Picture this: You’re miles deep on your favorite trail, the engine is humming, the scenery is epic, and then you feel it. That dreaded wobble. You pull over to find the unmistakable sight of a flat tire, its sidewall gashed by a sharp rock. The sun is starting to dip, and you’re a long way from the truck. This is the moment that separates a minor inconvenience from a trip-ending disaster.
For any serious rider, a flat isn’t a matter of if, but when. Tossing a spare in the bed eats up precious cargo space meant for coolers and gear, and an unsecured tire becomes a dangerous projectile in rough terrain. You need a dedicated solution that keeps your spare accessible, secure, and out of the way.
That solution is a purpose-built can am commander spare tire carrier. It’s more than just an accessory; it’s the single best piece of trail insurance you can buy.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know. We’ll cover the different types of carriers, walk you through a bulletproof installation process, and share some pro tips to keep your setup rattle-free for years to come. Let’s get your rig ready for anything the trail throws at it.
Why a Dedicated Can-Am Commander Spare Tire Carrier is Non-Negotiable
We’ve all seen it: a spare tire ratcheted down in the cargo bed, bouncing around and taking up half the usable space. While it might seem like a simple solution, it creates more problems than it solves. A dedicated carrier is an investment in safety, convenience, and the capability of your machine.
The core benefits of a can am commander spare tire carrier go far beyond just holding a tire. It’s about optimizing your entire setup for the realities of off-roading.
The Top 3 Benefits of a Proper Carrier
- Trail Preparedness and Peace of Mind: This is the big one. Knowing you have a functional, easily accessible spare tire lets you push further and explore more remote areas with confidence. No more cutting a ride short due to a simple puncture.
- Reclaiming Your Cargo Space: Your Commander’s bed is prime real estate. A tire carrier moves that bulky spare out of the bed, freeing up critical room for tool bags, recovery gear, coolers, and camping equipment. You get to bring what you need without compromise.
- Vehicle and Gear Protection: A loose 50-pound tire and wheel combo can do serious damage in a rollover or even on a rough trail. It can smash coolers, break gear, and even damage your machine’s bed or cage. A properly mounted carrier keeps it locked down and secure.
Choosing Your Weapon: Types of Spare Tire Carriers for the Commander
Not all carriers are created equal. The best choice for you depends on your riding style, other accessories, and personal preference. Let’s break down the most common styles you’ll find for the Can-Am Commander.
Bed-Mounted Carriers (Lay-Flat Style)
These carriers typically mount to the floor or sides of the cargo bed and hold the tire horizontally. They are a simple and effective solution.
Pros: They keep the vehicle’s center of gravity low and often allow the dump bed feature to remain fully functional. Accessing the tire is straightforward.
Cons: While they secure the tire, they still consume a significant portion of your bed’s footprint, making it difficult to haul large, flat items.
Roll Cage / In-Bed Upright Carriers
This is arguably the most popular style. These carriers mount to the factory roll cage behind the seats, holding the tire vertically and up high, out of the cargo bed.
Pros: This design preserves nearly 100% of your bed space for other gear. They also give your Commander an aggressive, “ready-for-anything” look.
Cons: The biggest drawback is that they can partially obstruct your rearview mirror’s line of sight. They also raise the center of gravity slightly, though the effect is minimal for most riders.
Rear Bumper / Tailgate Carriers
Similar to what you’d see on a Jeep, these carriers mount to the rear bumper or frame and swing out of the way to allow access to the tailgate and bed.
Pros: This style completely frees up your bed and doesn’t impact rear visibility. It offers the best of both worlds in terms of access and storage.
Cons: They add length to your vehicle, which can be a factor when loading onto a trailer. A poorly designed one can also put a lot of stress on the mounting points, so it’s crucial to buy from a reputable brand like SuperATV, Dragonfire Racing, or BRP.
How to Install a Can-Am Commander Spare Tire Carrier: A Step-by-Step Guide
Alright, you’ve picked your carrier. Now it’s time for the fun part. This section is your complete can am commander spare tire carrier guide for a clean, secure installation. While instructions vary slightly between brands, the core principles are the same.
Tools & Prep Work
Before you start, gather your tools. You don’t need a full professional shop, but having the right gear makes the job much smoother. You’ll likely need:
- A good socket set (metric)
- A set of combination wrenches
- A torque wrench (highly recommended)
- Allen keys or Torx bits (check your carrier’s hardware)
- Blue thread locker (like Loctite 242)
Safety First: Park your Commander on a level surface, put it in park, and set the parking brake. Giving yourself plenty of room to work around the machine is one of the best can am commander spare tire carrier best practices to follow.
The Installation Process (General Steps)
- Unbox and Inventory: Open the box and lay out all the parts. Compare them against the instruction manual’s parts list to ensure nothing is missing before you start turning wrenches.
- Identify Mounting Points: Familiarize yourself with where the carrier will attach. For a cage-mounted carrier, this will be the rear down-tubes of the factory roll cage. For bed-mounted styles, it will be the factory mounting locations in the cargo box.
- Loosely Assemble: If the carrier comes in multiple pieces, assemble them loosely. Don’t tighten any bolts all the way yet. This gives you wiggle room for final alignment.
- Position and Attach: Carefully lift the carrier into position. Start all the mounting bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading. For cage-mounted versions, the clamps will wrap around the roll bars. Snug them up, but don’t fully tighten yet.
- Check Alignment and Clearances: With the carrier loosely in place, check for proper alignment. Make sure it’s centered and level. If you have a dump bed, operate it to ensure the carrier doesn’t interfere with its movement.
- Torque to Spec: This is a critical step. Using your torque wrench, tighten all hardware to the manufacturer’s specified torque values. Start with the main frame mounts and work your way to the smaller bolts. Apply a drop of blue thread locker to each bolt before final tightening to prevent vibrations from loosening them on the trail.
- Mount Your Spare: Lift your spare tire onto the carrier’s studs and secure it with the provided lug nuts. Tighten them down just like you would on a vehicle—snug them in a star pattern, then give them a final tightening. Give the whole assembly a good shake to ensure it’s rock solid.
Common Problems with Can-Am Commander Spare Tire Carriers (and How to Fix Them)
Even the best gear can have issues if not installed or maintained correctly. Here are a few common problems with can am commander spare tire carrier setups and the simple fixes to keep your rig quiet and reliable.
Annoying Rattles and Squeaks
There’s nothing worse than a persistent rattle ruining a quiet ride. 99% of the time, this is caused by a loose bolt.
The Fix: Go over every single nut and bolt on the carrier with your torque wrench and re-torque to spec. If a rattle persists, identify the metal-on-metal contact point and consider adding a small piece of dense rubber or foam tape as a buffer.
Rust and Corrosion
Your carrier lives outside and gets blasted with mud, water, and rocks. Scratches in the powder coat are inevitable, and they can lead to rust.
The Fix: After every wash, inspect the carrier for deep scratches or chips. Clean the area and touch it up with a bit of black satin spray paint or a paint pen. This simple step can prevent rust from ever taking hold.
Interference with Other Accessories
You bought a sleek new cargo box or cooler rack, only to find it won’t fit with your spare tire carrier. This is a frustrating but common issue.
The Fix: Plan ahead! Before buying any major accessory for the rear of your Commander, double-check its compatibility with your specific tire carrier model. Forums and manufacturer websites are great resources for this.
The Long Haul: Your Can-Am Commander Spare Tire Carrier Care Guide
Proper care ensures your investment lasts as long as your machine. Following a simple can am commander spare tire carrier care guide is all it takes.
Regular Inspection Checklist
Before every big ride, or at least once a month, give your carrier a quick once-over. It only takes 60 seconds.
- Shake Test: Grab the mounted tire and give it a firm shake. There should be no significant play or clunking.
- Bolt Check: Visually inspect all the mounting bolts to ensure they look tight and haven’t backed out.
- Weld Inspection: Look at the major weld joints for any signs of cracking or stress. This is rare on quality carriers but is good practice.
- Tire Pressure: Check the pressure in your spare tire! A spare with 0 PSI is just dead weight.
A Sustainable Approach to Off-Roading
When we talk about a sustainable can am commander spare tire carrier, we’re talking about longevity. The most eco-friendly product is the one you don’t have to replace. By performing the simple maintenance checks above, you ensure your carrier lasts for thousands of miles.
An eco-friendly can am commander spare tire carrier practice is simply taking care of your gear. Touching up a paint chip prevents rust that could lead to failure, saving steel and energy. It’s about adopting a mindset of “repair and maintain” over “replace and discard,” which is the cornerstone of responsible off-roading.
Frequently Asked Questions About Can-Am Commander Spare Tire Carriers
Will adding a spare tire carrier affect my Commander’s handling?
Yes, but minimally. You are adding 40-60 pounds of weight. If you choose a high-mounted roll cage carrier, you will slightly raise the center of gravity. Most recreational riders won’t notice a difference, but aggressive drivers might. If your suspension feels too soft after installation, you can often compensate by increasing the preload on your shock springs.
Can I use a tire carrier designed for another UTV model?
It’s a very bad idea. Carriers are engineered specifically for the frame and roll cage dimensions of a particular model. Using a carrier from a Polaris RZR or another machine on your Commander will result in an improper, unsafe fit that could fail on the trail.
What size tire can I fit on a typical carrier?
Most carriers are designed to accommodate the stock tire size and many common aftermarket sizes (e.g., up to 30″ or 32″). However, if you are running exceptionally large or heavy tires, you must check the carrier’s maximum rated tire size and weight capacity before you buy. Overloading a carrier can lead to catastrophic failure.
Do I need to upgrade my suspension for a spare tire?
For just a stock spare tire and wheel, an upgrade is usually not necessary. However, if you are also loading your machine with hundreds of pounds of other gear (coolers, tools, winches, passengers), the combined weight might warrant upgrading your springs to handle the load and restore your factory ride height.
A can am commander spare tire carrier is one of the most practical and essential upgrades you can make. It provides the ultimate peace of mind, frees up valuable space, and prepares your machine for real-world off-road challenges.
By choosing the right style for your needs, installing it correctly, and performing simple routine checks, you’ll have a reliable piece of equipment that will serve you for every adventure to come.
Now get that carrier mounted, hit the trails with confidence, and never let a flat tire end your day. Stay safe and ride hard!
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