How to Install a Spare Wheel Carrier Land Rover Defender

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How to Install a Spare Wheel Carrier - Land Rover Defender

Written By: Gibson Hull
September 20, 2025

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Est. Completion Time: 02 Hours

- Stage 01 Tools:
-Combination wrench set
-Socket set
-Screwdrivers
-Picks
-Hammers
-Pliers
-Safety glasses
-Gloves
-Flash light
-Plastic pry tools

-Impact Drill

Parts Required:
-Defender Spare Wheel Carrier

Additional Resources:
- Land Rover Defender Workshop Manual - Owners Edition
- 1993 Land Rover Defender Haynes Manual
-1993 Land Rover Defender Parts Catalogue

Helio the Defender’s rear door is in really bad shape, like many Defender rear doors. The frame of the door itself is cracked and split in a number of places due to 30+ years of heavy weight from the wheel and tire. The inner part of the door bounces back and forth, constantly flexing and cracking more with every drive. The rear glass warps on every bump and I have to ensure to only gingerly close the rear door which currently sags and needs a lift to get into its latch. Also, with the oversized tire, it just pushes against the rear wiper making it in-operable. I did not want to just replace the door, It was time to find a robust upgrade.

Fig 1: Lajitas

Part 01 - The Setup

Step 01. Find and buy a spare wheel and tire carrier. As with any new purchase and especially one as costly I did months of research before I found what I was looking for. The tire carrier I went with was the Defender Spare Wheel Carrier from ORE 4x4 in the UK. I looked at stock upgrade variants, but I did not like that they still bolted to the aluminum body and were subject to their own premature failure and flexing over time. Some other solutions were entirely over-built for my taste. The design for Helio the Defender is to look as factory as possible, with only subtle improvements. The tire carrier from ORE fit the bill. Is it expensive? Yes. Over engineered? Absolutely. But, it is mercifully understated to the point you can hardly see it. It is over-wrought function, while maintaining a minimalist form. You can have your cake and eat it too.

Step 01: Find and buy a spare wheel and tire carrier.

Part 02 - The Job

Step 02. Remove interior trim to gain access to the inside of the rear door. We need to remove the cover over the rear wiper motor by removing a couple of screws, the trim plate covering the wiring on the left side, then all of the screws that hold the door panel in place. Now we can pull away the door panel and get a good look at guts of this rear door.

Step 03. Remove the rear spare wheel and tire. You can use your Defender’s tire iron or appropriate socket and set aside.

Step 04. Unscrew the stock tire carrier bolts. The stock tire carrier is held on by a bunch of #3 Phillips head bolts. The screws go through the plate on the outside and sandwich the door with a plate on the inside. Make sure you are using a #3 Phillips Head Screw Driver on these. If you use the more common #2 size you likely have a dozen of, you will strip out the screwhead. Most of the #3 screw drivers come with a much large handle to help keep the pressure and torque inside the larger screw head.

Step 05. Remove the stock tire carrier. The rear plate of the stock tire carrier has the rods that go through the door and the outer plate and secure the tire to the door. You will pull those through the outer plate and the door to remove.

Step 02: Remove interior trim to gain acess to the inside of the rear door.

Step 02 (cont.): Remove interior trim to gain acess to the inside of the rear door.

Step 03: Remove the spare wheel and tire.

Step 04: Unscrew the stock tire carrier bolts.

Step 05: Remove the stock tire carrier.

Step 06. Install the door plate. Using the existing holes from the stock tire carrier, install the door plate from the new kit. This plate does not hold any weight, but it does connect the tire carrier to the door so that the door can be simply opened and closed without first moving the tire carrier.

Step 07. Install the tire carrier. The new tire carrier from ORE is very simple in design but extremely strong. The single arm rides on a stem with two wheel bearings. The stem bolts to existing holes in the frame. Using the backing plate provided in the kit, run bolts through the tire carrier, the frame, and the backing plates before adding the washer and nut. Use a level to before tightening. It helps to have 4 hands for this part. Tighten and torque to spec.

Step 08. Install door to carrier linkage. This nifty linkage attaches the carrier to the rear door allowing the door to open and close with the tire carrier. It also holds the tire carrier’s big rubber stop against the rear plate, keeping everything tight against the body, without putting any downward weight on the door at all. It is also easily removed to allow the tire carrier to swing free if necessary.

Step 09. Install wheel mount on the carrier arm. Using the supplied hardware, bolt the wheel mount to the carrier arm.

Step 10. Mount the spare wheel and tire and reinstall interior trim.

Step 06: Install the door plate.

Step 07: Install the tire carrier.

Step 07 (cont.): Level the tire carrier.

Step 08: Install the door to carrier linkage.

Step 09: Install the wheel mount on the carrier arm.

Step 10: Mont the spare wheel and tire and reinstall interior trim.

Part 04 - The Result

Step 11. Enjoy! The spare tire carrier from ORE exceeded my expectations. It fits tight and close to the door, you can barely see it, and it is extremely strong. My door latches shut with only a finger of pressure! The latch is now nice and firm and all lined up. The door also now seals more effectively. All in all a great purchase, and will help Helio last for many more years.

Step 11: Enjoy!

Step 11 (cont.): A closer look.

Step 11 (cont.): Close mounting for a spare carrier.