How To Stop Your Spare Tire Carrier From Rattling
Nothing kills the vibe of a clean trail run like a spare tire bouncing around behind you. That metal-on-metal clank every time you hit a bump? Yeah, that gets old fast.
The good news is that rattle isn't something you have to live with. Most of the time, it's fixable with a bit of attention and the right approach.
This guide explores how to stop your spare tire carrier from rattling, focusing on common rattling issues with factory OE spare tire carriers and tailgate-mounted setups. Manufacturers typically engineer aftermarket spare tire carriers differently, designing them to eliminate many of these issues through stronger structure and tighter tolerances.
Why Spare Tire Carriers Rattle in the First Place
Before you start wrenching, it helps to understand what's actually going on back there.
Loose hardware is the usual suspect. Bolts and nuts vibrate loose over time, especially on rough terrain. Even factory mounts can work themselves free after a few thousand miles of washboard roads and rock crawling.
Worn bushings and pivot points are another common issue. If your carrier swings open, those pivot joints take a beating. When the bushings wear down, you get slop in the system. That slop turns into noise.
Tailgate flex is a big one, especially when the manufacturer hasn’t designed the vehicle to carry heavy aftermarket wheels and tires. The factory tailgate can bow or flex under load, creating gaps where things rattle.
Contact points between the tire and carrier also matter. If the tire isn't sitting tight against the mount, or if there's no buffer material between metal parts, every bump sends a shockwave through the whole assembly.
Start With a Full Inspection
Pop the tailgate or swing-out open and give everything a once-over. Check every bolt, especially the ones that mount the carrier to the vehicle. Use a torque wrench if you've got one. If bolts are loose, tighten them to spec. If they keep coming loose, add a thread locker.
Look at the pivot points if you've got a swing-out style carrier. Grab the carrier and try to move it side to side or up and down. Any play in those joints generally indicates worn bushings or loose bolts.
Check the tire mount itself. Seat the wheel correctly, then tighten the lug nuts or the retention system. A loose tire will rattle no matter how solid the carrier is.
Reinforce the Tailgate
If you're running a heavy spare on a factory tailgate, there's a good chance the gate itself is flexing. This is especially true on newer rigs with aluminum tailgates or thinner sheet metal.
A tailgate reinforcement kit solves this problem by adding structure to the area where the carrier mounts. Turn Offroad offers the 2021+ Ford Bronco HD Tire Carrier Tailgate Reinforcement, built specifically to support the extra weight of larger tires and aftermarket spare tire carriers. It ties into the factory mounting points and spreads the load across a wider area, reducing flex and the rattles that come with it.
If you're serious about running a 35-inch or larger spare, reinforcement isn't optional. It's part of the system.
Upgrade to a Purpose-Built Carrier
Sometimes the problem isn't how you've installed the carrier. It's the carrier itself.
Manufacturers don’t typically design factory mounts for oversized tires or aggressive use. They flex, they wear out, and they rattle. If you've already tightened everything and are still hearing noise, it might be time to upgrade.
It’s worth noting that well-designed aftermarket spare tire carriers generally address these issues from the start, using stronger mounting points, tighter tolerances, and better isolation to prevent rattling under load.
Turn Offroad's 2021+ Ford Bronco Swing-Out Tire Carrier with Lights is a solid example of how a proper aftermarket solution handles the problem. It's designed to hold bigger tires without the flex and slop you get from factory setups.
The swing-out design also gets the weight off the tailgate entirely, which eliminates a significant source of rattle right out of the gate. A good aftermarket carrier will have better bushings, tighter tolerances, and mounting systems that account for trail abuse.
Add Rubber Isolation Where Metal Meets Metal
Even with a solid carrier, you can still get noise if bare metal is in contact with bare metal. Rubber bushings, washers, or isolators between contact points dampen vibration and kill rattles.
Check anywhere the carrier touches the vehicle or where the tire sits against the mount. If there's direct metal contact, add a buffer. You can use rubber washers, neoprene pads, or even cut sections of an old inner tube in a pinch.
Some carriers come with rubber or polyurethane bushings already installed. If yours don't, or if they're worn out, replace them.
Check Your Spare Tire Setup
The tire itself can be part of the problem. If you're running a wheel with a lot of backspacing or offset, it might not sit flush against the mount. That creates a gap where things can shift and rattle.
Make sure to balance your spare and seat it correctly. If you're using a beadlock wheel, double-check that all the bolts have even torque. Uneven clamping can cause the wheel to sit crooked on the carrier.
Also, verify that the tire pressure is correct. An underinflated spare can deform under its own weight when hanging vertically, altering how it sits on the mount.
Retorque Everything After the First Few Trips
Even if you tighten everything down perfectly, hardware can settle after a few heat cycles and some rough miles. Plan to retorque all the mounting bolts after your first couple of trail runs.
This step is crucial if you just installed a new carrier or reinforcement kit. The metal needs time to adjust, and bolts can loosen slightly as things settle into place.
Use Thread Locker on Critical Fasteners
Vibration will always try to loosen your hardware. If you want bolts to stay tight, use thread locker. Blue Loctite works for most applications. Red is overkill unless you're never planning to take it apart again.
Apply it to any bolt that's prone to loosening, especially pivot bolts, mounting hardware, and anything that holds the tire to the carrier.
Don't Ignore Structural Issues
If you've done all of this and you're still getting noise, there might be a bigger problem. Cracked welds, bent brackets, or damaged mounting points won't fix themselves.
Pull the carrier off and inspect it closely. Look for cracks around welds, especially near high-stress areas like pivot points and mounting flanges.
If you find damage, get it repaired before you keep running it. A failed carrier on the trail is a pain you don't want to deal with.
Stopping Spare Tire Carrier Rattle: It’s All About Attention
Most rattle issues stem from loose hardware, worn bushings, or a mismatch between the spare tire carriers and the loads they carry. Tighten everything, add isolation where needed, and make sure your tailgate or mount point can handle the weight.
If the factory setup isn't cutting it, upgrade to something built for the job. A little maintenance goes a long way, and once you get it dialed in, that rattle goes away for good. Bookmark this guide, and you’ll have the information you need to stop your spare tire carrier from rattling.