How do you like this latch?

[footdale]

I've seen this latch on many tire carrier pics and was wondering how do you guys like it? I was planning on using some type of rubber stop to create a preload on the latch to hopefully eliminate any rattling. Any other words of wisdom to make the carrier as sturdy as possible is much appreciated.

 

[Glenn B]

Hi,
You will probably get a better response in the Tech Forums, rather than the "testing" forum.
Glenn

 

[REDXJ4FUN]

Alot of people have used this latch with good luck and don't know of any down sides.

 

[bottleworks]

Where do you buy one of these?

 

[BIG98XJ]

belive you can get em at northern, the dude who built my bumper mentioned something bout getting em at northern i beleive

 

[footdale]

I put this in the test forum because its my first post with a pic in the text and I'm too lazy to write a thread twice.

This particular latch is from McMaster-Carr.

 

[chad]

I used one of those latches on my bumper and it worked great. One thing I did to make sure it wouldn't accidentally pop open was weld an 1/8" steel tab to the main body so that it stuck out between the two arms of the latch handle, then I drilled a 1/4" hole through all three pieces in the closed position so I can put a 1/4" pin in there to keep it from unlatching.
Chad

 

[moneypitxj]

i did the same as chad. mine did pop open while i was first test driving it, luckly i didnt nail parked cars or mess my jeep up. i'll post a pic of it .

 

[BajaXJ92]

I have the exact same latch on my BPI Fab rear bumper. Works great and doesn't rattle at all.

-Adam

 

[Incredible Hulk]

I have that latch as well, but need to figure out how to KEEP it shut. I have had it pop open several times on teh freeway, once pulling out into traffic, thankfully ythe only thing it hit was my own car. So, right now a bungee is holding it cloed so I could use some help figuring out a way to keep it shut. I woudl love to see pics of how you guys did your little pin idea. Thanks!
josh

 

[footdale]

I have that latch as well, but need to figure out how to KEEP it shut. I have had it pop open several times on teh freeway, once pulling out into traffic, thankfully ythe only thing it hit was my own car. So, right now a bungee is holding it cloed so I could use some help figuring out a way to keep it shut. I woudl love to see pics of how you guys did your little pin idea. Thanks!
josh

there is the one idea posted above. I was thinking about drilling like a 1/8" hole through the whole thing (moving part + base) and using a snap close pin (like on my JKS discos) to keep it closed.

 

[chad]

Problem is, the base part does not extend into the area between the two legs of the latch arm. That's why you have to weld a tab there, then drill a 1/4" hole through all three pieces. I also used a flat poly bumpstop pad between the tire carrier arm and the bumper so that as you snap the latch shut it the polyurethane pad and keeps a preload on the latch.
Chad

 

[motorman]

Hold down

From my old enduro racing days I learned to use bike tire tubes to hold everything and anything in place. When I first put my Carr Latch on I used a mtn bike tube to make a big rubber band that I held the latch shut with....piece of mind and very easy/inexpensive

 

[xjblue]

Same latch on my Bulletproof swingout, never had a problem with it popping open, adjust the nuts on the end of that u shaped latch so that you have good resistance when you close the handle, the cam action will "pop" as you close it.