Looking under my JGC Limited, I noticed everything from the front bumper to the rear axle seems to all be at about the same level under the vehicle. Even without skid plates, it's like a flat bottom boat.
Then I get to the area behind the rear axle, where the spare tire well is. It's about 5-6 inches higher (or more) until you get to the rear bumper where it's back down to the same level as everything else.
Since that extra height won't help when off-roading (anything that high would hang up on the bumper), I was wondering if anyone new of any kind of (lockable) tool box add-on that could be frame mounted underneath to make use of that dead space.
Personally, I wish they had simply made the wheel well a bit deeper to provide room for more tool storage over top of the spare tire. Heck, they could even sell a kit with two half moon trays with a set of tools with the Jeep name all over them.
The idea is, I want to find a better place for my socket set, recovery hitch and strap and other tools instead of having a tool box or bag in the cargo area where it takes up space and tempts thieves who might be able to spot it even through the tint.
There is a seat bottom sized storage area under the floor under each front seat. Your battery is in the passenger side. The driver's side may be empty, providing a hidden, dry storage area or it may have electronics in it depending on the options your Jeep has.
Move the seat all the way forward and prise the top up from the rear.
Mine has a module in that compartment. I'm assuming it's for the Nav system since I don't have the Quadralift and I added the Nav system. I suppose it could be for the tow package (trailer brakes or controls for the wire harnesses), but I would assume it's for the nav system since that is sometimes a dealer add on.
I wish it were empty - that's some epic storage there.
Nah - those always go in the gas tank - and I want all 24 gallons...
If it were easier to get to the compartment where the air tank for the Quadra-Lift normally goes, I'd put some stuff in there....unless someone knows an easy way to open and close it without creating loose panels.
I have all that stuff in with the spare tire. I put them in Klien canvas tool bags though, wrenches, sockets, receiver shackle mount and even a recovery rope.
I was thinking the same thing as the OP. If the spare was hung under the floor where all that open space is you could store all kinds of things in the area where the spare currently is.
I saw a '14 Overland the other day that had what looked like a skid plate between the rear bumper and axle. Would it be there protecting something or just covering the open space?
Greg.
The spare is mounted under the rear floor on the Durango in what is unused space on gas powered Grand Cherokees. I wish that they had done that on the Grand Cherokees as well; at least the gas powered ones, as the DEF tank is mounted there on the diesels. That is probably what Greg 63 saw. The SRT Grand Cherokees have a panel there to make the underside flat. I would think that having that big "hole" there wouldn't be great for aerodynamics.
Just checking to see if anyone looked into the idea of using Durango hardware to mount the tire under the rear. I myself would rather use the space inside for other junk (even though I had a blowout recently and had to use the spare). I have a tyveck overall I can put in the spare tire area if I need it. When I was putting on a factory trailer hitch this Spring I thought that was an awful lot of wasted space on a vehicle for one that does not have an abundance of it.
I'm not a fan of having stuff mounted underneath the vehicle, too hard to get to when needed. No fun trying to dig out rocks, mud, snow to get to your spare or equipment. Been there done that!
What JEEP should have done was make the spare tire well larger and put a "F-ing" full size spare in there. One that matches what's on the ground!
The Trailhawks came with the the Goodyear Silent Armor 265/60/18's. What did JEEP do! They put a a fricken undersized 245/65r18 Kuhmo Solus street tire in.
Still playing with the idea of modding the tub so that it can fit the larger 275/65/18 tire.
To be honest, we're probably lucky we get a spare tire at all.
There's research to suggest most people never actually use them due to having some sort of roadside assistance or simply the inability to change a tire.
Even among those that use them, most don't seem bothered by the lack of a full size spare. In fact, they're probably better off with a donut that is more likely to hold its air pressure better since few people bother to check and maintain their spare.
For those that use their vehicles for offroading or towing, where a tire compatible with those already on the vehicle is desired, those people often mount the tire somewhere more convenient than the well.
As far as other stuff under the vehicle, I'm talking things a proper bottle jack, a 4 way lug wrench, flares and other tools that would only be necessary if you're jacking up the vehicle or something similar - but they take up far too much space in the trunk.
My 06 Trailblazer had the underslung spare held with a small winch. When I needed it, the winch was rusted fast and no way could I get that tire down. Had to take the flat to a service station and get it fixed and return to the vehicle.
Also, heard of the winch or holding mechanism breaking and the tire disappearing off pickup trucks.
Probably retrofitting the cranking mechanism from the Durango for the spare wheel would be too much of a challenge. But I think that mounting the DEF tank underneath would be something doable. Someone would then have to convert that DEF tank into a lockable water-proof enclosure, which I think would not be terribly hard.
I noticed all that space underneath and I am intrigued about the ideas as well.....but I have all the junk I need packed under the carpeted floor. There's more space there than first appears....in fact, I got everything that was under the rear seat of my Ram Quad Cab I traded in, packed around and in the center of the spare tire.
I carry a few old towels so I used them to wrap the jack parts and got rid of the styrofoam thing. I also have jumper cables, first aid kit, racheting tie downs, some basic hand tools, utility knives, contractor trash bags, rubber gloves, a couple of crow bars, rope, tow chain, rain ponchos, etc. I mounted a battery powered LED light to the underside of the carpeted cover.
Will a full size spare fit underneath the WK2? Is the underside well the same size as the Durango? If it is, I see no reason why anyone couldn't mount the Durango hardware to accomodate a full size spare underneath. I mean, aside from wheelbase size, these vehicles are essentially the same unibody frame, yes?
That is my thoughts as well although I have no problem with the undersize spare. The only issue I had when I mounted the spare recently was that I had to turn off the skid control to keep it from "correcting my skid" on the 7 miles to the tire store. I have been thinking about going to a junk yard and seeing if I can find some late model Durango parts. Maybe Ram truck parts might work as well.
My favorite campsite is only accessible via a 29 mile dirt road, hard pack and coral. Coral and sea shells are like razors and glass. Even though the construction of the compact spare is impressive for load and stability, it would be a crapshoot to even go 10 miles at any speed. Other people do more than what you personally would do with a spare. I carry a full size spare on a full size wheel, actually two.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Jeep Garage - Jeep Forum
1.7M posts
176.1K members
Since 2009
Jeep Garage is where you can talk about all your favorite jeeps including the Cherokee, Liberty and Grand Cherokee.