Main bar built determining mounting position.

Main bar bolted to the 4Runner.

Frame mounting brackets.

Main bar bolted to the 4Runner.

Center floor section added.

Bottom view of center section.

Sides welded up and attached to main beam.

Sides welded up and attached to main beam.

Sides welded up and attached to main beam.

Drawing of tire carrier.

Tire carrier completed.

Tire carrier without the tire.

Tire carrier at the powder coater.

Rear view of completed project.

Toyota FJ-40 license plate bracket & lights.

Main bar bolted to the 4Runner.

Frame mounting brackets.

Side view showing departure angle.

Rounded ends after welding, before grinding

Aluminum tread plate used for the center section.

Cardboard mock up of sides.

Sides welded up and attached to main beam.

Main beam and sides grinded smooth to flow together.

Main bumper section out on the trail.

Tire carrier completed.

Main bumper and tire carrier out on the trail.

Martinez Canyon, clearance test.

Main bumper section at the powder coater.

Side view of completed project.

Side view of completed project.

Believe it or not but the Rockstomper
tire carrier hinge broke off on a
Sand Dune in Southern California.
  It could have broken in traffic on the
street or highway which is extremely scary.

After 1 year the bearing races were cracked.

After living with the tire on the back
of the 4Runner for 1 year,
I decided to put it back under the truck in the
stock location.  Opening and closing the tire gate
was a huge pain and the extra weight hanging off
the back or the vehicle created extra vibrations
and effected the way it drove. 

After 1 year the metal in the trailer
spindle fatigued and failed.
  DO NOT use a Rockstomper hinge.
  One failed on a Tacoma in Southern California
as well in the exact same manner.  

Broken spindle, very disappointing.

Tire carrier hinge and attachments
cut off.  Just a plain old rear bumper
and the rear tailgate opens easily as well.
  On hard trails I'll just put the tire in the
cargo area.