Removing Spare Tire Bracket?

I've seen alot of guys removed their stock spare tire bracket I attempted this a while back but realized I didn't have the tool needed to remove the 4 bolts holding it to the rear gate. They're like a star wrench head what did ya'll use to remove these bolts?

Vise grips.

oh! haha well I thought about that but figured there was an easier way...

blue_kjR417 said:

oh! haha well I thought about that but figured there was an easier way...

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You can get the E-torx socket but you will just end up using Vise Grips due to the overuse of thread locker.

question
why would you want to remove it?
it does hold the spare and you will need it 1 day
I can see if you are installing a bumper/carrier
but other than that.......

blue_kjR417 said:

I've seen alot of guys removed their stock spare tire bracket I attempted this a while back but realized I didn't have the tool needed to remove the 4 bolts holding it to the rear gate. They're like a star wrench head what did ya'll use to remove these bolts?

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the first 4 bolts are 5/8 and the ones i think your talking about you can use a 1/4 and mine had locktight on them but the 1/4 is a little thing.

J-Thompson said:

question
why would you want to remove it?
it does hold the spare and you will need it 1 day
I can see if you are installing a bumper/carrier
but other than that.......

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If I liked the look I was planning on throwing the spare in my roof basket

blue_kjR417 said:

If I liked the look I was planning on throwing the spare in my roof basket

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the problem with that is a Lifted KJ with a basket is over 6'6" ,closer to 7'
the tire + rim weighs easily 65# ,245/75 LR E on OE wheel
try to hoist that on to the roof and not hurt your self
now picture doing that out on a slick muddy trail and even better
trying to put the muddy flat up there

no thank you

oh and dont give me the bs about getting rear ended and trying to avoid damage
if you do get rear ended insurance will cover the damage

well everybody on this site say diff. things and just like you like your spare in stock. and others like to move it. so whats the problem. geeeez

mag03kj said:

well everybody on this site say diff. things and just like you like your spare in stock. and others like to move it. so whats the problem. geeeez

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you want to move it go ahead
but all to often things are moved or removed and then when they are needed
you dont have them or end up getting your self hurt trying to get them

enter the WJ that came out with us a few years back
had a tow bar on it that required removal of the tow hooks
yeah we could pull him back but the trail went forward
not real smart

and we cant put the spare on a roof rack or the rear cargo area? but you much be weak or something and to get a spare off of a roof you can just throw it off right? its about just as much abuse as hard wheeling right? uh ya i think so

I take mine off to wax behind the plates behind the mount.

mag03kj said:

and we cant put the spare on a roof rack or the rear cargo area? but you much be weak or something and to get a spare off of a roof you can just throw it off right? its about just as much abuse as hard wheeling right? uh ya i think so

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lazy not weak
besides the spare for my Jeep weighs 70#
and it is an MTR-K (lighter tire for the size) on an alum. wheel
and I doubt you would know what "hard wheelin is"
but when your skids and spare tire and carrier cause the rear to sag
even when you have "HD" springs then give me a call

just a little FYI
I had a lifted KJ with 245/75's and a sureco roof rack ,close to 7' tall
I am 5'10" tall and could not lift high enough from the ground to put any thing up there unless I stood on something

Ya J Thompson
Maybe he can mount a latter on the rear tire carrier so you can get it up and down from the roof rack.

I'll remove the tail gate mounted tire carrier once I have my custom
rear bumper mounted dual tire carrier finished!
My cargo basket is reserved for camping equipment.

Have been considering moving my spare to roof or inside for wheeling,last trip going over ledge hit the tire,slightly pushed tire up enough that it is a pain to close window. Be nice to have a chase truck.

ridenby said:

Have been considering moving my spare to roof or inside for wheeling,last trip going over ledge hit the tire,slightly pushed tire up enough that it is a pain to close window. Be nice to have a chase truck.

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if you are hitting your spare then you need some thing like this
http://www.genright.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=RTC3200
I am thinking of having one built but a more compact version
I often hit the spare ,which is why the carrier I have now needs to be held shut with a ratchet strap

J-Thompson said:

if you are hitting your spare then you need some thing like this
http://www.genright.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=RTC3200
I am thinking of having one built but a more compact version
I often hit the spare ,which is why the carrier I have now needs to be held shut with a ratchet strap

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Cool system,just getting upper attachment points on Liberty would be a challenge.