A nutty question regarding the spare tire...

[Zaphod]

As we know, the 4Runners come with the spare tire mounted underneath the vehicle. That may work great for on the road, but when off-road, I am nervous about having to get the tire out when on uneven terrain or, even worse, MUD. I know that CBI makes a rear bumper that you can mount a spare on, so let's proceed with the assumption that the vehicle in question has that bumper and that the spare is now mounted on the rear of the vehicle.

Here's the question:

What options are there (if any) to mount some kind of storage or whatever in the stock position of the spare? Think of the (nutty?) possibilities!

- General Storage
- Water tank
- Extra fuel tank
- Place to put the MIL, or even better: the EX-WIFE!

Has anyone tried anything like this, or am I being just a little too exuberant?

ETA: It pays to Google. Looks like Downey Off-Road had the gas-tank idea, although their website only lists models for up to 1995.

But hey! There's hope!

[Joel]

There are options for the FJ that probably could be adapted to the 4runner.

Rasta makes a water tank:
http://www.rasta4x4usa.com/fjcruiser.aspx (at the bottom)

Man-a-fre makes a gas tank:
http://www.man-a-fre.com/fjcruiser/f...iliarytank.htm

[Josh220]

Some use that space for their air compressor tank.

[expat]

Man a Fre's tank for the FJ will not fit on the 4R without a fair amount of cutting and welding. Ben at MAF checked it out on my truck and they did not feel it was a great mod - at least in terms of a bolt up application. Naturally anything can be done with time and money.

[Teampez]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

As we know, the 4Runners come with the spare tire mounted underneath the vehicle. That may work great for on the road, but when off-road, I am nervous about having to get the tire out when on uneven terrain or, even worse, MUD. I know that CBI makes a rear bumper that you can mount a spare on, so let's proceed with the assumption that the vehicle in question has that bumper and that the spare is now mounted on the rear of the vehicle.

Here's the question:

What options are there (if any) to mount some kind of storage or whatever in the stock position of the spare? Think of the (nutty?) possibilities!

- General Storage
- Water tank
- Extra fuel tank
- Place to put the MIL, or even better: the EX-WIFE!

Has anyone tried anything like this, or am I being just a little too exuberant?

ETA: It pays to Google. Looks like Downey Off-Road had the gas-tank idea, although their website only lists models for up to 1995.

But hey! There's hope!

not nutty at all.. when I had the 99, I was going to have a custom gas tank made, but made with a built in skidplate, it would have been about $500. I thne thought about making a custom storage compartment, I was thinking of storing an air tank, jerry can and possible some fluids.
Im sure once I get my rear bumper (tire carrier) done on the 04, Ill do something with that space

[Zaphod]

I remember my parent's old 1975 Ford LTD Landau station wagon. It had this surprisingly huge trunk space available under the floor of the main rear compartment. If the folks at Toyota had hung the spare off the back end from the beginning, they could have done the same thing.

Yeah, I know..... If pigs had wings.

I tend to lean a bit toward a gas tank simply because I plan to have this vehicle as my "Get the HELL out of Dodge NOW" vehicle, and gas is always the primary concern in such cases...

[medic83]

Yeah, I know..... If pigs had wings.



Hey.....THE SWINE FLU.....