How to Install a Rugged Ridge Spartacus HD Tire Carrier - Hinge on your Jeep Wrangler

Step 1:  Take off spare tire by removing the 3 lug nuts using a 3/4” deep socket. Have another person help lift the tire off of the carrier.

Step 2:  Open the tailgate. Using a T-20 Torx bit, remove 4 torx head screws that attach light to factory tire mount. Pull light away from tire mount. 

Step 3:  Remove connector by pushing down on tab and pulling. Set light aside, it will be used later during installation. Place connector and wires off to side to not interfere with Tire Carrier installation. 

Step 4: Twist and pull rubber bumper to remove from right side of tailgate only.

Step 5: Remove plastic hinge covers. For the long hinge covers, pull away from the vehicle and to the left.

Step 6:  Remove plastic clips by pulling lower portion down and away from vehicle.  

Step 7:  Remove the stock tire carrier and brake light holder by removing the 8 bolts indicated using a 13mm socket.

Step 8: Ensure tailgate is fully closed and locked. On both sides of tailgate, place shims between bumper and tailgate to hold tailgate in position while removing stock hinges. Shims can be blocks of wood, wedged shims, etc. that can be made to fit snugly and securely between bumper and tailgate.

Step 9: Using 13mm socket, remove tailgate hinges from tailgate by removing the 4 bolts indicated on right.

Step 10:  Flip hinges to open position. Using a T-50 bit, unscrew stock hinges from vehicle removing the screws indicated at right. This may require using a 10- inch extension with the T-50 bit in order to reach the scews.

Step 11: Thoroughly clean any dirt, debree, and corrosion from tailgate and quarter panel where HD Hinge Casting and tire carrier will mount. Painting or priming bare metal under stock hinges is optional, but reccomended, especially if corrosion is present.

Step 12:  Place HD Hinge Casting in position. Reusing 6 factory screws, fasten hinge brackets to vehicle quarter panel. Attach outside screw first, then swing hinge open and install remaining four screws. Do not fully tighten.

Step 13:  Re-using factory bolts and washers removed in step 6, loosely attach right side of HD Hinge Casting. 

Step 14:  Fully tighten outside hinge bracket bolts. 

Step 15:  Remove the 4 bolts/washers from Step 12. Swing HD Hinge Casting open, making sure not to move the tailgate. Tighten the 4 remaining Torx Head bolts on hinge brackets. Return to closed position.

Step 16: If installing the Rugged Ridge HD Wheel Mount (Part# 11546.52) with HD Hinge Hinge, stop here and refer to Step 5 of HD Wheel Mount Instructions.

Step 17: Align tire carrier with tailgate bolt holes and begin threading the four factory bolts on the right hand side of the OE tire carrier. Do not fully tighten.

Step 18: Slide spacer plate between tailgate and top left corner of the OE tire carrier. Loosely re-install factory bolts and washers. Repeat for bottom left corner. Some slight shifting of HD Hinge Casting may be required to re-install all 8 tire carrier bolts.

Step 19: Once all bolts are threaded, tighten the 8 bolts around the tire carrier.

Step 20: Using a 13mm socket, install the 4 supplied hex bolts and washers to fasten the hinge body to tailgate. Use red thread locker on bolt threads prior to installation, and fully tighten bolts before thread locker dries. Shims can now be removed.

Step 21:  Feed the third brake light wire back through the OE tire carrier and reinstall factory brake light.

Step 22: Re-install spare tire and factory lug nuts. Use a torque wrench with a 3/4” socket to tighten the lug nuts to 80 lb/ft. Have another person help lift the tire onto the carrier.