Not a total weight weenie but there are obvious benefits to being conscious of what weight you add onto the rear of the jeep chassis beyond the rear axle, especially on my LJ.
I'll be running 35 inch tires with alloy wheels so the stock tail gate, as is, will not do the trick. Qualifiers are must have a receiver hitch for bike rack or extra storage rack and D rings would be nice but not necessary.
First option is Exogate or otherwise known as GORryde tailgate reinforcement kit and a standard bumper potentially out of aluminum. The GORryde is $330-400 and the current version weighs about 45 lbs. original version, supposedly according to old thread, is 32 lbs. The savvy rear aluminum steel combination bumper is said to weigh 28 pounds at $530. The undercover fab aluminum rear bumper comes in at 41 pounds and is $450. So with either aluminum combination rear bumper, total weight would be 73-81 lbs.
Option two is undercover fab rear tire carrier aluminum steel combination weighin in at 78 pounds although requiring a body lift In order for the tailgate latch not be covered at $1000.
So about $200 more for the complete tire carrier and all options for bumpers would need to be painted.
So the weight is very close between the two options, any experience out there with any of the products above or any suggestions for strong durable lightweight tire carrying options?
If weight was not an option I would be looking at LOD (said to be 120 lbs) or Warn.
I'll be running 35 inch tires with alloy wheels so the stock tail gate, as is, will not do the trick. Qualifiers are must have a receiver hitch for bike rack or extra storage rack and D rings would be nice but not necessary.
First option is Exogate or otherwise known as GORryde tailgate reinforcement kit and a standard bumper potentially out of aluminum. The GORryde is $330-400 and the current version weighs about 45 lbs. original version, supposedly according to old thread, is 32 lbs. The savvy rear aluminum steel combination bumper is said to weigh 28 pounds at $530. The undercover fab aluminum rear bumper comes in at 41 pounds and is $450. So with either aluminum combination rear bumper, total weight would be 73-81 lbs.
Option two is undercover fab rear tire carrier aluminum steel combination weighin in at 78 pounds although requiring a body lift In order for the tailgate latch not be covered at $1000.
So about $200 more for the complete tire carrier and all options for bumpers would need to be painted.
So the weight is very close between the two options, any experience out there with any of the products above or any suggestions for strong durable lightweight tire carrying options?
If weight was not an option I would be looking at LOD (said to be 120 lbs) or Warn.
