for building a swingaway tire carrier? I'm gonna build one for my wildlife feeder! (no tire!)
I plan on it holding a max of 150lb.. My first thought is to use a HD iron gate hinge. These things are forged and stronger than my Mares breath.
My main thought is what to use for a latch that will hold without much bolting or otherwise problems getting the thing open and then shut again with the aforementioned 150lbs on it.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Check out this site for some latches or ideas for some.

Click the catalog link.
web page

Thanks Brown I scanned that place from end to end and didn't find anything that I thought would work well.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Have you considered the original latch that was used on a CJ tire swing-out tire carrier? You can get those used pretty cheap.

Nope! I'm tinking of a substantial latch to the bumper I will make..
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I don't know how quick the latch has to be, but...

The way my bumper swing-out tire carrier latches (made by Garwin) is... There is a vertical tab welded to the top rear edge of the left side of the bumper (pivot is on the right side), and there is a hole drilled in this tab, with a nut welded to the back of it.

On the swinging part, there is a corresponding tab with a hole drilled through it. When the swinging part is shut, the two tabs line up. A coarse-threaded bolt is put through the hole in the swinging part tab and it screws into the tab on the bumper. Instead of a hex head on the bolt, they have welded an oval loop to the bolt, and the loop is big enoudh to put the four fingers of your hand into. Makes it easy to screw in the bolt. The end of the bolt has a small hold drilled crossways through it, so that after the bolt is screwed in, you can snap a hitch pin through the hole to keep the bolt from backing out.

I know it sounds a lot more complicated that it is, but it's really easy and sturdy. It takes 5 to 10 seconds to latch it, which is a lot longer than a snap latch, but it's a lot sturdier.

Howdy Bob That is zackly what I have had in my mind... Unless I can find a quicker latch that is as sturdy.
I'm pretty sure a huge bolt would do that trick and last forever.
I even have some 1/2" stock tht I could drill and tap instead of welding a nut on there.
I was thinking of drilling thru both sides of the bottom bar for more lateral strength. I had thought of a handle..but the ring sounds Ok...If I can get the bend in there.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Jim, in casting about for ideas on how to make the ring, I came up with this. How about one of those things that mountain climbers use to snap their ropes together? I can't remember what they're called now.... Anyway, the really big ones are large enough to get your hand through, and a guy could weld it to the bolt, putting the hinged thingy against the bolt. A zap with the arc would permanently shut the hinged thingy. Don['t know what those things cost, but I suspect one would set you back between 10 and 20 bucks.

On the other hand, making one would be a cinch if you had some 5/16" or 3/8" round stock and an oxy-acetelene welder (arc wouldn't work). Put a couple of short pieces of 1" black pipe in a vise, with about 2 inches between them. Heat up the round stock with the torch and bend the stock around the two pipes and weld it shut. Get a 1/2" NC bolt of the appropriate length and weld the head of the bolt to the new oval ring. Drill a cross hole through the threads at the appropriaate length for the safety hitch pin. You should then have a bolt with a ring on the head, and the inside of the ring should measure about 1" x 4". Sound doable?

caribeaner(sp?)

That might work for a handle... I prolly have a couple of them stored in the wire rope area of my shop.
I will use a huge bolt cause I want the weld to be lasting and my welding on small stuff is ugly...most times.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />