Rear tire carrier latch help

[Schwifty Rich]

I have a latch on the bumper tire carrier that on occasion UN LATCHES, which then sends my tire swinging. I have used a ratchet strap when going off road and simply tied it up with paracord if I am going for a long drive.

I can’t weld and figure there has to be some way to make this situation better without a new bumper.

I’m open to any ingenious ideas to help keep this latch engaged.

 

[B34C0N]

I just installed a latch like that on my rear gate. You can grind it off and bolt a new one on. But what it actually looks like is that the pine the u-bolt goes through on the handle part actually hits the metal lip not letting it close fully. I'll try to get a pic of mine from the side tonight to show you. Would you take a full side shot? The pin that holds the u-bolt should be behind the pivot point. If it's on top of in front of it, the latch will open.

So it may simply be just grind down the lip

 

[dbbd1]

Have you tried adjusting the nuts that hold the "U" part on?

 

[Schwifty Rich]

I just installed a latch like that on my rear gate. You can grind it off and bolt a new one on. But what it actually looks like is that the pine the u-bolt goes through on the handle part actually hits the metal lip not letting it close fully. I'll try to get a pic of mine from the side tonight to show you. Would you take a full side shot? The pin that holds the u-bolt should be behind the pivot point. If it's on top of in front of it, the latch will open.

So it may simply be just grind down the lip

I would be interested in maybe a different lock-in mechanism.

I see what you’re saying and that may be easy enough to try. Here is a pic from the side

 

[Schwifty Rich]

Have you tried adjusting the nuts that hold the "U" part on?

Yea I tightened it recently and it still popped off. I can feel that it’s just in the cusp of staying closed. You can feel it go over the “edge” and if you tighten it too much it feels less secure and more likely to pop off

 

[B34C0N]

Yea I tightened it recently and it still popped off. I can feel that it’s just in the cusp of staying closed. You can feel it go over the “edge” and if you tighten it too much it feels less secure and more likely to pop off

I would grind down whatever is keeping it from going back further. You can see that the u bolt is in line with the pivot. It really should be much behind. It looks like that latch is retrofit in.

 

[dbbd1]

Almost like there is too much play at the pivot for the latch.

It seems like the latch should actually go under those "ears."

But, yes, grind them down.

 

[MountaineerTom]

I made a couple different pin and lanyard things to hold mine. I wasn’t having a problem with it opening, just paranoid that it would open.

The first I just used a quick release pin I found on EBay and some lanyard and a swedge from Lowes. My handle had a hole in the fixed mount so I made it the correct size to loop it over the handle and then stuck the pin in the hole. I was afraid I’d loose the pin and loop so I made something different.

Same pin, a small lanyard and a stainless steel welded ring. Same concept except I attached the lanyard to one of the screws holding the handle on so it was always attached to the tire carrier.

The only pics I had available were not close up, so I had to zoom in. I can try to get a closer, clearer pic after work.

Version 1

Version 2

 

[jjvw]

The only way that latch will ever work is to have it laying flat so that the carrier is pulled directly into the stop.

The way it is now is very dangerous, imo.

 

[Schwifty Rich]

I made a couple different pin and lanyard things to hold mine. I wasn’t having a problem with it opening, just paranoid that it would open.

The first I just used a quick release pin I found on EBay and some lanyard and a swedge from Lowes. My handle had a hole in the fixed mount so I made it the correct size to loop it over the handle and then stuck the pin in the hole. I was afraid I’d loose the pin and loop so I made something different.

Same pin, a small lanyard and a stainless steel welded ring. Same concept except I attached the lanyard to one of the screws holding the handle on so it was always attached to the tire carrier.

The only pics I had available were not close up, so I had to zoom in. I can try to get a closer, clearer pic after work.

Version 1

View attachment 97002


Version 2

View attachment 97003

All the latches I’ve seen like this one have been horizontal like yours. Not to mention when it’s oriented that way it seems way more secure.

The only way that latch will ever work is to have it laying flat so that the carrier is pulled directly into the stop.

The way it is now is very dangerous, imo.

I 100% agree, it is dangerous. It has swung out on the highway before and Jesus was that scary.

 

[Schwifty Rich]

I have thought about a pin of some sort by drilling a hole or like @MountaineerTom did by adding a safety. Figured crowd sourcing was the way to go

 

[B34C0N]

Here's mine.
I've never had it open on me. Fixing the angle of the latch should make it so it won't pop open for you. I'll try to get a side shot tomorrow before she gets towed to be fixed.

 

[MountaineerTom]

Here's a couple closer shots of what I currently have.

I used these items:

1/4" X 1/2" GRIP 17-4 STAINLESS JERGENS BALL LOCK QUICK RELEASE PIN (The hole I put this in was already there. You may have to find a different size of drill a hole to that size.)

COSMOS 2 PCS 12 Inch Black Color Stainless Steel Tether Lanyard Wire Coated in Soft Plastic for Gopro Hero4 and All Previous Gopro Editions

MarineNow Stainless Steel Round Ring 316 Marine Grade 1/4" x 2 3/8" (I think this was the size I'm using, I ordered a few different sizes at the same time.)

 

[MountaineerTom]

All the latches I’ve seen like this one have been horizontal like yours. Not to mention when it’s oriented that way it seems way more secure.

Even before I put this contraption on, when I latched mine, it kind of snapped into place. It wasn't loose at all. It may have to do with being horizontal vs vertical or maybe even the catch and the latch being lined up properly to get that positive locking feel.

I was just paranoid that it may pop loose without me knowing, or a little kid walking through a parking lot playing around and unlatching it. LOL All kinds of things went through my mind.

 

[jjvw]

Here's a couple closer shots of what I currently have.

I used these items:

1/4" X 1/2" GRIP 17-4 STAINLESS JERGENS BALL LOCK QUICK RELEASE PIN (The hole I put this in was already there. You may have to find a different size of drill a hole to that size.)

COSMOS 2 PCS 12 Inch Black Color Stainless Steel Tether Lanyard Wire Coated in Soft Plastic for Gopro Hero4 and All Previous Gopro Editions

MarineNow Stainless Steel Round Ring 316 Marine Grade 1/4" x 2 3/8" (I think this was the size I'm using, I ordered a few different sizes at the same time.)

View attachment 97064

View attachment 97065

This is the way the latch ought to be positioned.