Swing away carrier installation instructions
Tools needed:
- Electric drill
- New, sharp 1/4" drill bit of good quality. 135 degree split point bit
recommended. This is important because you don't want the drill bit
skidding around..
- Allen wrenches, 5/32" and 3/8"
- 7/16" wrench
According to what people have reported to me, installation takes about 2 1/2
to 3 hours going slowly. All four backing plates behind the
hinge plate are essential to achieve maximum strength.
The latch will require periodic lubrication.
- Remove the tail light and rear air vent. See picture 1. Access for installing
the backing plates and nuts is gained through these two points. Temporarily
remove part of the rubber door molding along the edge where the hinge will be,
this is so that you can drill the holes
- If your hinge is on the passenger side and you have a syncro
you will need to temporarily remove the air snorkel assembly to install the
hinge. The snorkel is replaced afterwards. See below picture.
- Place hinge plate in position and center the upper tab in the recess in
the body.
- Make sure hinge plate is flush on BOTH surfaces. *This is important*.
Drill the first hole for the upper tab, on the outside of the van. Have someone help you hold it if needed.
- Temporarily install the first bolt.
- Making sure the hinge plate is flush, drill another hole and install the
nut.
- Proceed drilling holes and installing bolts, making sure the hinge plate
is tight against the body. Begin installing backing plates.
Stainless steel nuts are tack welded to the backing plates.
- The backing plates are mated to the hinge plate in a specific way.
The hinge plate is shipped with the plates attached in the place where they
fit.
There is a tiny 1/8" hole in the top of each backing plate
(this is also how you can tell up from down, the hole is up).
- In order to help hold the backing plates in place, and to prevent dropping
them, a thin piece of bailing wire or string can be used. Hook one end
of the wire through the small hole in the backing plate, hold on to the other
end through the side air vent. When the backing plate is loosely screwed
in place, just yank on the bailing wire to pull it free.
- After the hinge plate is installed, install the carrier and level it with
the adjustable "rod end" joints. The top bar on the carrier should be level with the
lines in the door, stand back and look from a distance. Level with the
Bottom joint only.
The top joint needs to align with the stop.
- In the engine compartment, unbolt the coolant overflow tank and move it
out of the way (depending on which side of the license plate the latch is on). The backing plate for the latch plate goes
behind the overflow tank.
- Latch together both halves of the latch. There needs to be a gap
of about 1/4" between the latch halves. This is to accommodate
the swing arc of the tire carrier as it pivots on it's hinge. Position the
latch plate on the body of the vehicle.
- Drill holes in the van for the latch plate. Attach the latch plate with the 4 bolts and backing plate.
- Adjust the angle of the latch as required so that the mechanism aligns
correctly and works
smoothly. The holes for the latch are oversize to allow for adjustment.
- If you need to adjust the position of the latch plate, enlarge the four
holes in the van with a larger drill bit.
1. After loading the rack with weight, there may be some sag when
unlatched
and just barely open. The rack may drop a tiny bit just after you unlatch it.
You
can compensate for this drop by adjusting the threaded rod ends. 1 or 1 1/2
turns should do it. This will allow both parts of the latch to align and
then close easily.
2. The latch will require periodic lubrication.
3. A note about opening the Swing out tire carrier. Their is a limit
stop at about 110 degrees of opening. Care should be taken when opening the
carrier - so that it does not swing open with force and
slam against the stop. There may be enough weight and force to damage the van
body. Just hold
on to it when opening.
ver.
June 1, 07
