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[oilstain]

Whats the best place to store your spare wheel in a 88" station wagon
Mine is upright behind the rear bulkhead but it takes a lot of space, with a 7" rim and 235/85 tyre.

The options I have thought of are-
-On the rear door, but it breaks the door
-On a rack on the rear door, but the best ones are very expensive
-On the bonnet, but hard to see over it and hurt when it slams down on you
-At home in the shed, and hope for the best
- Flat on the rear floor, but no passenger leg room
-On a roof rack - but you need to be stronger than me
- Inside on a rear wheel arch
- Buy a 109" and sell the 88"

Any other ideas

[oilstain]

Just seen this auction: #372073445361 

[22900013A]

Genuine station wagons didn't have the internal mount as it fouls the seats.

The bonnet mount is not as bad as people make out, so long as you don't go too big with tyres, but I've had a 900x16 on my bonnet for ages without issue.

[Wittsend]

When out and about in Norfolk the spare wheel stays at home.

If I venture further afield the spare goes on the bonnet.
Inconvenient if you have to lift the bonnet it's a 3  job.

When I get to my destination, the spare is rolled off the bonnet until it's time to go home.
I like the spare on the bonnet, the extra weight helps calm the springs down (mines a SWB model).
And there shape helps deflect some of the air around the windscreen.

I have a Safari Station Wagon rear door with a spare wheel mount.
I moved this over to the driver's side by 2" to allow my fingers/hand to open the rear door.
With a big 7.50 wheel it partially hides the door handle.
Not happy carrying the spare on the rear door for the reasons stated ^^^

It is my plan to add a 3rd door hinge to take some of the load off the others.

 

[island dormy]

  Hi

  On the Bonnet it just looks right, people just love that feature at car shows.

  Victor

[Wittsend]

I protect the wheel with a cover.
That works OK, but if it rains in the night, water puddles in the cover - and this wets the screen for ages as you drive along 
The solution is to cut a board that fits the rim so the water can't sag into a puddle.
You get extra storage space in the spare wheel well, you can keep a tow rope and straps in there.

Not so easy if the wheel is on the rear door.

 

[genocache]

So to take ypur points 1 x 1;
I've not seen a rear door broken by the tire in my 48 years of ownership, other than when the tire catches on something fourwheeling because it is mounted too low. (my rear door is skinned in steel for just this reason, by a PO, and I raised the mount position.)
Make your own rack to keep costs down?
I am 5'9" and see over the tire on the bonnet just fine, at 70 years old Never dropped on on my
What use is it in the shed?
Do you carry passengers often that when on the floor they complain? Put it on the bonnet when carrying passengers
I agree about the roof rack, need a hoist......
Inside on an arch eliminates the number of aforementioned passengers
If you carry lots of passengers the last may be the best solution.

[Exile]

I agree with Genocache.

Inside on the rear floor.

On the bonnet when needs must.

[gvo416j R.I.P.]

-On the rear door, but it breaks the door

Does it really

I have seen many a broken rear door which has carried a spare wheel in the UK, but I have never seen a broken one without corrosion either.

Which came first??  the cracks in the steel, or the corrosion which weakened the steel to such an extent it could not do the job.

We need some input from an area of the world where rust is not such a problem.

[oilstain]

Genuine station wagons didn't have the internal mount as it fouls the seats.

As you say, mine is not a genuine SW, I was just trying to say I had SW rear door.

On my 86" SW I have the wheel on the bonnet but with a 205/70 not such a problem but the 235/85 are a bit high for a short driver

[rosinante]

Homemade tailgate using old disco wheel carrier , original tailgate hinges anti luce chains etc , new longer imperial
bolts etc , easy to lift up and down , easier than the bonnet for sure , can be removed and replaced without climbing in the back ,  I use a bungy between chains to ensure they don't get trapped , pic attached , would work with full, canvass or catflap hard top
Chris

[rosinante]

Whoops just noticed it was for a CSW,
Sorry

[g6anz]

I keep mine on the bonnet (750 R 16). No problem although it took some getting used to. I leave it on when I lift the bonnet and use a length of 22mm copper pipe to add to the standard prop. I wouldn't trust the standard prop with the weight

[TimV]

I got a rear door wheel carrier second-hand, best investment I made. The spare (7.5x16) takes up a huge amount of space inside the car.

[Alan Drover]

I certainly wouldn't like to lift the bonnet with a 6 stone Wolf wheel and G90 on it or stick my head under the bonnet with that weight hanging above me or to try and get the wheel up there on the first place. The same with a rear door mount. The spare lives inside against the bulkhead out of the sun and thieving fingers. I can get it in and out by rolling it  against the rear cross member.
I can carry it under one arm but I couldn't lift it higher.