w/the tire under was more of a PITA than my KJ. Although it wasnt exactly pulling teeth in the case of the dakota, the system worked pretty well, just slightly more annoying than spare on the back.

I'm just glad the KJ doesnt have a separate swing out tire carrier like old blazers had. We (it was one of my dads various trucks) had a 93 blazer and the tire carrier just squeaked incessantly. There was nothing you could do about it, any sort of bumpy road would make a sound like a couple giant crickets gettin' it on in the cargo area...quite annoying.

Spare tire under or on the back?

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