Spare tyre and MOT questions

My landy went in for its mot and the spare tyre came up as a caution because it had small cracks to the sides of the tyre and also that it did not match the wheel rims of the other wheels its the same size
2nd the mot came up with that my landy was too bouncy is some having a laugh what does he mean

shocks are gone?

if the wheel fits and is the same rolling radius then i dunno what he's on about. cracks in sidewall is fair enough.

Leave the spare at home next time.

"As a caution" - you mean as an advisory?

If so, then it's passed. It's just something the tester thinks you should know about. Which, for both of those, is fair. You've got a spare that'd be illegal to use, because it's the wrong size - space-savers are exempted from that - and it knackered through age. You may well have knackered dampers, or it might just be the tester's expectations need recalibrating...

Some people put the spear wheel on the tail gate to prevent a bouncy ride, a friend put 1cm of lead over his truck bed. This was to deaden the ruining noise but improved the ride.
But I leave the spear at home to save weight and running costs plus its bigger than the other wheels anyway.

All of which brings me to a question...

I've got a tailgate mount for the spare - but I can't use it! It's fairly low on the tailgate, below the cross-bar of the central H. And, somewhat predictably, trying to mount a spare on there fouls on the towbar. If it didn't, it'd hang under the rear crossmember.

Not my Landy, but it's in this position.


Is it just me?
<scratches head>

I'd really quite like to have a spare with me, but I'm not keen on having it just lobbed in the rear floor.

On my 88" I bolt the spare up against the bulkhead behind the seats (I actually carry 2 there) helps the ride and if I need the space one goes on the bonnet.

divie said:

On my 88" I bolt the spare up against the bulkhead behind the seats (I actually carry 2 there) helps the ride and if I need the space one goes on the bonnet.

Click to expand...

I've got no mount there for a spare. The one from the tailgate would do the job, I presume?

i like them on the bonnet of a series, makes lifting the bonnet a bit heavier though.

No mount for a spare on the bulkhead. There is a vertical rib running down the centre, I turned a bar with two flats on it to pivot in the rib with a nut/bolt. The bar is 5/8" diameter and threaded to take a wheel nut, the spare wheels slide over the bar through a stud hole and are secured using the wheel nut.

divie said:

No mount for a spare on the bulkhead. There is a vertical rib running down the centre, I turned a bar with two flats on it to pivot in the rib with a nut/bolt. The bar is 5/8" diameter and threaded to take a wheel nut, the spare wheels slide over the bar through a stud hole and are secured using the wheel nut.

Click to expand...

Ah! That makes sense. The bulkhead's been trimmed, so I'd not noticed that rib.

I had the problem of having a rear door mount which was fine for 650 size wheels (which were the originals.) My series runs 750s but the spare was never changed, when I did I found it fouled the door lock. Gave up with just having in the back and stuck it on the bonnet. Looks better, drives a bit nicer I think and it makes it a bit more aerodynamic

divie said:

No mount for a spare on the bulkhead. There is a vertical rib running down the centre, I turned a bar with two flats on it to pivot in the rib with a nut/bolt. The bar is 5/8" diameter and threaded to take a wheel nut, the spare wheels slide over the bar through a stud hole and are secured using the wheel nut.

Click to expand...

...and the reason I'd not noticed it is that it's not there. The bulkhead's completely smooth, the full width and height. Looking in the parts list, the rib bolts on as a spare carrier, and is listed as "not SW"...

There's is a 109 one here
Land Rover Series 3 109 Rear Bulkhead Galvanized Spare Wheel Brace | eBay

Blackburn said:

There's is a 109 one here

Click to expand...

Would 88 be the same?

yes Pretty sure bulkhead is the same.

TwomanyCV you can modifie the mount on the rear door by lifting it up...to the next section of angle iron...best to weld in a section of one inch angle to complete the square,

Or on the inside on the bulkhead central support there should be brackets for a spare wheel clamp...you may need to get extra fitting if missing...I can sent you a picture of mine if you like.

An email address would be bettter.

Ive got a rear door carrier if youre interested

Thanks, guys. I clearly need to do a bit of thinking on this.

Rear door would probably be best - and, yes, I can just move it upwards, and at least the spare will hide the dozens of grommets required as a result... <grin>

you can still get the bulkhead mounts new, sure I saw them on craddocks or paddocks not that long ago and they weren't too bad pricewise iirc

one of those swing away carriers for the back is a possibility too but they are an expensive but good solution