One of the primary differences between modern pickup trucks and true off-road rigs is the location of the spare tire. Most pickups, the Tundra included, stow the spare underneath the cargo bed at the back, tucked up to the bottom of the truck box. While this might seem to be a logical location to keep the tire, as it maximizes the amount of cargo space available, there are some situations where it is far from practical.
Here’s a new Tundra with the Tiregate installed.
For people who are serious about off-roading, an under-the-bed spare is not an option. To begin with, off-road vehicles need all of the ground clearance they can get, and having a potentially large tire hanging around near the rear axle where it could catch a rock or bottom out on the trail is a bad idea. Off-road tires are also usually 35-inches or greater, with a much more aggressive tread pattern than stock tires, making a true off-road sized spare difficult to fit in the stock spare carrier. The other main issue is that if a flat occurs while off-roading, it could put the truck in such a position that accessing the area below the box is impossible, due to the terrain, water or mud.
What has traditionally been the solution to this spare tire problem? You have probably seen the liftgate-mounted spare tire carriers common on SUV’s both small and large. There is also the old-school ‘we’ll just carry it on the roof / hood / front of the truck’ style popularized by Land Rover’s in the 1960’s. These solutions, while practical, don’t really meet the aesthetic standards of most truck owners. Fortunately, there is an answer that both looks good and is easy to install.
A top view (left) and a side view (right) of the Tiregate, available from 4 Wheel Parts.
Tiregate from Wilco Products which replaces your Tundra’s tailgate with a steel-beam X frame that also happens to externally mount a spare tire of up to 40 inches. The Tiregate swings to the side to allow you full access the truck bed, and there are three different versions available. The standard Vertical Tiregate series stands straight up just like your old tailgate, meaning you don’t lose any cargo space at all. The PreRunner series has a much more aggressive, angled look that resembles the style used by off-road racers. Depending on how you install the gate, you can angle the tire so that it points in toward the box or out towards traffic. The price to pay for this stylish look is a fair degree of intrusion into your cargo area, and you probably wouldn’t be able to use a full tonneau cover either. The final option (not yet available on the Tundra), the Horizontal series lays the tire down on its side, and it too can be positioned so that the tire sites almost entirely in the truck bed or bulges out the back.
Check out the pins that hold the tiregate in place (left). Remove them to open the tailgate wide. Also, there are a few accessories that can be mounted to the underside (right) of the Tiregate – including a stainless steel skid plate and a license plate bracket.
The Tiregate looks good, and is relatively easy to install. For the Tundra, all of the stock tailgate mounting points are used, and the gate bolts on without any hassle. All versions of the Tiregate swing out of the way, meaning you’ll never be leaning over your spare to get at your cargo. This spare tire hauler is a good option for Tundra owners who want to add a bit of Baja styling to their truck, or who routinely take their vehicle off road and need a better spare tire mounting point.
* If you’re looking to buy a Tiregate, 4 Wheel Parts had the best price we could find, as long as you take their free shipping program into account. Prices start around $600.
Popularity: 3%
