Hitch Swing Out

Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations on hitch swing outs with a spare tire? Trying to get a full size spare (33" tires currently) without spending money on armor, spare tire and wheel.

 

First, identify why a full size spare is needed. Do you plan to go far enough off road that the factory spare won't get you home? I think a common misnomer is that a 31" tire on one side and a 33" on the other will make the differential explode. It works just fine.

Secondly, a 285/70/17 will fit in the stock location, so no need to buy anything but the wheel and tire.

I say all this to save you a dime, not to discourage you from buying what makes you happy

 

My thought was to help out my wife (her 4runner) by not having to get the spare out from under the back and help her feel a tad more safe by not running a smaller wheel/tire combo (saying all this out of precaution).

But GREAT info. I didn't realize a DuraTrac All-Terrain LT285/70/17 would fit in the stock location!

 

Some additional food for thought from someone with a swing out tire carrier (albeit a bumper mounted one), rear visibility is reduced significantly and most of the swing out ones are offset to the passenger side. You will need a rear camera relocation and the camera will no longer be centered so the view from it is distorted and one needs to keep that in mind if they are relying on the backup camera to not hit things. Something else I just ran into the other day...when removing groceries or whatever else is in the trunk, you need the swing out opened. There is not enough room between the wall of our garage and the tire carrier when in the open position to walk around and carry stuff into the house. I now need to look at switching parking spots with my husband, but I don't think that's plausible either. Just some everyday use things to keep in mind that may irritate her coming from a fellow woman.

That all being said, I have a long range fuel tank mounted where the spare tire used to be and the swing out tire mount is now a necessity to me. The long range fuel tank was important to me and I very much wanted it. I also like the looks of the steel bumper with tire swing out (it's badass looking). I'm okay with the inconveniences that it brings along with it and have figured out the distortion on my camera and can use it to successfully back up without hitting things and actually remain in the lines of parking spaces.

I would suggest just getting a matching size spare for her unless she's totally on board with the carrier and realizes the inconveniences that may come with it. Linked below are two hitch mounted ones I liked.

Passenger side offset
Hitch Mounted Tire Carrier - 4Runner | Southern Style OffRoad

Center Mounted (still need camera relocation but will be centered at least)
RIGd UltraSwing Spare Tire Hitch Mount for 4th and 5th Gen 4Runner - RIGd Supply

 

That is valuable information. The more I dig into the tire carrier in any form I realized she would not give up her back-up camera. I don't use one just out of habbit, but it was a must for her when we bought the 4R. I really like the Rigid because it allows the addition of the bike rack also. I haven't looked into it much but trying to keep us from mounting the bikes on the roof.

I think a lot of the inconveniences you pointed out actually might get to her based on some of the the conversations we've been having on what direction we want to go.