rdhunt1 Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 Has anyone made it so they can remove/replace the rear tire carrier? Love the look without it, but also love the originality of it being there. My thinking - Cut the carrier off about 1" away from the frame. Make a double ended guide pin with a flange in the middle (flange would be the same dia. as the frame tube) to go inside the tube on the carrier. Weld it to the tire carrier, around the flange, and get it stripped and powdercoated. Use two cute pins or crossbolts to keep it in place when installed then make a slip in license plate holder when it is not?? Would this be the equivalent of 7 blasphemy??!! Would I be excommunicated? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 Would this be the equivalent of 7 blasphemy??!! Would I be excommunicated? You're not adding lightness so surrender your 7 badge on the way out :seeya: In all seriousness however I have a feeling you're over thinking it. Fairly certain you wouldn't care about adding the spare wheel back once you have it gone. Mine has been cut off prior to my ownership and I have no intention of ever trying to mount it back. Granted I also don't have a square setup which makes it even less useful for my application but all things considered I'd say cut if off, have your AAA members ship and not dread it too much. Only counter point, where it could be really useful is if you have 13's, square setup and plan on doing very long cross country type trips. That way even if you get towed it would make it hard to source a replacement and the spare could come in quite useful. To answer the actual question, I haven't come across anybody who's made it a removable/replicable setup, but I'm sure it's feasible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 I didn't realize this was fixed in a Caterham. Westfield welds pinch fittings to the rear of the frame for each leg of the tire carrier. Simply loosen the pinch bolt to slide the carrier out completely or to adjust for a specific tire width. As to Vlad's point, when I rebuilt my car, I didn't drill the holes in the rear tub for the carrier and don't carry a spare. There are a lot of good tire patch kits out there that include very small and light compressors or that use CO2 cartridges. Granted, there are some situations where this won't be enough, but it's served me well for many years and many tours. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdhunt1 Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 I didn't realize this was fixed in a Caterham. Westfield welds pinch fittings to the rear of the frame for each leg of the tire carrier. Simply loosen the pinch bolt to slide the carrier out completely or to adjust for a specific tire width. As to Vlad's point, when I rebuilt my car, I didn't drill the holes in the rear tub for the carrier and don't carry a spare. There are a lot of good tire patch kits out there that include very small and light compressors or that use CO2 cartridges. Granted, there are some situations where this won't be enough, but it's served me well for many years and many tours. -John Yessir! I have one of the small compressors and complete patch kit tucked in the rear side panels of my K1300S. Seat pops off with the key and gives access to the small torx that removes the panels. Have only had to use it once, but it worked perfectly! Even easier to fit in a tool roll in a 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 Devils advocate is motorcycles. Vast majority with minor exceptions ride huge distances without having a spare. While there is a better replacement availability nationally the risks are also higher on bikes, but people still do it without a major concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bball7754 Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 It is (was?) a popular modification in the UK. I think the approach you describe was the most common and popular. A search on Blatchat should provide lots of info. Regarding why keep the option to remount, while I haven’t done it (yet), I have clamshells and think it looks “classic” with the spare tire. But having it removable would provide more flexibility, and look better for track day photos. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 It is (was?) a popular modification in the UK. I think the approach you describe was the most common and popular. A search on Blatchat should provide lots of info. Regarding why keep the option to remount, while I haven’t done it (yet), I have clamshells and think it looks “classic” with the spare tire. But having it removable would provide more flexibility, and look better for track day photos. Steve Thats fair. Unfortunately I don't have anything more constructive to contribute but if you do go through with it, please share. I'm sure there are others that are considering this as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSXguy Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 subscribed for solution. Something i've been contemplating as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomatva Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 Might try this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdhunt1 Posted January 19, 2021 Author Share Posted January 19, 2021 (edited) Devils advocate is motorcycles. Vast majority with minor exceptions ride huge distances without having a spare. While there is a better replacement availability nationally the risks are also higher on bikes, but people still do it without a major concern. Exactly this. I have experienced one flat while on the road with bikes for the past 29 years. My k13 that I bought new in 2017 has 21k without any tire issues. Heh, my new to me seven only has 15,xxx miles since 1996! bball7754 - yup, agreed! I will try the carrier-ectomy in the near future and will post pics when i do. Edited January 19, 2021 by rdhunt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 This should help http://www.sjmmarsh.f2s.com/Caterham/WheelCarrier.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SENC Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 Yes, but with a 4 wheeler your odds are twice that of a two wheeler! :conehead: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdhunt1 Posted January 20, 2021 Author Share Posted January 20, 2021 This should help http://www.sjmmarsh.f2s.com/Caterham/WheelCarrier.html Yes, similar...but even cuter if possible. I will use the remaining tubes on the body to make a license plate mount so it wouldn't just leave them unfinished. make the insert and attach to car or carrier. Other side maybe slit the tube lengthwise (maybe .5" to .75") and weld/braze two nuts (one with the threads removed) to create a pinch instead of the crossbolt? I would make a step in the insert the same diameter as the tubing and weld around that so it would fit up even tighter when installed since no weld or braze would be in the way What about the attachment bolt lengthwise inside the carrier tube??!! Like a pocket screw in wood? Use a ball end allen to tighten? Quick release pins? Thinking up the cutest way is half the fun!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 I believe Alaskossie had one made for his Caterham. I haven't seen him on here for quite awhile. I'll shoot him an email and see if I can get him to post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 Sorry I'm late to the party. Scannon let me know that this thread was running. I've been remiss in not following USA7s more closely of late -- too busy at work, I guess. Yes, i cut my spare tire carrier off about 2 inches from the body. My purpose was not to run without my spare (I like both the balanced look and the rear-impact protection of the spare tire), as well a certain measure of flat-tire insurance (though I run different width tires front and rear). My reason for cutting the tire bracket off, and then re-installing it, was to use it to support my custom rear luggage rack set-up. The stubs that are attached to the chassis support the self-designed rear luggage rack. I drilled holes in the fixed and separated parts of the spare tire carrier, and put stainless cross-bolts and nylock nuts through both parts. I got aluminum tubes to fit snugly inside both the stubs and the separated tire carrier, and lined up and drilled the holes through the two tubes that act as ferrules inside the stubs and the detached tire carrier. Seems to be a neat solution for me, and involve no brazing or other fabrication, just cutting and drilling. I cut the tire carrier from the chassis stubs with a pipe-cutter, for a neat cut. One feature I did not preserve is a rear license plate light -- too difficult to tie in with the detachable tire mount. But I could do a work-around if required, using the method in the photos posted earlier in this thread. I can take photos of my tire carrier, if my written description is hard to visualize. I can also send photos of my luggage-rack setup, which its more extensive and "integrated" than I've seen applied to other Sevens. With it, I was able to take a 6200-mile blat without using the passenger seat as an auxiliary luggage bin.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdhunt1 Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share Posted January 21, 2021 Thanks for the info Alaskossie. I was definitely going to go the route of the pipe cutter... nice and clean. I understand the method of attachment but would still love to see your luggage rack. If the stub shafts are there then they can be used for all sorts of cool stuff. Was even thinking about an extremely light weight trailer hitch since i have an almost finished (homemade aluminum) version of a Unigo single wheel trailer that will attach to my K13. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SENC Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Agree, would love to see the luggage rack! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 I have a couple of pictures of the loaded luggage rack with spare tire from when he was loading it up to start the trip but none of the custom attachments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdhunt1 Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 I like it already! Aluminum tubing or steel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomatva Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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