lazynorse
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Seems there's exactly one company making an underbody spare tire shield, www.spareprotector.com. I bought off his ebay site, $135 (search underbody spare tire cover protector). The product is thick ABS plastic material that covers to the shoulder tread of a 32-33" tire. I wanted something that would protect against a possible puncture from a departure angle mishap, or a sharp branch flipping up as I drive over. Or, just road crap. There's holes at the lowest part of the cover/shield to drain water.
It feels more robust and stiff than the plastic fuel tank cover. I don't think the strongest among us could plunge a knife through it. I would think it could scrape along a nasty outcrop of volcanic rock and protect the spare sidewall.
I originally fitted it to mate against the lug hole side of the spare tire rim - mistake, this results in a 2" open gap between tire and outer rim of shield. You mount the shield on the 'empty' side, so the tire/rim's lug hole area is facing up. There's reinforced metal disc on the shield that supports the spare tire wing nut/hoist chain. The owner confirmed this by phone (more on that..).
Small problem #1, the diameter of the shield hole is a tad smaller than the spare tire rim hole, and the wingnut has a raised section that recesses into the spare for a level fit. Since that raised area doesn't go through the shield hole, the resultant wing nut fit is a little canted on the side. That said, it seems like an adequate amount of force, surface area and hold. Once hoisted up, I found no budging or play, flex or other concerning things.
Small problem #2, there's a piece of the hoist wing nut that is pointed 90 deg up, that goes through a spare tire lug hole. There's not a compatible hole on the shield. I grabbed the wing nut in one hand, and with pliers in another I bent that 90 degree piece of metal down flat with the rest of the wing nut.
Due to those fit issues, I called the company. Owner picked right up and asked for photos. Said these work for nearly all vehicles but there's a couple of exceptions (F250s and 350s have too big of a wing nut on their spare hoist). I get the sense this guy is pressing them out of his garage. At any rate, I was impressed he chatted with me for 10 minutes on what I thought and saw, my intended use. Said he'd get back to me after reviewing photos. Also said he's developing a spare tire topside hardcover, asked if I'd be interested. Maybe..... not sure that's needed.
I searched and searched, there's nothing else like this out there. If you're enterprising, you could compete. While not a shield, there's spare fuel tanks - fuel and water - that fit similarly in the recess of a spare tire. That is a huge pain to get to and I wouldn't do it, but thought I'd mention it.
Photo 1, the nice tight fit. Photo 2, close up of slightly canted wing nut fitment against shield. Photo 2, detail of that little metal tab I bent back down from 90 degrees.
It feels more robust and stiff than the plastic fuel tank cover. I don't think the strongest among us could plunge a knife through it. I would think it could scrape along a nasty outcrop of volcanic rock and protect the spare sidewall.
I originally fitted it to mate against the lug hole side of the spare tire rim - mistake, this results in a 2" open gap between tire and outer rim of shield. You mount the shield on the 'empty' side, so the tire/rim's lug hole area is facing up. There's reinforced metal disc on the shield that supports the spare tire wing nut/hoist chain. The owner confirmed this by phone (more on that..).
Small problem #1, the diameter of the shield hole is a tad smaller than the spare tire rim hole, and the wingnut has a raised section that recesses into the spare for a level fit. Since that raised area doesn't go through the shield hole, the resultant wing nut fit is a little canted on the side. That said, it seems like an adequate amount of force, surface area and hold. Once hoisted up, I found no budging or play, flex or other concerning things.
Small problem #2, there's a piece of the hoist wing nut that is pointed 90 deg up, that goes through a spare tire lug hole. There's not a compatible hole on the shield. I grabbed the wing nut in one hand, and with pliers in another I bent that 90 degree piece of metal down flat with the rest of the wing nut.
Due to those fit issues, I called the company. Owner picked right up and asked for photos. Said these work for nearly all vehicles but there's a couple of exceptions (F250s and 350s have too big of a wing nut on their spare hoist). I get the sense this guy is pressing them out of his garage. At any rate, I was impressed he chatted with me for 10 minutes on what I thought and saw, my intended use. Said he'd get back to me after reviewing photos. Also said he's developing a spare tire topside hardcover, asked if I'd be interested. Maybe..... not sure that's needed.
I searched and searched, there's nothing else like this out there. If you're enterprising, you could compete. While not a shield, there's spare fuel tanks - fuel and water - that fit similarly in the recess of a spare tire. That is a huge pain to get to and I wouldn't do it, but thought I'd mention it.
Photo 1, the nice tight fit. Photo 2, close up of slightly canted wing nut fitment against shield. Photo 2, detail of that little metal tab I bent back down from 90 degrees.
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