Another bright idea: a simple bolt-on mount that would allow one the option of raising the spare tire location in order to mount larger off-road tires, or by rotating the mount 180 degrees, to lower the stock spare tire location to provide a few more inches of visibility.

IMHO, it seems that JLR located the spare tire based more on how it would look rather than strict practicality. They could have easily lowered the spare and scalloped the bumper ala Jeep Wrangler.

Commonly available for Wranglers. Why not Defenders?

 

Already available (and has been for 6+ months) from Lucky 8

https://lucky8llc.com/collections/de...versized-tires

 

Very cool for raising the mount height. But I would like to see one that could be rotated to lower the tire about 4 inches or so. That would greatly improve rear visibility, A large center bolt and two separate halves would do the trick.

 

The bumper would need to be scalloped a good bit. It looks like there is only about 1.5" of clearance on mine. Probably looking at a 3" bite out of the bumper that might then begin to interfere with crash performance and 5mph bumper regs? They achieved a pretty great departure angle with this thing, maybe they couldn't give any more on the top? Just spitballing here.

That, or you're going to have to push the whole deal out by at least another 2" to clear. Then you might be getting into exceeding the strain that the door was designed to hold? Some of these guys with big off-road tires are already pushing the limits of what the door can take.

Too bad modern tires are so wide and we can no longer mount one on the hood.

 

FYI: OEM 5098 20” wheel, 295/55R20 Toyo Open Country MT (33 X 12.2) fits on spare tire carrier with no extender. There is more room than you think.

future plans are to run a second spare on the roof rack (when I get the back order)

-gary

 

Never doubted it would fit. OP is wanting to move the tire down 4", which would require a new bumper. Unless he can move it out and then down to clear. A consideration is as you move that tire out, it is going to create much more strain on the mounting. My point about guys with aggressive off-road tires is about the weight. Your Toyos are 68 pounds each. That is +30 pounds over the factory 'off-road" option. That is a significant about of extra weight to hang on that rear door to be sure. 10 pounds here or there I'm sure is fine but 30 pounds?

 

I think it is entirely feasible to have an adapter that would move the spare out about 1 1/2 inches and down 3 inches without hitting the bumper or obscuring the license/number plate.

 

That’s what I do.

 

Hector: very cool, but I don't have a roof rack (yet). Thanks for sharing. I am looking for a slightly cheaper option at this point.

Andy

 

If I had to do it again I will go with the front runner roof rack just lot easier to mount everything instead of the Land Rover rack.