Need picture of where your tire carrier strikes latch

[Soylent]

I am trying to install one of the new fangled solo latches but it doesn’t fit. I think the bar on my carrier is too high and hits the top tongue of the latch. Shouldn’t it hit the lower tongue and move up?

 

[duffymahoney]

The hinges should adjust up and down, I would adjust those prior.

 

[Soylent]

Interesting. My hinges don’t budge up or down after loosening all the bolts. I may have to take the rack off and see if there are any hang ups. But iirc the hole in the body were circular with no room for up or down.

 

[DirtDonk]

There’s a little bit of movement available in the pivot mounts when they are loose. Enough for lining them up so that the holes in the bottom and top lineup with the pins for no binding.
It doesn’t look like enough to lower it down that much.

Got an overall picture of your carrier?
Including the hinges?

 

[Soylent]

Looks like it needs to drop 1/2”. Not sure why this is the case. I don’t want to grind out the new anodized latch so will probably order a new stainless latch since I drilled this one out.

 

[Oldtimer]

It's dark, cold and raining, so I am not going out to look at my Bronco, but is it possible the upper and lower hinge brackets can be switched?
Could be camara angle, but tire rack appears to go slightly up hill, from pass side to drivers side.

 

[Soylent]

The longer one is on top. I will look into that. In th pic the lower bracket looks like it is tilting down making the carry tilt up maybe. All bolts are loose with a 3/8” gap but that doesn’t allow much movement of the hinges surprisingly. One or two of the hinge bolts from both hinges have to be angled to get them in making it a very tight fit.

 

[Oldtimer]

Took a look at mine. The longer bracket is on top.
Top of upper bracket is even with top of moldline on tailgate.
Are there any bends in the horizontal tubes of your rack?
Is top of tailgate flush with top of body?

 

[Soylent]

This is great info OT. When I get home tonight I’m going to check everything with a level.

 

[duffymahoney]

Here is mine