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Should I install a tire carrier or leave as is?

vtboy51

Sr. Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
383
My '68 didn't come from the factory with a tire carrier that I can tell, so I picked up a used one last year with intentions of installing it. Everything is original on the bronco, so I'm now second guessing drilling things. Besides the exterior carrier, did Ford offer an interior carrier system? Did some bronco's not come with any spare tire options?
 

House

Minutia Militia
Joined
Aug 12, 2004
Messages
2,394
There were three options.
1-Swing away tailgate carrier (10 holes to drill)
2-Back of bulkhead (Halfcab and wagon w/bench)
3-Inside of tailgate (one bracket and two standoffs)
 

Rustytruck

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
10,875
There was an internal carrier so you can mount the spare against the inside tailgate. There was 2 brackets mounted to the top edge of the tailgate and another center bracket in the middle of the tailgate to bolt the tire on to. Does your truck have the bulkhead behind the seats? the spare tire can be mounted there. Does your vin number start with U14 which would have been a pick-up with a bulkhead to mount the spare.
 
OP
OP
vtboy51

vtboy51

Sr. Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
383
There was an internal carrier so you can mount the spare against the inside tailgate. There was 2 brackets mounted to the top edge of the tailgate and another center bracket in the middle of the tailgate to bolt the tire on to. Does your truck have the bulkhead behind the seats? the spare tire can be mounted there. Does your vin number start with U14 which would have been a pick-up with a bulkhead to mount the spare.

I'm still a bit confused on my original setup. My vin is a U15, it clearly used to have a bulkhead installed (removed by PO) with a bench seat, and it has a rear bench seat. The nuts for the rear seat are welded to the underside of the floor, leading me to believe it was installed from the factory. I don't see any excess holes in my tailgate interior, would that be a clue whether I had an interior carrier before? I do see an old "Jacking Instructions" sticker behind the passenger wheel well, not sure if this helps explain things.
 

Rustytruck

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
10,875
Yep sounds like the u15 utility model with interior bulkhead. the tire would have been mounted to the bulkhead.
 

DirtDonk

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
47,355
And get a pic of that decal in case it's a bit different from those that were placed in other locations.
Can't have too much historical references for these old rigs.

Paul
 

Crush

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
May 30, 2007
Messages
3,463
Loc.
Greenbottom, WV
Another option tou can do is install a reciever hitch. Make an insert that you can mount a tire on and have it made so tou can pull a pin and swing it down so you can still get in tailgate. I believe if designed right tou can put assist shocks on it to help with lifting and lowering. This option requires no extra holes be drilled in the body
 

blubuckaroo

Grease Monkey
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
11,795
Loc.
Ridgefield WA
If you have a roll bar, you won't need to chop up the car at all.
My tires are too large to carry on the swing-out carrier so I decided to carry it inside. I've mounted it to the roll bar right behind the driver's seat where it can cause no visibility problems.
It's partially sitting on top of the wheel well. It's mounted to a piece of Uni-Strut that's bolted to the roll bar. It's very secure here.
It turned out to be my best and cheapest mod so far, because it totally eliminated the rattling noise from the old carrier when going over bumps.
I don't have a back seat anymore, but a seat would still be an option with this carrier.
The limit for this carrier is 33" if you have a headliner.
 

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