It seems like forever that I had my 19" spare mounted on the roof rack of my LR-3. Been through fires, mud slides and raging torrents. All was well and good until I hit a rock and popped the RR Tire. That's when I found out that being 78 YO means that it was a real ***** to lower the tire down off the roof by my self.
When I got home, I broke out the torch and modified a hitch mounted bicycle rack to hold the spare. I was back on the road in 2 hours and it works great. The only mod I did a week later was to add a pressure strut on the traverse bar so that the tire smoothly laid down. I figure it cost me $30 and now I have a great looking tire holder/jerry can holder, but also can get to the tire quickly and EASILY.
When I got home, I broke out the torch and modified a hitch mounted bicycle rack to hold the spare. I was back on the road in 2 hours and it works great. The only mod I did a week later was to add a pressure strut on the traverse bar so that the tire smoothly laid down. I figure it cost me $30 and now I have a great looking tire holder/jerry can holder, but also can get to the tire quickly and EASILY.