The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk fender-mount spare tire

I am seriously considering converting my under-bed spare tire mount to the fender mount spare tire style. This is on a 66 C-10 stepside and I was wondering what conversions have to be made other than cutting the fender to fit the tire and mounting the bracket? Also, how is the bracket mounted to the bed? If any of you have pictures could you e-mail them to me so I have something to go by to make the bracket and modiry the fender? Any help is much appreciated, thanks.

Drew
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'66 C-10 stepside

Do not cut the fender. Several people would trade you a correct fender for yours, including myself. I would trade the entire setup for yours if you fender is not in bad shape. The bracket is mounted to the bed and once you see one it is any easy setup about 4 bolts if I remember right. I don't have my camera now or I would get you a picture.
James

I have written about my feelings on this topic a few times before and if you had not read them what I basically was saying is that I personally never liked the side mount on my 53. I know some do but I found that it was on the wrong side (GM design), hung out in the wind, vibrated and made for a tight fit in my garage. Being on the driver's side and me being the only person in the truck I had to add extra leafs (leaves?) to my left side spring to stop the sag. I ended up taking it off and had the fender with that well exposed (and the subject of my questions). If I could have found a left rear fender in as good a shape as the indented one was I would have changed it. Instead I sold the truck. There might be a photo of it in the Gallery still. That is, as I mentioned my feeling, and don't let me sway you.

At the time these trucks were being made there was a VERY good reason for the side mount spare(it cost extra) and that was many were destined to be farm trucks when most farms were on unpaved roads. A flat in 4 inches of mud or a foot of snow and people would have traded their smooth fender and everything in their billfold for them. Now that they're just for looking at or cruising to the Sonic on friday night the smooth fenders are much more in favor. I grew up in farming country and if the spare tire hanging off the side kept me off my belly in a puddle of slush it looked beautiful.

I like MY spare tire carrier! True, it's mostly for show, but I think it's one of the best features of my truck. IMHO

I pretty much feel as Olblu and never cared for the sidemount spare mainly because of the off-balance look it produced. Understand it may have been a functional advantage for some applications and at times. Just happened to think and wondering just why but how is it you never see a side mount spare on a Fleetside truck? Were all Fleetside spares mounted under the bed? Or might they have been mounted insde the bed? Seems to me a side mount spare on a Fleetside would really be a sheetmetal feat and more odd looking than the Stepside set-up. Comments?

My $0.02 is that I'd just keep it under the bed. For the # of times you use the thing, why have it in the way, unbalancing the truck, getting the rubber exposed to sun light etc. I actually have a side mount bracket that I took off. I'm keeping it in case I want to restore, but I don't use it.