How Overlanders Carry a Spare Tire: Tailgate Mounts, Hitch Carriers, and Covers

For overlanding and camping, a full-size spare that you can actually reach matters more than it does for a daily commute. But not every adventure rig carries its spare the same way, and some do not carry a usable external spare from the factory at all. Here is how the popular overland platforms mount a spare, why owners move it outside, and how to protect that spare once it is out in the weather.

Why carry the spare externally instead of under the vehicle or in the trunk?

Native storage is fine for a stock daily driver, but overlanders move the spare outside for practical reasons that add up fast on a long trip:

• Bigger tires do not fit the factory spot. Overland builds usually run larger all-terrain or mud-terrain tires, and a 33- or 35-inch spare simply will not fit in a Subaru Outback's under-floor well or on a Toyota 4Runner's factory underbody carrier. The spare has to go somewhere, and external is often the only place it fits.
• You need the cargo space. The trunk or cargo well is exactly where a drawer system, a fridge, a sleeping platform, and camping gear go. Moving the spare outside reclaims that room for the build.
• Trailside access when the rig is loaded. An underbody winch-down spare is miserable to retrieve when the vehicle is packed, lifted, or caked in mud, and you may be lying under a heavy rig to get it. An external spare is a quick, standing swap right when you actually get a flat.
• The spare stays in usable shape. A spare mounted underneath collects mud, road salt, and corrosion, and winch mechanisms can seize, so the tire you finally need may be stuck or degraded. Out in the open, it stays clean, visible, and easy to inspect before every trip.

The tradeoff is honest: a hitch-mounted carrier adds length out back, reduces your departure angle, and puts weight on the hitch. That is why running an external spare on a crossover or SUV is a deliberate, committed-overlander move rather than a factory default.

Rigs with a factory external spare (Jeep, Gladiator, Bronco)

The Jeep Wrangler (JK and JL), Jeep Gladiator, and Ford Bronco all carry a full-size spare on a rear tailgate or swing gate from the factory. It is already external, already exposed, and a spare tire cover simply slips over it. On 2018 and newer Wranglers and newer Broncos, the rear backup camera lives in that spare area, so those owners want a cover with a camera hole. Our backup camera guide covers that by year.

Rigs without a factory external spare (Outback, 4Runner, RAV4)

Here is the part that trips people up. A Subaru Outback carries its spare under the cargo floor, and a Toyota 4Runner keeps its spare underneath the vehicle on a winch-down carrier. A RAV4 is similar. None of them come with a tailgate-mounted spare like a Jeep or Bronco. So an Outback or 4Runner owner who wants a rugged, quick-access external spare has to add one, usually with an aftermarket hitch-mounted spare tire carrier that bolts into the rear receiver hitch. Swing-out bumper carriers are another route on more built rigs.

Once that carrier is on, the spare is out in the open, taking full sun, road salt, and grime, exactly like a Jeep's tailgate spare. At that point, the setup and the need are the same: a cover to protect it.

Covering an external spare, however it is mounted

The good news for the covering step is that fit is based on tire diameter, not the vehicle or the mount. Our covers are universal and size-based, so the same cover fits a Jeep tailgate spare, a hitch-mounted spare on an Outback or 4Runner, or a spare on a camper or trailer, as long as you match the diameter. Measure your mounted spare or use the tire cover size guide to find your size. A cover shields the spare from UV, salt, and weather between trips, which matters most on the exposed external mounts overlanders run.

Related reading

• RV spare tire cover guide
• Does your Jeep or Bronco have a backup camera?
• How to drive your Jeep on sand

Frequently asked questions

Why do overlanders carry the spare externally instead of under the vehicle or in the trunk?

Three main reasons: a larger overland tire will not fit the factory under-floor or underbody location, the cargo area is needed for drawers, a fridge, and gear, and an external spare is far easier to reach on the trail than a mud-caked underbody carrier. An external spare also stays cleaner and easier to inspect than one mounted underneath.

Does a Subaru Outback have an external spare tire?

Not from the factory. The Outback stores a spare under the cargo floor. To run an external spare, owners add an aftermarket hitch-mounted spare tire carrier that bolts into the rear receiver hitch.

Does a Toyota 4Runner have a tailgate spare like a Jeep?

No. The 4Runner carries its spare underneath the vehicle on a winch-down carrier. Owners who want a quick-access external spare typically add a hitch-mounted or swing-out carrier.

Will a spare tire cover fit a hitch-mounted spare?

Yes. Covers are sized by tire diameter, not by the vehicle or the mount, so the same cover fits a hitch-mounted spare, a Jeep or Bronco tailgate spare, or a camper spare. Match the diameter using the size guide.

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