Rotopax Water Carrier Bracket - Design

[boehml]

I'm in the process of designing a dual 2 gallon water rotopax carrier for my Jeep. I'm looking for a simple way to mount it to the rear spare and came across this a design used for mountain maxtrax in the same location that uses "extended lug nuts" pictured below. Does anyone know where these can be had, or what they are actually called?

 

[USStrongman]

I have no idea but they are brilliant. My Smittybilt tire carrier for my JKU came with extra long lugnuts that are not quite that long, but def long enough to thread bolts into the outward facing open end.

 

[boehml]

I have no idea but they are brilliant. My Smittybilt tire carrier for my JKU came with extra long lugnuts that are not quite that long, but def long enough to thread bolts into the outward facing open end.

Right? This is the design so far... The centre hole is for the "extended lugs", which I am going to have to get machined and the backup camera of my JL. I've incorporated an adjustable backplate (hopefully you can see that in photo 3) so the carrier sits tight against the tire when bolted down. With the extended lugs, it should be three bolts and it is off for a spare swap (which was important to me). Hardware is grade 8 M10 (I was too lazy to put the washer in the sketch, don't judge me). Thoughts?

 

[socal66]

I don't know if weight will become an issue if you are using the stock tire carrier and hinges. On the JL the maximum tire weight for the stock setup is recommended to be around 85 lbs. A stock Rubicon wheel and 33" tire will weigh a little above 70 lbs (Tire = 50 lbs, Wheel = 21 lbs). The carrier will accommodate 35" tires which pushes the weight right at the recommended limit (Tires = 65 lbs, Wheels = 21 lbs) and as such many upgrade their carrier/hinges at that point as they feel that it is not up to the task. Each Rotopax when filled with gasoline will be 12 lbs total so you will have 24 lbs total with both full on top of the 70 lbs if you have the stock tire/wheel which will push the combined weight to around 95 lbs.

I am wanting to do the same thing you are doing by locating my gas cans / extra water / etc. on the rear tire mount and considering Jerry Cans over the Rotopax containers. I am leaning toward a bumper/tire carrier upgrade using the LOD Destroyer system as they have a much more robust tailgate system that can accommodate the extra mounts and weight for cans / racks / etc. but that all comes at a price as well.

 

[boehml]

I don't know if weight will become an issue if you are using the stock tire carrier and hinges. On the JL the maximum tire weight for the stock setup is recommended to be around 85 lbs. A stock Rubicon wheel and 33" tire will weigh a little above 70 lbs (Tire = 50 lbs, Wheel = 21 lbs). The carrier will accommodate 35" tires which pushes the weight right at the recommended limit (Tires = 65 lbs, Wheels = 21 lbs) and as such many upgrade their carrier/hinges at that point as they feel that it is not up to the task. Each Rotopax when filled with gasoline will be 12 lbs total so you will have 24 lbs total with both full on top of the 70 lbs if you have the stock tire/wheel which will push the combined weight to around 95 lbs.

I am wanting to do the same thing you are doing by locating my gas cans / extra water / etc. on the rear tire mount and considering Jerry Cans over the Rotopax containers. I am leaning toward a bumper/tire carrier upgrade using the LOD Destroyer system as they have a much more robust tailgate system that can accommodate the extra mounts and weight for cans / racks / etc. but that all comes at a price as well.

Couldn’t agree more. Weight has been a big consideration overall. Ideally I would like to carry water weight over the rear axle, but that isn’t going to work for my packing configuration unless I put a water tank inside the vehicle (front runner or something).

I do have a reinforced tailgate, but Mopar doesn’t specify to what end this increases capacity, rather just “you can mount a 37” tire”... some 37” tire/wheel load outs can be up to 120lbs.

This is one of the reasons I designed an adjustable back plate, so that it can be snugged up against the tire to reduce any movement which could cause damage. I’m sure the weight will be pushing it, but at the same time the JL tailgate is far stronger than the JK tailgate and I personally never had any issues with my JK tailgate and 37s before I swapped to an AEV carrier.

 

[USStrongman]

Terrific design. There are two units on the market similar, but priced way out of reality for what it actually is. Two versions for the JK and JL from Vector and I cant find the other manufacturer. It is less expensive and has a different mounting idea where they run a large bolt through the hub centric wheel (OEM, AEV, etc) that mates a plate to the carrier, the bolt screws into the plate and then the large outside plate like yours is pressed into the tire/wheel.

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As for weight, if it is similar to this one it should support roughly 135lbs total. If it is the upgraded one, it is the MOPAR branded version made by Teraflex. They made them for the JK so I would assume they are using them again for the JL:

TeraFlex Heavy-Duty Hinged Tire Carrier

TeraFlex Heavy-Duty Hinged Tire Carrier - TeraFlex Jeep tire carrier in black powder coat;Aluminum;Support up to a 37 inch tire; TeraFlex heavy duty hinged carrier spreads the load and weight of the tire to more than just one hinge point.;The Jeep spare tire carrier HD hinge brackets are forged...

www.4wd.com

 

[boehml]

It is less expensive and has a different mounting idea where they run a large bolt through the hub centric wheel (OEM, AEV, etc) that mates a plate to the carrier, the bolt screws into the plate and then the large outside plate like yours is pressed into the tire/wheel.

I saw those as well, I didn’t like that design for the JL due to the backup camera. You have to relocate the camera and that design seems like it adds so many extra steps to removing the spare tire, you have to disassemble the entire unit just to remove your tire.

 

[USStrongman]

I agree. I dont need to move my license plate, but I'd like a simple version like yours without the other stuff.

 

[socal66]

Couldn’t agree more. Weight has been a big consideration overall. Ideally I would like to carry water weight over the rear axle, but that isn’t going to work for my packing configuration unless I put a water tank inside the vehicle (front runner or something).

I do have a reinforced tailgate, but Mopar doesn’t specify to what end this increases capacity, rather just “you can mount a 37” tire”... some 37” tire/wheel load outs can be up to 120lbs.

This is one of the reasons I designed an adjustable back plate, so that it can be snugged up against the tire to reduce any movement which could cause damage. I’m sure the weight will be pushing it, but at the same time the JL tailgate is far stronger than the JK tailgate and I personally never had any issues with my JK tailgate and 37s before I swapped to an AEV carrier.

If you have the reinforced tailgate and mount from Mopar then this added weight should be no problem. I think your design that uses the spare tire as a bumper rest to the containers would also seem to be a pretty good solution to limiting unwanted lateral forces as much as possible.

There are some other solutions that provide Rotopax mounts to the side of the hardtop that will put the weight over that rear axle such as this -> Pak Rax for the Jeep JL (2018-Current)
I think there may be some DIY plans available too from others that have done a similar side mounting approach.

 

[boehml]

If you have the reinforced tailgate and mount from Mopar then this added weight should be no problem. I think your design that uses the spare tire as a bumper rest to the containers would also seem to be a pretty good solution to limiting unwanted lateral forces as much as possible.

There are some other solutions that provide Rotopax mounts to the side of the hardtop that will put the weight over that rear axle such as this -> Pak Rax for the Jeep JL (2018-Current)
I think there may be some DIY plans available too from others that have done a similar side mounting approach.

I did see those too, but I don’t like to have to increase the width of the Jeep. Just even last week I was through a trail with 2” of clearance on both sides of the hardtop, and you can’t go topless with that either (unless there is a bracket to the roll bar). I’m not sure that’s very aerodynamic either, then again neither is a Jeep nor my design haha.

I do agree that is a good option though.