Oh, that front end is nasty. And the spare is just tacked on. It just gets worse. (JMO, before anyone slays me)

I assume you're referring to the Ecosport? Since yes that does have an extremely unfortunate looking nose.

I also think there is legislation that you have to be able to see both rear lights from any angle now? Hence these things went out of fashion. But how to explain this picture of the Ecosport then?!

http://autos.sympatico.ca/docs/sizes/506463bf95a1c/medium/135235-medium-14_2013_Ford_Ecosport_Paris_motor_show.jpg

You clearly can't see both sets of rear lights from that angle!

I assume you're referring to the Ecosport? Since yes that does have an extremely unfortunate looking nose.

Sorry, Johann - yes, that one. You are very kind about its nose.

And here I am thinking that there's some very talented photoshop users participating on this thread.

Wasn't there an SUV that had the external spare mounted on a frame hinged at the side so that it swung out of the way?

tom

Mercedes ML.

Sent using Tapatalk from my Phone

I also think there is legislation that you have to be able to see both rear lights from any angle now? Hence these things went out of fashion. But how to explain this picture of the Ecosport then?!

http://autos.sympati..._motor_show.jpg

You clearly can't see both sets of rear lights from that angle!

For many years now, you must be able to see the rear lights of a car when the rear hatch/tailgate or whatever is open.

Land Rover got it very wrong with the original Disco when the type approval was refused because the spare wheel obscured the offside rear light cluster when the side hinged door was open. The remedy was a swift modification to put a duplicate set of tail lights & indicators in the rear bumpers - later Series 1 Discos had them just in the bumper, and of course they eventually slung the spare under the rear of the car.

So, unless they design an extremely strong power operated hatch that opens vertically with the spare wheel attached (very unlikely), the mounting of the spare wheel on the hatch is out of the question without also changing the configuration of the rear lights.

Edited 9 March, 201313 yr by speedsport

For many years now, you must be able to see the rear lights of a car when the rear hatch/tailgate or whatever is open.

Land Rover got it very wrong with the original Disco when the type approval was refused because the spare wheel obscured the offside rear light cluster when the side hinged door was open. The remedy was a swift modification to put a duplicate set of tail lights & indicators in the rear bumpers - later Series 1 Discos had them just in the bumper, and of course they eventually slung the spare under the rear of the car.

So THAT'S why they always looked like a hash-up - because they were! I always wondered about that lighting set-up.

It also explains the lighting on the new car I have recently ordered - an Audi A1. The light clusters are in the hatch and lift up with the hatch, but behind the hatch are a secondary set of lights that are active when the boot it lifted.

My parents' old Daihatsu Fourtrak had a hinged wheel carrier, but as said this also had a side-hinged rear door. The wheel carrier was something of a nuisance when the car was hitched to a horse trailer, as it made access to the rear door difficult; at a horse event you always stay hitched but need constant access to the boot to get tack and other paraphernalia - you could guarantee that you were always the wrong side of the car to open the door and then, once you;d walked around the trailer to get the door open, you had to squeeze the saddle in and out through a partially-open door.

If you were going on a long trek with a roof load I see no reason why the roof isn't a good place to put one. What about those Thule bike racks for the back - they swing down to access a hatch so surely it isn't beyond the wit of man to do similar with a wheel frame? Maybe have a towbar-mounted one?