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Microchop
| Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 07:21 pm: |
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Hi guys. Since Badwebbers always have an answer, I'll pose my question here. I have been planning to build a swing-away rear tire carrier for my Cherokee, but there is one part of the design that I still have a question about. I have noticed that the majority of SUVs that have swing-aways, or side hinged tailgates have them hinged at the passenger side. To me, this seems wrong, as here in the states we typically parallel park on that side, meaning that access to the tailgate (opposite the hinge) means stepping out into traffic if there is someone parked close behind you. Again, most but not all vehicles are built like this (Jeep Wrangler for example) but few are not (Jeep Liberty.) Most of the aftermarket tire carriers are also passenger side hinged. I want to hinge mine on the drivers side, but wondered if I am missing something. My first guess is that internationally marketed vehicles may be hinged on our passenger side, simply because our vehicle codes do not specify preference, but other countries may. Any thoughts? |
Xl1200r
| Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 08:57 pm: |
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Just a guess, but perhaps the engineers didn't want spare tires flying out into traffic while you're parked on the side of the road? |
Phat_j
| Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 09:56 pm: |
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i would tend to agree, the one on my blazer swings almost perpindicular to the truck, that could be very detrimental to a passing motorcycle..... ouch |
Just_ziptab
| Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 10:01 pm: |
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Here's another: Compact 3 door pickup have the third door on the drivers side. Full size pickups have the third door on the curb side. There is a reason...sorta dumb, but a reason none the less. |
Corporatemonkey
| Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 12:37 am: |
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Your overlooking the simple answer. Rear visibility. A lot of spare tires are mounted closer to the hinges. You wouldn't want the tire to completely block your rear vision. |
Microchop
| Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 08:55 am: |
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Good answers guys, thanks. The "swinging out into traffic" one is probably the most important, and one I hadn't thought of because I am going to have mine stop at 90 degrees, so it can't swing out that far. As far as visibility goes, presently, the tire is mounted on the inside of the Jeep, behind the driver, so mounting it close to the hinge on the driver's side actually makes more sense from a visibility standpoint, because more of it is behind your head. Mounting it on the passenger side blocks more area behind you from your view. |
Lost_in_ohio
| Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 09:13 am: |
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or typically the driver is the one accessing the tailgate and he would be approaching from the driver side. That way when opening from the driver side it saves steps and motion. |
Etennuly
| Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 09:23 am: |
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You'd probably also need a prop to hold it out at 90 degrees because the curb side is always lower than the street side. |
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