robcarync
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- Raleigh, NC
I am thinking about making one of these bad boys myself, and thought it was a good idea...(keep in mind here...I first posted the idea for the bolt on rear recovery points in your clubX thread...I got some good ideas sometimes :kewl
Using my logic for the rear recovery points: Many people want the style and function of some big ticket armor items, but don't want the expense of going all out. Maybe they don't wheel much, or maybe they want a tire carrier without spending 800 on an entire bumper. Many of us have trailer hitches anyway. Why not create a hitch mounted tire carrier that swings down, or to the side? If you install your rear recover points, you don't need your hitch for a recovery point, anyway! If you made it simple and lightweight, you could throw it on for wheeling and long trips, take it out if you need to tow. I think there are probably some of us that would use the tire carrier more often than we tow.
There are some cheap one size fit all carriers by Reese and Curt, but they don't fold down and KILL your departure angle:
There are some cheap, fold down alternatives for RV bumpers, but they lack good mounting options on our Xterra's. For the record, extensive Amazon reviews have confirmed that this type of fold down design can hold 33" tires with no issue. I would probably beef this design up some more, but it seems to have worked for a lot of people out there:
There are also some expensive hitch mount bumper/carrier options...but the price point makes it pointless to go this route instead of just building an entire bumper. The size and weight would also make it difficult to remove/install:
Only other place I have seen something like I wanted is at Knuckle Bone:
http://www.detoursusa.com/knucklebone.php
They are a bit pricey at $230, but seem well made. Maybe even overbuilt for what they do.
Seems a design similar to Knuckle Bone could be made for a lower cost. Using a hitch pin instead of the more expensive latch? 90 degree angle instead of the chamfer angle? Paintless options instead of a powder coat?
I think this product would attract the "middle of the road" off roaders and would fill a niche to compete with the "go shrock or go home" type of market that Xterra's currently live in.
Using my logic for the rear recovery points: Many people want the style and function of some big ticket armor items, but don't want the expense of going all out. Maybe they don't wheel much, or maybe they want a tire carrier without spending 800 on an entire bumper. Many of us have trailer hitches anyway. Why not create a hitch mounted tire carrier that swings down, or to the side? If you install your rear recover points, you don't need your hitch for a recovery point, anyway! If you made it simple and lightweight, you could throw it on for wheeling and long trips, take it out if you need to tow. I think there are probably some of us that would use the tire carrier more often than we tow.
There are some cheap one size fit all carriers by Reese and Curt, but they don't fold down and KILL your departure angle:
There are some cheap, fold down alternatives for RV bumpers, but they lack good mounting options on our Xterra's. For the record, extensive Amazon reviews have confirmed that this type of fold down design can hold 33" tires with no issue. I would probably beef this design up some more, but it seems to have worked for a lot of people out there:
There are also some expensive hitch mount bumper/carrier options...but the price point makes it pointless to go this route instead of just building an entire bumper. The size and weight would also make it difficult to remove/install:
Only other place I have seen something like I wanted is at Knuckle Bone:
http://www.detoursusa.com/knucklebone.php
They are a bit pricey at $230, but seem well made. Maybe even overbuilt for what they do.
Seems a design similar to Knuckle Bone could be made for a lower cost. Using a hitch pin instead of the more expensive latch? 90 degree angle instead of the chamfer angle? Paintless options instead of a powder coat?
I think this product would attract the "middle of the road" off roaders and would fill a niche to compete with the "go shrock or go home" type of market that Xterra's currently live in.
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