Feature Friday: 9 Tire Swings & Spare Tire Carrier Setups On 5th Gen 4Runner

Welcome back to another Feature Friday! If you missed last week’s FF, we looked at some awesome 5th Gen 4Runner vinyl wraps. This week, we are examining nine different tire carrier options that enable you to carry a full-size spare on your next overland trip. We have a mix of full rear bumper setups and hitch-mounted tire carrier options.

If you’re unsure about the difference between the two, check out our article on full rear bumpers vs. hitch-mounted tire carriers.

So, why would you even need a way to carry a spare tire? Can’t you use the factory location?

There are several reasons why somebody would want to have an aftermarket spare tire carrier. The first is an upgrade to a larger tire size. A stock 5th Gen 4Runner comes with 265/70R17 tires. These are okay, but most of us who take our 4Runners off-road want to upgrade to a larger tire. The OEM spare tire area can only fit about a 33″ tire. Also, stuffing a wider tire underneath your 4Runner will decrease the departure angle. That’s not a positive aspect while you traverse obstacles like rocks and trees.

Another added benefit of a tire carrier is that many of them serve multiple purposes. You can also deck them out with additional off-road gear. As you’ll see with our entries, some have folding tables, RotopaX holders, Hi-Lift jacks, and much more. A properly equipped hitch-mounted carrier with options can achieve nearly 90% of what a full rear bumper can – at half the price.

There are plenty of options below at various price points, so feel free to DM the owners on IG to ask more questions about their setup if needed.

Enjoy!

1. JP Accomando (@ao_runner) – C4 Fabrication

Tire Carrier Details

• Model: C4 Fabrication Rear Bumper w/ Single Swing Out
• Price: $3500

What Do You Like About Your Setup?

I wanted to gain additional ground clearance from not having the spare mounted under the 4Runner. In my opinion, the spare looks better mounted on the rear hatch, similar to the FJ40 or, more recently, the FJ Cruiser.

Having the spare mounted on the rear bumper also gives me options to carry additional gear on the spare, like a Trasharoo or Maxtrax. The possibilities are endless with money and a little imagination. I also have a dual Jerry can accessory mount and a horizontal Hi-Lift accessory mount on the bumper. 

2. Sean Migone (@mig_rnr) – RiG’d Supply

Tire Carrier Details

• Model: UltraSwing
• Price: $1600

What Do You Like About Your Setup?

This, by far, was one of the easiest choices I made regarding carrying a full-size spare tire.

I wasn’t ready to add a full rear steel bumper to my rig, but I still wanted the ability to carry a full-size spare. It’s reasonably priced considering the build quality and rave reviews. RIGd Supply has been around for quite a while and knows how to do it right.

Most importantly, this item does not rattle, regardless of what you put it through. I can carry up to a 35” tire, and the carrier also allows me to mount items like a camp table, Hi-Lift jack mount, MOLLE mounts for RotopaX, and more.

3. Jon Ayran (@org4runna) – Nguyen Works

Tire Carrier Details

• Model: Dual Swing Out
• Price: $3,000

What Do You Like About Your Setup?

With a 305/70R17 tire, fitting it in the stock spare location wasn’t an option. I chose the @nguyen_works rear bumper to hold my tire because of how clean it looked! It has a very slim profile and is one of the lightest on the market. I really like how the tire sits nicely and is positioned extremely close to the body. Many other aftermarket tire carriers have the tire mount positioned too low and far from the hatch, which is not to my taste.

Having the spare on the swing-out makes it super easy to access. The tire carrier features a dual Jerry can holder on the driver’s side swing-out and the tire mounts on the passenger’s side swing-out. Each swing-out also features two attached tables, which are extremely convenient when camping. The bumper was about $3,000 with these options.

4. Daniel Khimthang (@daily.4r) – Rigid Armor

Tire Carrier Details

• Model: Spare Tire Hitch Carrier
• Price: $550

What Do You Like About Your Setup

I chose this style of spare carrier due to its entry-level price and two-week lead time. For my trip to Utah, I needed a last-minute spare tire carrier since my 295/70R17 tire and -38mm offset wheel wouldn’t fit in the factory spare location.

I like that it is lightweight and easy to take on and off with no issues. The carrier can tilt down 45 degrees, enough to open the rear hatch! The new hitch receiver has a towing capacity of 6,500 lbs. and a tongue weight of 650 lbs.

5. Mando Hurtado (@voodoo_trdpro4r) – Westcott Designs

Tire Carrier Details

• Model: Modular Spare Tire Carrier Rack 
• Price: $1580

What Do You Like About Your Setup?

I initially wanted to go the full rear bumper route, as there have been vast improvements in the market within the last year or so. However, with my current setup and needs, I decided to opt for a hitch-mount tire carrier.

I can easily remove and store it when not in use. With the Westcott Designs Tire Carrier, I can add an arm for a dual swing-out. Additionally, having Westcott Designs locally is a major perk, as we can conduct R&D on more options.

It features a dual-sided design that allows me to add on or remove equipment as needed. There are multiple options for arms, including an additional left spare tire rack, an optional cooler rack with work table, grill mount, bike rack adapter, Hi-Lift mount, and many more.

6. Anibal Martinez (@t4r_aftermath) – Rigid Armor

Tire Carrier Details

• Model: Spare Tire Hitch Carrier
• Price: $550

What Do You Like About Your Setup?

I prefer this hitch-mounted carrier over the roof-mounted options on the market. I also didn’t want a full rear bumper. This tire carrier still allows me to open the tailgate in just a couple of steps, and I can easily remove it if needed. I also think that the aesthetics of it are perfect.

7. Romeo Cabras Jr. (@9th_island_runner) – Custom Motorsports

Tire Carrier Details

• Model: Hitch Receiver Carrier
• Price: N/A (Custom)

What Do You Like About Your Setup?

I want to give a shout-out to Cameron and his team at Custom Motorsports, located here in Las Vegas. They created a hitch carrier that’s functional and modular, using high-quality parts and materials.

Additionally, I love supporting local businesses! This tire mount features a lockable lever and holds up to a 35” tire. It has a 4-lug mount and also relocates the rear license plate.

8. Ben Kim (@ben_out_co) – RiG’d Supply

Tire Carrier Details

• Model: UltraSwing
• Price: $1600

What Do You Like About Your Setup?

This was a simple and less expensive solution compared to a full rear bumper replacement. It was one of my first upgrades after buying the 4Runner in 2018, and it has provided a ton of utility without weighing a ton. It’s been rock solid, despite my maxing out its carrying capacity, and it has never failed me.

RIG’d Supply’s continued support of the platform is still holding strong. I highly recommend this route for its cost-to-utility value.

Extra Items Mounted To Carrier:

• Rago Fabrications UltraPlate w/ FrontRunner table
• Rago Fabrications SideHack w/ RotopaX mount for water
• Rago Fabrications Hi-Lift mount w/ Hi-Lift Extreme 60” w/ base plate & Maxtrax mounts for four boards
• Shovel/Ax mount
• Backup camera relocation
• Trasharoo

9. Brenan Greene (@Trail4R) – RiG’d Supply

Tire Carrier Details

• Model: UltraSwing
• Price: $1600

What Do You Like About Your Setup?

I’ve been running the UltraSwing since my first 5th Gen build in 2014-2015. This was back when they first launched their V1 product. At the time, all that was on the market was the Wilco Offroad, and it was lacking the customization I was looking for.

When the RIGd UltraSwing was launched with the added Front Runner Camp Table, I jumped all over it. I ran that tire carrier and accessory camp table hard for over three to four years. It went on more trails than I can count while carrying a 35″ MT, and it was there for me every step of the way. Well, I sold that first 4Runner and bought another one, Jade. Jade is running the V2 UltraSwing with the new and improved UltraTable, and I couldn’t be happier. It features the best latch of any swing on the market, along with an extensive ecosystem of add-ons (the Ultra-Everything) constantly innovated by the engineers at RIGd.

It’s not cheap, but there’s a reason why they’re the leader in the tire swing market: it works well and offers a ton of customization options.

Final Thoughts

What a great variety of full-size spare tire carrier options for the 5th Gen 4Runner! For me, I’d definitely opt for a hitch-mounted solution with some extra overland accessories. That would give me a great place to cook and store things while at the beach or on the trail.

I also like the hitch-mounted option because if I don’t need it, I can remove it and store it in the garage, making it a better daily driver.

We want readers to get inspired by a variety of rigs/products. Next week, we will be showcasing Off-Road Storage Solutions.

Have a great weekend, everyone!