Exterior spare tire carrier size issue

2014 CHEVROLET

35,000 MILES • 1.8L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC

ANGELBOWLER1989

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This car is great, but it is very small. I am going on a nine month long "road trip," and there is absolutely no way my spare tires (2 of them) will fit inside anywhere. And the top will be loaded too, so I need to attach it to the back of the car somehow.

I know this is weird, but I want the carrier that is made for jeeps. It is mounted to the bumper, and there is a swing-door style tire carrier. You can swing the tire out away from the back, and it allows you to then open the back if you need to. It is perfect.

Please tell me there's a way I can do that to my sonic! Thank you for reading.

Apr 25, 2016 at 5:17 PM

CJ MEDEVAC

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I AM A JEEP GUY

I HAD TO MOVE MY SPARE FROM THE SIDE, TO THE BACK OF MY 1977 CJ-5, AS I DRAGGED IT OFF ON TREES A COUPLE OF TIMES!

NOT ONLY DID I MAKE A SWING GATE, I MADE THE BUMPER INTO AN AIR TANK (FOR AIR AND MY AIR HORN), AND ADDED SOME QUICKLY REMOVABLE RACKS FOR MY CANOE. I HAVE A RACK ON MY '46 SO I CAN USE THE TAILGATE.

I DO NOT SEE IT HAPPENING WITHOUT SOME INTRUSION INTO THE PLASTIC BUMPER

THERE MIGHT ALSO BE SOME SENSORS IN THERE TOO, I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM A PERMANENT ADD ON

MAYBE THEY MAKE A BIKE RACK THAT COULD ADDED TEMPORARILY ONTO YOUR VEHICLE?

IF SO, MAYBE IT CAN BE MODIFIED FOR CARRYING WHEELS?

ALSO SEND PICTURES TO THIS THREAD OF WHAT YOU COME UP WITH

GOOD LUCK!

THE MEDIC

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Apr 25, 2016 at 6:04 PM

ANGELBOWLER1989

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You rock! I'm getting started, and I will post pictures when I am done. Thanks a bunch! :-)

Apr 25, 2016 at 10:36 PM

ANGELBOWLER1989

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One quick thing. My car is "supposed" to have a class 1 hitch receiver, and this mount I found is perfect, but it says: "Requires Class III hitch with 2-inch receiver and 500 lb minimum tongue weight" Of course, the class 1 is way under that. It is also a 1 1/4 inch instead of 2 inches. I can get the 1 1/4 inch to 2 inch adapter, but is the weight issue okay?

Apr 25, 2016 at 11:39 PM

STRAILER

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53,854 POSTS

We cannot recommend that because the weight will be too much and it could break off, you should upgrade the hitch to be safe :)

Apr 26, 2016 at 9:28 AM

CJ MEDEVAC

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11,004 POSTS

ALONG WITH THAT

WHEN I WAS AN AIRBORNE RANGER IN THE ARMY, WE CARRIED A LARGE ALICE PACK (BACK PACK). IT WAS PRETTY MUCH A GIVEN THAT WHEN IT WAS SLAP FULL OF EQUIPMENT, THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE US ADD "JUST ONE MORE THING" INTO IT. SEEMS IT COULD ALWAYS HAVE MORE AND MORE CRAMMED INTO IT.

SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE DOIN' WITH THE OLE "SONIC"

YOU MIGHT KEEP IN MIND THAT IT WASN'T DESIGNED TO BE A UPS TRUCK!

LET'S KEEP THE HEAVY STUFF LOW

MAYBE EVEN CONSIDER A SMALL U-HAUL TRAILER (EVEN I GOT A TRAILER FOR MY JEEPS!)

DO A TEST DRIVE, SLOW AT FIRST

DOES YOUR STEERING SEEM DIFFERENT?

WHAT ABOUT THE BODY SWAYING OR WOBBLING?

BRAKING?

JUST SORTA THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE TOTALLY PREPARED....AND SAFE!

THE MEDIC

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Apr 28, 2016 at 4:24 PM