It all started with the purchase of Carli's 2017 F250 Super Duty… Carli's previous 2011 had no issue with a full size (I'm talking Carli's full-size - 37×13.5") tire fitting in the factory location. This was new territory for us as the RAM platform with which we're so familiar wouldn't even allow a 35 in the factory location without contacting the axle center-section to the tire sidewall on full compression of the rear suspension. The 2011-16 Fords spoiled us. Once Carli got through the R&D on Carli's 2.5" Lift Ford Systems for the 17+ "Alumiduty" platform, Carli went to throw in a full size spare to match Carli's 37×13.5" Toyo R/T and, much to Carli's surprise, it took a floor jack to wedge it into the factory location. This wasn't even an aggressive mud terrain, what gives, Ford??
It may not have been easy to get in and required deflation to remove (and carrying a compressor to inflate) but it was doable. Fast forward to the 4.5" System Development and the monstrous Super Duty Wheel Wells exhibited by Carli's customers posting pictures of their 40" meats on Carli's production 4.5" systems and Carli knew something had to be done. These customers claimed only "minor trimming" to fit the 40's so Carli stepped up to 38" x 13.5" M/T knowing full well that, unlike most, we'd be cycling the FULL length of travel and doing it often so it was best to err on the side of caution when stuffing bigger tires. They were a success - very minimal trimming tucked the 38" without issue but the spare was ratchet strapped in the bed as there was no way to fit it under the bed. Not sure you'd want to crank it into the factory hitch even if it would fit - Carli saw video evidence of two of Carli's customers running whoop sections dropping their oversized spare tires from the bottom of the bed thanks to a broken factory winch cable. The factory winch cable is far from party-rated!
Sage Carli is an avid camper and hunter; most trips, these activities are in extremely remote locations and the pickup bed becomes both his hotel room and supply house. Carli experimented with several options, back bumper with a swing out? Naw, who the hell wants to lift a 38" mounted spare if they don't have to; also, how do you build it strong enough to withstand movement when abusing it as hard as Carli do? For fun, he started looking to the factory hitch and found that there was sufficient room between the frame rails to mount the tire but the factory hitch would have to go. This allowed him to solve several issues - the factory safety chain mechanism is a nightmare. Sage kept the factory design but eased installation of the chain to the hitch. the construction of the hitch is massively strong, boxed 1/4" cold-rolled steel where it matters and powder-coated for corrosion resistance. It maintains the factory spare tire winch to raise and lower the tire but includes a custom 3-Way Ratchet strap and 3 Heavy Duty D Rings to secure the tire in place once the winch gets it into position and unload the weight from the factory cable.
Features:
- Direct Bolt in, Rated to 16,000lbs., 3" Hitch Receiver
- 3/16" and 1/4" Cold-Rolled American Steel
- Utilizes Factory Winch + 3-way Tie-Down to Secure Spare
- 38" Spare Tire in the Factory Location
- May Require Exhaust Modification
- Requires 5/8" x 4" (usable shank) Hitch Pin
- Fitment: 2017+ F250/F350
The following hitch tests (and results) were performed in accordance with the standard:
In short, the hitched passed all tests in accordance to the existing SAE standard with flying colors and the people in business to test the hitch to failure couldn't break it. I guess we'll throw that one in the win column!
It all started with the purchase of Carli's 2017 F250 Super Duty… Carli's previous 2011 had no issue with a full size (I'm talking Carli's full-size - 37×13.5") tire fitting in the factory location. This was new territory for us as the RAM platform with which we're so familiar wouldn't even allow a 35 in the factory location without contacting the axle center-section to the tire sidewall on full compression of the rear suspension. The 2011-16 Fords spoiled us. Once Carli got through the R&D on Carli's 2.5" Lift Ford Systems for the 17+ "Alumiduty" platform, Carli went to throw in a full size spare to match Carli's 37×13.5" Toyo R/T and, much to Carli's surprise, it took a floor jack to wedge it into the factory location. This wasn't even an aggressive mud terrain, what gives, Ford??
It may not have been easy to get in and required deflation to remove (and carrying a compressor to inflate) but it was doable. Fast forward to the 4.5" System Development and the monstrous Super Duty Wheel Wells exhibited by Carli's customers posting pictures of their 40" meats on Carli's production 4.5" systems and Carli knew something had to be done. These customers claimed only "minor trimming" to fit the 40's so Carli stepped up to 38" x 13.5" M/T knowing full well that, unlike most, we'd be cycling the FULL length of travel and doing it often so it was best to err on the side of caution when stuffing bigger tires. They were a success - very minimal trimming tucked the 38" without issue but the spare was ratchet strapped in the bed as there was no way to fit it under the bed. Not sure you'd want to crank it into the factory hitch even if it would fit - Carli saw video evidence of two of Carli's customers running whoop sections dropping their oversized spare tires from the bottom of the bed thanks to a broken factory winch cable. The factory winch cable is far from party-rated!
Sage Carli is an avid camper and hunter; most trips, these activities are in extremely remote locations and the pickup bed becomes both his hotel room and supply house. Carli experimented with several options, back bumper with a swing out? Naw, who the hell wants to lift a 38" mounted spare if they don't have to; also, how do you build it strong enough to withstand movement when abusing it as hard as Carli do? For fun, he started looking to the factory hitch and found that there was sufficient room between the frame rails to mount the tire but the factory hitch would have to go. This allowed him to solve several issues - the factory safety chain mechanism is a nightmare. Sage kept the factory design but eased installation of the chain to the hitch. the construction of the hitch is massively strong, boxed 1/4" cold-rolled steel where it matters and powder-coated for corrosion resistance. It maintains the factory spare tire winch to raise and lower the tire but includes a custom 3-Way Ratchet strap and 3 Heavy Duty D Rings to secure the tire in place once the winch gets it into position and unload the weight from the factory cable.
Features:
- Direct Bolt in, Rated to 16,000lbs., 3" Hitch Receiver
- 3/16" and 1/4" Cold-Rolled American Steel
- Utilizes Factory Winch + 3-way Tie-Down to Secure Spare
- 38" Spare Tire in the Factory Location
- May Require Exhaust Modification
- Requires 5/8" x 4" (usable shank) Hitch Pin
- Fitment: 2017+ F250/F350
The following hitch tests (and results) were performed in accordance with the standard:
In short, the hitched passed all tests in accordance to the existing SAE standard with flying colors and the people in business to test the hitch to failure couldn't break it. I guess we'll throw that one in the win column!
