Spare tire in bed - El Camino

[LukeZ]

Looking to free up some space in the smugglers box for my tools. Anyone have their spare tire relocated to the bed? Anyone know of a legitimate mounting system to hold it still? I don't want to just throw it in there, that's sorta ghetto.

I can leave the jack in the smugglers box, and my bed has a fiberglass cover from Gaylords on it too, so whatever the mounting system is, it cant really stick up past the sides of the bed.

Pictures are much appreciated 😛

 

[79 USA 1]

LukeZ,
Relocated the full size spare in my 86 El Camino when I had it. Do not have any pictures but I made a bracket to mount a spare tire hold down rod from a full size GM car ( Caprice, Roadmaster etc.) to the bed floor above where it would locate in the smugglers box. I also moved the jack and lug wrench and made brackets that attached to the side bed wall next to the tire. This worked great rather than trying to remove the spare from behind the seat on the side of the road.


Hope this helps!
Bob S.

 

[LukeZ]

LukeZ,
Relocated the full size spare in my 86 El Camino when I had it. Do not have any pictures but I made a bracket to mount a spare tire hold down rod from a full size GM car ( Caprice, Roadmaster etc.) to the bed floor above where it would locate in the smugglers box. I also moved the jack and lug wrench and made brackets that attached to the side bed wall next to the tire. This worked great rather than trying to remove the spare from behind the seat on the side of the road.


Hope this helps!
Bob S.

That sounds pretty legitimate, thanks!

Maybe I'll hit the junkers to see if I can't nab a spare tire hold down from a full size car.

 

[LukeZ]

Bob,
Did you you drill into your bed? Weld?

Thanks

 

[79 USA 1]

Luke,
I welded the hold down to the floor and jack brackets to the sides. The tire hold down could be bolted as long as you seal it down really well.
You do not want water leaking down into the smugglers box.
If you are hitting the bone yards for the hold down, take a chisel and hammer to remove the bracket welded to the trunk floor. Saves fabricating time!

I welded the bracket in the low rib in the floor thus if I needed the flat floor to haul something, all that was required was to remove the spare and threaded rod.
Bob S.