A spare wheel carrier is an absolute necessity for any vehicle. Many vans will already have a spare wheel carrier installed (likely underslung to the bottom of the van), but some will not. The previous owner of my van snipped off the spare wheel mount, so I decided to do a DIY job and install one on the back door. In this guide, I'll share my process for you to follow yourself.
Index
Shane, the founder of The Van Conversion, is a campervan professional dedicated to helping people transform ordinary vans into homes on wheels. He has authored Roaming Home, and teaches The Van Conversion Course, guiding many people through their van builds. Shane also writes The Van Conversion Newsletter, where he shares practical tips and insights. After completing two van builds and living on the road full-time since 2020, he is passionate about sharing his expertise with others.
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Supplies List
 | |
 | For driving and drilling |
 | Heavy duty nuts & bolts (M6 minimum) For fixing your wheel mount in place |
 | For driving nuts & bolts |
 | For protecting bare metal from rust |
 | Sikaflex 522 sealant For adhering serfices together and forming a watertight seal |
 | Sheet metal backing flange For structural support for the wheel mount |
 | Backing foam For absorbing vibrations and forming a watertight seal |
How to Install a DIY Spare Wheel Carrier on Your Van
Be careful which spare wheel carrier you buy, as they are not one-size-fits-all. They vary from three, four, or five bolts, with different diameters between the bolts. Do a bit of research on the diameter of your spare wheel. There is a fantastic website called wheel-size.com which will give you all the information on which spare wheel carrier to buy for your specific van.
Step 1: Mark the pilot holes
Place your chosen spare wheel carrier against the back door and mark the four drill points with a pencil.
Step 2: Drill the pilot holes
Drill the pilot holes into each of the four marks.
Step 3: Apply metal paint to the exposed metal to prevent rust
Ensure you clean all the metal shavings before applying the metal paint.
Step 4: Drill bolt holes in the metal backing flange
Place the spare wheel mount against the metal sheet that will act as a structural backing flange. Mark the four drill points, then drill those points.
The purpose of the metal backing plate is to evenly distribute the weight of the spare wheel across a larger surface area, rather than leaving it hanging off the door. My spare wheel carrier didn't come with a metal backing flange, so I went to my local DIY shop and picked up some sheet metal.
Step 5: Attach the spare wheel carrier to the door of your van
To attach the spare wheel carrier you will use the metal backing flange and some backing foam. The foam is for shock absorption and for preventing any scratching to the metal of the van. It also adds a waterproof seal to the van. It is stuck to the inside and outside of the van door. In terms of layers, this is the same as for a ladder installation: spare wheel carrier, foam, van door, foam, backing flange.
Put the spare wheel carrier up against the door and pop your bolt right through all those layers.
Step 6: Add some sealant around the bolts
Before you fully tighten the bolts down, add some sealant to ensure complete waterproofing.
Step 7: Attach the spare wheel to the carrier
The last step is to bolt the spare wheel to the carrier.
I would highly recommend buying a spare wheel cover to protect your spare wheel from the elements. Without this, it'll rust up in the rain in no time.
Purpose-built Spare Wheel Mounts
The wheel mount installation described above was very much a budget DIY job. If you are willing to spend a bit more money, there are many professionally made options available. These include hinging mounts which are also compatible with ladders, jerry cans, storage lockers, and bike and ski racks.
Conclusion
A spare wheel carrier is an essential component of any van. A rear-mounted wheel carrier is an easy DIY job which gives you a spare wheel that's much easier to access than an underslung one. With this done, your next job might be the installation of another exterior component, like a ladder or an awning.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Van Conversion Newsletter for everything you need to get started with your own van conversion (we'll send you a free wiring diagram when you join).
If you're looking for some guidance with your van conversion, you might be interested in our book Roaming Home, or in our online course The Van Conversion Mastery Course. You'll learn directly from our founder Shane how to convert a van into your dream home - no prior experience needed.
Until next time.