Factory spare tire carrier retrofit
why did i do this? because in baja, two spare tires are better than one...
this is where it all starts. need to fabricate a brace that fits inside the quarter pannel that gives the carrier something to bolt to.
someone said that you could get this part from the toyota dealer but mine said they couldn't get it, so i had to make one myself.
also need the piece that bolts to tailgate so carrier has something to latch to, i was able to get this piece from the toyota dealer.
the beginnings of the brace that goes inside the quarter pannel. this will be strengthened by "boxing" it in. it will also bolt to a vertical sheetmetal piller inside the quarter pannel. notice that i was only able to use 6 of the original 8 mounting holes on the carrier. this is because there is little room back in that corner, and the size that i have is the biggest unit that will slide in place without cutting any of the original sheetmetal. notice that the mounting nuts are welded on, there is no room to get a wrench back in that corner when final mounting.
halfway through the fabrication
all painted and ready to go
can you say "point of no return"?
holes drilled for tailgate piece
modified stock plastic piece so holes in tailgate are covered up
backing plate follows the contours of the tailgate piece and will give it something to bolt to as well as strengthening the tailgate sheetmetal
disassembling the tailgate was easier than i thought it would be
tailgate piece with striker bolted and welded on, backing plates with welded nuts. everything painted and ready to go on.
all holes drilled were painted with touch-up paint before final assembley
mounting tab for reverse light
light and license plate mounted and wired
interior all reassembled. notice the wires coming out of the left side of the tailgate, these are the leads for the reverse light and license plate light and ground wire. these were all on the tailgate before so the wires were extended out of the tailgate before it was reassembled.
It looks much cleaner without the tailgate mounted reverse lights. i couldn't be happier with this retrofit.
This was a major undertaking however, custom fabrication, drilling holes in the body.
You must have faith in your abilities...
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