Why are spare wheels hung on the rear??

[Muzz67]

I have found this to be ****** inconvenient, and yet there is a whacking great space underneath and even a hole in the rear bumper!

[kiwi-jim]

I have found this to be ****** inconvenient, and yet there is a whacking great space underneath and even a hole in the rear bumper!

then buy the winch mechanism and stuff it under there. i`ve got a 235/85/16 under the bum of mine, with tow bar, no problems.
there was a 33/12.50/15 under there, but i`ve gone for the space-saver option.

[codlord]

Some have under-slung spares and some on the back, I guess the advantages of having on the back are that you may have more ground clearance (especially with a big tyre) and your spare won't get so caked in mud and salt. But I suspect the main reason is for the "look" - i.e. can look cool.

Like jim says, you should be able to buy the under-slung winch mechanism and fit yours there instead.

[Pete The Tart]

I have a feeling that the earlier Surfs had em underneath but then inthe early/mid nineties someone at Toyota came into the design meeting with this 'bitchin idea' that would look 'rad' and 'cool' and 'totally awesome dude'.........then again, maybe not?!!

[Muzz67]

What about the holes?

Okay, so removal is easy enough. What about the sodding great holes in the body where the holder was bolted on?

[TonyN]

If you don't wanna do any bodywork, wouldn't take much though, you'll just have plug and seal them with ruber grommets.

Bigger issue is the tailgate looks a little weird as the numberplate holder isn't in the middle, don't know if the number holder is just bolted on, and you could take it off ( just leaving more holes ), and get a normal surf one to fix in the middle, or if the whole door skin is different.

S/H tailgate would be the answer if its different.

[Koi]

I have a feeling that the earlier Surfs had em underneath but then inthe early/mid nineties someone at Toyota came into the design meeting with this 'bitchin idea' that would look 'rad' and 'cool' and 'totally awesome dude'.........then again, maybe not?!!

3rd Gen up and over tail gate has underslung spare

[kiwi-jim]

3rd Gen up and over tail gate has underslung spare

not all of them, my mates 96 has lift up tailgate and swing away (door mounted) spare.

[Guest]

As far as I understand it the chain gear for the underslung wheel is the same as fitted to the Previa / Lucida and can just be got for one of them and fitted straight in as the hole for it exists and also the hole in the rear bumper.

Cheers