Exogate cargo system prototype
- Thread starter jscherb
- Start date
I check my spare carrier for stress regularly.
When I don't have fuel back there on the trail I'm likely to be carrying something else. My fuel cans are usually empty except when I might need them on the trail, but when I'm carrying other cargo it's likely to be on there all the way from upstate NY to the trail, so there are many thousands of miles of extra weight on my spare carrier over the 190,000 miles I've been driving this LJ...
BTW my tires are fairly light 32's so that gives me some extra margin for other things on the spare carrier.
But thanks for the warning, I'll make sure I remain diligent about checking the spare carrier regularly.
When I don't have fuel back there on the trail I'm likely to be carrying something else. My fuel cans are usually empty except when I might need them on the trail, but when I'm carrying other cargo it's likely to be on there all the way from upstate NY to the trail, so there are many thousands of miles of extra weight on my spare carrier over the 190,000 miles I've been driving this LJ...
BTW my tires are fairly light 32's so that gives me some extra margin for other things on the spare carrier.
But thanks for the warning, I'll make sure I remain diligent about checking the spare carrier regularly.
A couple of other Exogate-related things I'm experimenting with...
A mounting grid that bolts to the tailgate hinges. Many different things can be mounted on it. Using Quickfist clamps, things like shovels are easy to mount:
And this photo shows a grid on a JK; there's a room on a the JK tailgate so two grids are mounted, in addition to a shovel there's an ammo can tray bolted to the grid:
HiLifts can be mounted on the grid pretty easily, and I think a PullPal wouldn't be too hard to mount there.
I'm also playing with tailgate hinge brackets that for ammo cans and jerry cans. This shows the brackets with a large 81mm ammo can:
The Exogate v2 wide swing hinges provide plenty of clearance between the can and the tail light when the tailgate is fully open.
On the TJ/LJ, there isn't enough room between the spare and the tail light for a jerry can - the can partly obscures the tail light.
Probably better to mount the can higher anyway in case of a rear-ending - the brackets are reversible, so the can can be mounted up high:
A mounting grid that bolts to the tailgate hinges. Many different things can be mounted on it. Using Quickfist clamps, things like shovels are easy to mount:
And this photo shows a grid on a JK; there's a room on a the JK tailgate so two grids are mounted, in addition to a shovel there's an ammo can tray bolted to the grid:
HiLifts can be mounted on the grid pretty easily, and I think a PullPal wouldn't be too hard to mount there.
I'm also playing with tailgate hinge brackets that for ammo cans and jerry cans. This shows the brackets with a large 81mm ammo can:
The Exogate v2 wide swing hinges provide plenty of clearance between the can and the tail light when the tailgate is fully open.
On the TJ/LJ, there isn't enough room between the spare and the tail light for a jerry can - the can partly obscures the tail light.
Probably better to mount the can higher anyway in case of a rear-ending - the brackets are reversible, so the can can be mounted up high:
Once I finalize my spare tire size, this is something I would like to build in combination with the mounting grid. The idea being to have an occasional option for a bit of exterior storage that is also easily removable.
Occasionally is exactly how I use everything I've shown in this thread, I don't see the point of carrying extra junk around when it won't be needed. Definitely don't need extra fuel to go to the grocery store
.My Jeeps spend almost all of their days with nothing installed and because everything is designed for quick installation and removal it's easy to install just what I need for a particular expedition. The new cargo receiver system I started this thread with is going to make configuring to carry things even easier - the receivers will stay on the Jeep and pretty much hidden between the spare and the tailgate and the mounts can be installed when needed.
I've got other "quick install" accessories, but they're not related to the Exogate so I won't put them in this thread. The winch mount I designed installs on any of my 3 Jeeps and spends most of its life in the garage, only being on a Jeep when I'm heading for a trail where I might need recovery. My big roof rack basket spends its life hanging above one of the garage bays and when I need it it only takes a few minutes to drive either the LJ or the JKU into that bay under the rack, lower the rack a few inches onto the Jeep, tighten the mounting feet and drive it away. I designed the Trail Kitchen to install with 2 bolts (LJ) or 3 bolts (JKU) so it spends most of its time on a rolling cart in the garage and when I need it in either of the Jeeps I roll the cart to the back of the Jeep, slide the kitchen into the Jeep and install a few bolts to secure it. Quick install and removal is a key criteria for all of my accessory designs because I don't want anything extra on the Jeep in daily use.
If you were to move the spare tire a few inches to either the left or right then would you have enough room for the Jerry can mount to clear the taillight? Move it to the right a bit would help ease some stress on the whole system I would think.
There is enough room in the mounting flange of the factory spare carrier to drill new holes to move it left to the driver's side about 1", that's how mine is now, but that's not enough to provide space for a jerry can - the can will still partially obscure the tail light. To move it over further would require additional modification to the spare carrier, such as welding on new flanges, and would place the spare in front of the tailgate latch handle which might be awkward. In my opinion, 1" is about as far left as it makes sense to move it.
Space also depends of course on the size of your spare, mine are 32". The larger your spare, the less space there is between the spare and the tail light, and the less you can move the spare left before you obscure the tailgate latch handle.
These photos are before and after the 1" shift left, an 81mm ammo can is thinner than a jerry can by more than an inch (I haven't measured in a while but that's what I recall) so a jerry can would still be in front of the tail light.
This carrier has new holes to shift it to the left, this one's a spare I keep in the workshop for measuring and fitting various things I'm fabricating.
What if you shifted the tire to the right? Then the only time latch access is restricted is when you actually need the can. Other times you have easier access. Weld a strap on top of the tire mount and then drill holes wherever you want.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
You certainly could move the spare to the right and maybe you could mount the can far enough out from the tailgate to allow access to the tailgate latch handle but it sounds to me like access to opening the tailgate still might be awkward. Also moving the spare a significant amount would require moving the snubber bumpers so that all still contacted the spare properly, including the one on the tub below the tailgate.
What that would look like with a 32" spare:
When I learned from @whitrzac that the current production MORryde spare carrier jerry can mount was incompatible with the TJ, I contacted MORryde right away to let them know and I also asked them to send me a current one so I could see what was necessary to use it with the TJ until they make changes to it to fit. The new one arrived this morning.
I have a 5/16" wheel spacer here that works just fine except that I had to grind the welds slightly on the back of the stud for the 5/16" spacer to fit.
A 3/8 spacer may fit with no grinding but not having one here I couldn't verify that.
Spacers like this are available at most auto parts stores.
This spacer isn't a permanent solution; MORryde knows of the issue and has two different solutions they're deciding between.
I put the new stud and spacer in the Jeep and threw a PA125 25mm ammo can on for the photo.
I have a 5/16" wheel spacer here that works just fine except that I had to grind the welds slightly on the back of the stud for the 5/16" spacer to fit.
A 3/8 spacer may fit with no grinding but not having one here I couldn't verify that.
Spacers like this are available at most auto parts stores.
This spacer isn't a permanent solution; MORryde knows of the issue and has two different solutions they're deciding between.
I put the new stud and spacer in the Jeep and threw a PA125 25mm ammo can on for the photo.
Another prototype... back when I first made the spare mount for the jerry can I also made a Rotopax mount that attaches to the same stud. Since a spare mount is available from Rotopax I never suggested this prototype to MORryde, but for me it's handy because I can leave the stud on the Jeep and mount either a jerry can/ammo can tray or the Rotopax mount as I need to.
I use the Rotopax mount from time to time, usually with a insulated cover on the container to prevent "Rotopax bulge" due to the sun causing the fuel to expand and sometimes also with a matching recovery gear bag.
I use the Rotopax mount from time to time, usually with a insulated cover on the container to prevent "Rotopax bulge" due to the sun causing the fuel to expand and sometimes also with a matching recovery gear bag.
baremetl
Member
@jscherb What are your thoughts on mounting the TITAN Trail Trekker II™ Tank for Jeep Wrangler (4040287) to the Exogate/MORyde gate between the tailgate and a 35" tire? What if the tailgate hinge attachment points are further reinforced with 3/16" corner armor (attached with interior backing plates... the Savvy corner armor)? According to the fuel tank's website, this tank can weigh up to 100lbs for 12 gallons of fuel.
https://www.titanallterrain.com/4040287
I confirmed with their company that the tank rests firmly against the tailgate's rubber stops so there will be no vibration. The tire then mounts firmly to the tank. So I suppose this means that adding this tank will be essentially the same as adding 100lbs to the spare 35" tire
https://www.titanallterrain.com/4040287
I confirmed with their company that the tank rests firmly against the tailgate's rubber stops so there will be no vibration. The tire then mounts firmly to the tank. So I suppose this means that adding this tank will be essentially the same as adding 100lbs to the spare 35" tire
That's pushing it a bit. If I were to carry a load like that I would want to install solid corner armor before installing the Exogate/MORryde reinforcement. What I mean by "solid" armor is armor that does not have cutouts for the hinges, in other words the hinges mount on top of the armor, not in holes cut in the armor. I'd also use interior backing plates as you suggest.
baremetl
Member
@jscherb Thank you for the response.
Yes solid corner armor is what I have. The seller insisted that it will hold just fine (of course) and that there are way more extreme users that he's run into. So I'm pulling the plug and I'll see how it goes. If the hinges look stressed, I might look to add something to the top of the rear hitch to support the bottom of the tank or tire.
If anyone is interested in how this goes, message @ me in this thread or directly and I'll let you what my experience is/was
Yes solid corner armor is what I have. The seller insisted that it will hold just fine (of course) and that there are way more extreme users that he's run into. So I'm pulling the plug and I'll see how it goes. If the hinges look stressed, I might look to add something to the top of the rear hitch to support the bottom of the tank or tire.
If anyone is interested in how this goes, message @ me in this thread or directly and I'll let you what my experience is/was
I have no worries about the hinges holding that weight and more. It's the tub attachment isn't really intended for the weight you plan to carry which is why I recommend the armor and inside backing plates.
I found this thread searching for ideas on exterior tailgate cargo carrying options so I am intrigued by the concept.
I did not see any other mention of how the receivers are attached to the Exogate. Care to elaborate?
I did not see any other mention of how the receivers are attached to the Exogate. Care to elaborate?
The receivers have mounting flanges welded to them, these are made from 1/4" steel plate. The mounting flanges go between the spare carrier and the Exogate frame and are held in place by the same bolts that hold the spare carrier.
When used with the current version of the Exogate/MORryde tailgate reinforcement, the offset brackets (parts #3 in the MORryde instructions below) would be used to provide the necessary clearance. When used with the original Gr8Tops Exogate, the receivers mount directly between the spare carrier and the Exogate frame.
What specifically failed Jerry? the Exogate/Moryde or the stock tire carrier?
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