Rusty's Tire Carrier - 1997-2006 TJ / LJ Wrangler

  With the success of our innovative JK Tire Carrier, we knew we needed to develop one for the 1997-2006 TJs. When the team at Rusty's started to work on the design of a unique tire carrier, we knew the number one thing was to keep it simple. Among our requirements was that a woman with a child in her arms had to be able to open and close it with one hand, and it had to be able to support a 40-inch tire. We've never been a fan of the bumper-mounted tire carriers that rattle and sag over time, in some instances in just a few months. We chose to go with a much stronger tailgate mount, making the tire carrier a part of the hinge. The new Rusty's 1/4-inch formed steel hinges bolt to the body with 4 - 9/16 grade 8 mounting bolts. The 3/16-inch steel fabricated tire carrier and tailgate mount is attached to the tailgate with the 8 spare tire mounting holes as well as the 4 for the factory hinges. The ensures years of life without putting stress on the body, but for added support and protecti