SSO Will Make a Rear Tire Carrier

Bump. Are the only people buying them on the other website?

 

Received mine today. Opened up the box to check for damages and... they surprised me with a shortened receiver like I asked for! If you cant tell, that made my freakin day! Thing is way heavier/beefier than I expected - seems like good quality.

Can't wait to install it at the end of the month with the new flat black valence and anytime front/rear camera that's been sitting in the garage! Now I've got to figure out where to put the rear camera. I don't like the idea of it being offset in the carrier. If I mount low I won't be able to see the tire. I could go high but don't have the bracket and have heard issues with depth perception. Ahh decisions decisions.

 

@FN2187 any indication they are making all the new orders with the shorter receiver hitch or is this just by special request? I recall seeing somewhere that they planned to shorten the hitch receiver based on feedback.

 

One other question for those of you running this- are you using stock coils or heavier duty coils that are typically rated to accommodate 500-700 lbs of extra weight. Im running Toytec Superflex 2" lift rear coils. Toyota says on the website they can accommodate ~10% extra weight but Im worried that adding the carrier will result in significant rear sag. Advice/ experience welcome.

 

I don't know the answer to this.

I had contacted them in December about a custom order with shorter receiver and they said wait a month or two until they caught up on the the holiday orders. Sent them a sketch of what I was looking for.

Another email in March asking if they'd caught up but by the time they responded I saw they were on sale and went ahead and ordered. When they responded they said they didn't see fitting in a custom order and I said not to worry because I had already ordered and would have it modified if needed.

Saw a post on the other forum in April about the original prototype being on sale 40% off. Contacted them again and asked if there was a design change and if so I'd be interested in the updated version - gave them my order # in case it needed to be updated. They replied back and said it was just the first prototype they used to test fit and photo - they still had it. No change from original design.

No other contact or updates until I received mine last week and was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box. Not sure if they changed the design or if I just bothered them so much about it they decided to do it for me.

I have dobinsons c59-505 in the rear. Was shooting between 1.25-1.5" with the extra weight I have. Came out to 1.5" but measured before they had time to settle.

I can take before/after measurements when I install next week and let you know what happens. It's not just the extra weight of the carrier but also putting the weight, and moving the spare weight, behind the axle instead of over it.

 

@FN2187 Measurements would be a huge help and everything you said regarding weight distribution makes perfect sense. Curious to see how the Dobinson cooks handle the weight.

 

Alright, well my dumbass forgot to take before measurements. Took them with just the carrier, no spare which should be about the same weight. I was about 1/4" lower than 6 months ago but think that was mostly due to settling. Put the spare on and I was 1/8" lower on the passenger side (it is offset) but within the rhelm of measuring variance. I'd say there is probably very little sag from the weight of the carrier and moving the tire - probably 1/4" max and more realistically only about 1/8".

I also put on a flat black rear valance (scratching the bumper cover when I accidentally rolled it off the shipping blanket onto the asphalt- doh!), did some touchup paint on bumper to cover my carelessness, and installed license plate relocation kit.

Feel free to ask questions, here are some pics

 

On stock coils.
I think mine sagged about 1/2" . Moving the tire and wheel farther back adds to the 70# carrier weight.
I put a 1" cornfed spacer to compensate for the sag, and am happy with the results.

 

Interesting. Wonder how much of the 1/4" drop I saw was settling post-lift and how much was due to the carrier. I think the carrier is about 70 lbs, which is probably the same as my 285/70 spare with wheel (its p-rated but still quite a bit heavier than stock). I wouldn't think moving the weight back a foot or two would cause that kind of sag. I think for the dobs springs it takes an extra 100#s for a 1/4" drop

 

Sure it would.
When I hook up my utility trailer with an ATV on it, I get 1” sag on OEM springs.

 

I doubt it simply because when I did remount the spare on the carrier (73 lbs) it only dropped the passenger side about 1/8" - which I still maintain could be measurent variance since center hub is hard to find when the toyota Sombrero on the cap is angled funny

 

Also, post lift, I swapped the factory skids for a set of full aluminums. So removed three thin steel (front, mid, gas tank) and added front, mid, steel crossmember for 3rd transmission skid, cat guards, and new gas tank skid. That probably added a bit of weight as well, although mostly in the mid section

 

Remember, I can only go by what mine dropped on OEM , not dobsons. I measured mine before install and after.

 

No worries - good info for everyone. I think I came off argumentative and didn't mean to.

Installed the RIGd camera relocation kit today. Was a bit of a PITA but only because I don't feel comfortable how the wiring gets zipped up and around the window track to clear the rear window when it rolls down. I didn't feel the instructions were super clear on how to do it. Luckily I tested and saw I was about to cut the wiring in half with the window and moved them where I think they're good. The window seems to rub on it no matter how you try to run them. Fingers crossed the corrugated cover protects them long term. It was interesting to see how the window just rolls down into that mess the way it does - I had assumed it had its own little cubby that it operated in

 

Ok, so I have to post a retraction - i didn’t get anything special. After looking at Saker's photo again at the beginning of this thread, that's what I got too. I'm about 6.25" measuring the same way.

I also noticed his reciver pin hole was really close to the arm, just like mine. The reason I thought mine was shortened is because I've been comparing the pics on SSO website, which I think is the prototype? You can see the receiver looks a lot longer and the pin hole looks to be several inches away from the arm. Guess the original design (like Saker has) is what I got too. I'm happy with it!

For reference of what I saw vs what I got:

 

Curious to see real world data on if this is as big of a departure angle killer as it looks. Im honestly surprised they cant move the hitch pin back closer to where the angled piece is welded on and save a couple inches. Somewhere on one of the thread they said they were working on much shorter hitch receiver to increase departure angle and that all future builds would have it. @FN2187 's experience suggests this might be the new version????

 

I don't know. Judging from Saker's picture, I got the "original" design. Not sure why the pictures on SSO website (I assume the prototype) has a longer receiver tube.

I don't think mine could be shortened up much more. The pin definitely couldn't be any closer to the arm and the only way to get any shorter would be to move the arm but it's already really close to the bumper.

If mine is the "new design", although looks like it just matches the original design and their prototype is wonky for whatever reason, they should update the pictures on their website.

 

@FN2187 are you worried it will negatively affect departure angle? If so Im wondering how often it would be an issue. I've done a decent number of trails in CO and I dont think I've ever hit the hitch mount (although I think I've hit my spare a couple times). I think this is still the best design out there for the money.

 

Sorry last question- do you think a table could be mounted on the back of that or is too close to the rear hatch?

 

Ok, here goes - hopefully everyone can follow because I've got a lot of numbers written down.

Yes, I was worried about departure angle (DA) for two reasons:

1. Anything sticking out of your hitch receiver is going to negatively affect DA
2. When I saw Saker's measurement of ~6.5", I put a tape on my hitch and it looked crazy long (although doesn't look as bad in person)

The only hitch mounted option I've seen that may offer a better DA is the dirtcom trail swing, but I can't find a DA number for the 5th gen to compare to. Just like all the other options, it's way more expensive and holds the tire way away from the hatch because it's not 4runner custom.

Here is what I've found by the numbers:

• Stock 4runner DA is listed as 26°. By my measurements, that must be without the hitch at all. Based on my measurements and a calculator, I came up with these...
• Stock 4runner with hitch - DA ~24°
• Stock 4runner with SSO swingout - DA ~21.5°
• My 4runner (~1.5" rear lift) with SSO swingout - DA ~23°

The way I feel about the numbers, I only lost ~1° of DA because of the lift and I think the hitch itself reduced stock listed DA by ~2°. My measurements weren't super accurate so I could be mistaken (I'm also parked uphill on driveway that is not anywhere near flat). I should be on a more level driveway next week and can recheck my numbers.

I know SSO has on their website that they are researching the ability to add attachments but I don't see a table fitting on the backside. With a 285/70r17 on stock offroad wheel, my tire is ~1.25" from the closest point (the 4runner logo) of the hatch. Below that logo that sticks out, the arm of the swingout is ~1.875" from the hatch itself. There may be some engineering magic that gets one to fit but I wouldn't hold my breath.

This close fit is what sets this SSO carrier apart from the rest - it was custom built for 5th gen 4runners to have a tight fit, which is what I wanted. I didn't plan to have a fold down table though - after my research I saw a lot of people saying they didn't use theirs much because it was always covered with mud, trail dust, and/or road grime and they got more surface area using other methods

 

@FN2187 this is a huge help! I have a 2” rear lift so I’m not like to lose much DA!

 

My method for checking DA is pretty crude and probably inaccurate but the reason I say I think stock DA is without the stock hitch is because of how bad I had to fudge the numbers to get the reported 26° DA.

I put a tape from where the rear tire touches the ground to the furthest point back (in my case the SSO swingout, adjusted dimension for hitch alone) and then took a measurement from ground to lowest point of hitch carrier (same for stock hitch when adjusted for no lift). Then I plugged the numbers into a right triangle calculator from Google because I'm too old and lazy to remember my geometry classes from days of old.

Edit - I first tried an angle measuring app but was getting some pretty wild variations (+/-5°) depending on what angle I was holding my phone and how close to the ground I was holding it. I figured actual measurements and some math would be more accurate. If your rear suspension is stuffed on one side as you are ascending this could change the angle as well. Another reason I feel my measurements are crude. I did the math a while back and the extra ~1.5" of lift almost negated the extra length of the hitch mounted receiver over stock. Good to see real world measurements confirm

 

Hey guys, does anyone know if this tire carrier will work with a Westcott Designs ladder (same as a C4 ladder)? I read conflicting comments from people. Some say it will work, some say it will not. I also watched RUnnin 4 Tacos review of the tire carrier. The edge of the ladder touches the edge of the 4 in 4 runner. IN the video I saw, the spare tire seems to be covering the 4. My spare is a 295/70/17 Yokohama Geolandar MT.

 

@Socalt4r I had assumed they would fit both and hadn't read otherwise but now I'm second guessing that. I had hoped to run the WD ladder and SSO tire carrier so I'll be following along to see what kind of responses we get!

 

Hard to tell for sure, it's definitely going to be super close with a 295 and WD ladder. Here are pics of my gobi and a 285. As you can see, the Gobi looks like it clips the edge of the "4" as well but is much closer to the hatch than the WD from what I can tell. Here are a few photos for your judgement.

 

Thanks for the pics. It looks like it will be close. It looks like I'm just going to have to dive right in and find out for myself.

 

If it's possible, can you measure how far your ladder sticks out from the body of the car? Thanks in advance

 

Best I can tell at night, between 2.5-2.75"

Will need to take a better pic in daylight

 

Thanks for doing this. Appreciate it. Looks like it going to be really close for me. Maybe the tire will even touch the ladder

 

After looking up the specs of your tire, it seems that my tire is 1/2 inch bigger in width and diameter