fixing a wheel carrier to the front i've heard the phrase rivnuts, after a disaster with a crap e-bay purchase for the worst rear carrier ever made the only option i can think is to fit a front one, there are already holes in the front where it obviously had one years ago but after pulling the grommets out there's just holes - i'd also guess you can't get to the rear to use nuts and bolts as an exploratory prod with a screwdriver meets the heater box? are there any other options than buying a rivnut thing and some inserts - could i for example just rivet the carrier on or is that not strong enough?
Might have to be a heater box out jobby then mate. Rivnuts are good but I wouldn't fancy them holding a wheel on the front. Not with the thickness of metal. But come to think of it. Blind rivets may do the job?
the pic on the just kampers site looks like it uses rivnuts, the heater box out isn't gonna happen! i think a decent rivet should be ok then, still undecided to be honest - i don't really like them on the front.
..... In fact, think I've got loads, you can have some if you give me your address, I'll just double check in the garage.
You can't remove the fresh air box anyway (it's welded on), so it's got to be blind fasteners from the front. I wouldn't, meself.
You can usually get to the 2 lower holes and at a push the top ones with a long spanner and something sticky to hold the nut and washer on.
ahhhh maybe an idea - i didn't really look too hard as i need to remove the kick panels and the polystyrene stuff to see, good thinking batman.
Its about a tenner for a cheap one if you decide to go that route, I have just found a rust free front mount too if you havent already got one.
cheers mate, i have the front mount - i'll have a look at the idea of bolts on a long spanner at the weekend or maybe one night.
I used to have the square type carrier on the front of the last bus. That came with four rivnut type inserts and I USED TO STAND ON THE WHEEL to get to the roof rack. It was fine! Which carrier do you have?. I know you are patient but cant imagine it being possible to hold a nut on the inside. Make sure the rivnuts are nice and tight in the holes as they have a tendancy to spin when your trying to squash them up. What size holes are they (what size bolts will you use) i might have a couple of 6 mm and possibly 8mm ones kicking around. I recommend the correct pliers to do them tbh!
Mine used to be pop rivited on the front and it hadent moved for years even when someone stood on the wheel to climb on the roofrack for a better view The front panel did dent in though
Didn't think they were rivnuts , more like those plaster board heavy duty things that collapes as you tighten them up and stops them pulling out .
yup , Ilu1281 ,that's wot I thought they were ,I bot a bracket ,it came with the nec. fittings/fasteners, spoke for ages with fella who was to fit it re poss it falling off, he opinioned if they fell off Co. selling kit would most likely not sell many ,which kinda makes sense , mine been fitted to front 9 years now and seems solid enough ,hell ! (fat) Jack my cat sits on wheel, no doubt wondering "why? ,just why? does he bother ?
if you look at the just kampers one it looks the same as the one i have that looks like it comes with some sort of collapsable nut which is knurled to grip the hole.
you could use an aerosol tyre repair kit and if that fails call a recovery service (waits to be shot down in flames) as punctures don't happen that often and front mounted spare wheels spoil the aerodynamics of the whole T2 transporter streamlined design (and look less than fab IMHO) that all said I have the original spare in the place god (aka Westfalia Werks) intended in a special little cupboard behind the drivers seat.
