Best Jeep Rear Bumpers with Tire Carriers: Swing-Out vs Hinge-Down

The factory Jeep tailgate hinge and tire carrier is designed for the stock 32-33 inch spare tire weighing about 50-60 pounds. When you upgrade to 35-inch or larger tires, the spare can weigh 70-100+ pounds depending on wheel and tire combination. That extra weight puts enormous stress on the factory tailgate hinges, causing the tailgate to sag, the hinges to crack, and the door to misalign over time. A 37-inch tire on a beadlock wheel can weigh 110+ pounds — well beyond what the factory carrier can safely handle.

An aftermarket rear bumper with an integrated tire carrier moves the mounting point from the tailgate to the bumper itself, which is bolted directly to the frame. This eliminates tailgate sag entirely and supports tires up to 40+ inches depending on the carrier design. Most also include provisions for a high-lift jack, jerry cans, CB antenna, and rear-facing lights.

Swing-out carriers pivot horizontally on a heavy-duty hinge, swinging the spare tire to the side (usually driver-side) when you need to access the tailgate. This is the most popular design because it is simple, reliable, and works with the largest tires. The hinge pin must be massive — typically 1" solid steel — to prevent wobble with a 100+ lb tire and wheel assembly.

Hinge-down carriers (also called drop-down carriers) pivot the spare tire downward on a mechanism that lowers the tire toward the ground. These are less common but have one advantage: they do not swing into the space beside the vehicle, which matters if you park in tight garages or urban spaces. The trade-off is a more complex mechanism with more potential failure points.

For most off-road builds, swing-out is the better choice. The mechanism is simpler, stronger, and easier to operate on the trail. Hinge-down makes sense for urban daily drivers who rarely need to remove the spare but want to keep their parking footprint compact.

The most critical spec on any tire carrier is its weight rating. A 35x12.50R17 tire on a steel wheel weighs about 75-85 lbs. A 37x12.50R17 on an aluminum beadlock can hit 95-110 lbs. A 40-inch tire with a forged beadlock can exceed 120 lbs. Make sure your carrier is rated for at least 20% more than your current tire/wheel weight to account for mud, water, and any accessories mounted alongside the spare.

Also verify that the carrier arm length accommodates your tire diameter. A carrier designed for up to 35-inch tires may physically interfere with a 37-inch tire even if the weight capacity is sufficient. Check the manufacturer specification for maximum tire diameter, not just weight.

Rear bumpers with tire carriers are among the heaviest accessories you will install — 120-180 lbs for the bumper plus the weight of your spare. Installation typically requires two people and takes 3-5 hours. The factory bumper removal is straightforward (6-10 bolts), but aligning the new bumper and adjusting the tire carrier latch takes patience.

Key installation tips: torque all mounting bolts to manufacturer spec (usually 85-100 ft-lbs for frame bolts), adjust the latch striker so the carrier closes firmly without excessive force, and verify the tailgate still opens fully with the carrier in the open position. Some carriers require trimming the factory bumper cap or exhaust rerouting on certain JL models.