Quick Take: The Rig’d Supply UltraSwing is a rugged, brilliantly engineered tire carrier that gets your spare out from under your vehicle and provides a platform for a wide range of problem-solving accessories.
It wasn’t long ago that SUV actually meant sport utility vehicle. Part of this utility was a factory-mounted tire carrier that put the spare in an accessible location. As SUVs became the station wagons of the new millennium, most manufacturers chose to cram their spares under the vehicle. This isn’t an issue when AAA is coming to change your tire in a strip mall parking lot, but it does pose a significant shortcoming to those of us who run larger-than-stock tires and choose to leave the pavement.
Not long ago, I tore a pretty sizable hole in one of my tires while ascending a hill covered with sharp ledges. As a result of the undulations, the back of my 4Runner had too little clearance from the bottom of the spare tire to the ground. There physically wasn’t enough vertical space to get the now very much needed spare tire out from under the vehicle. Thankfully we were able to limp the vehicle to a relatively flat area where we could access the spare and safely change it. That experience re-affirmed my need to find an alternate mounting solution for my spare.
I found that solution to my spare tire woes at one of the Overland Expo events last year. I had wandered into the Rig’d Supply booth to check out their wedge system that was generating some buzz at the event. After an extended conversation with one of their engineers and a fair bit of time checking out the UltraSwing options, I left thinking that it might just be the solution I was looking for and perhaps solve several other shortcomings I’ve spent years working around, such as carrying my fuel cans inside the vehicle for lack of a better option.
The UltraSwing
First Impressions
The UltraSwing and the accessories I ordered to upfit it showed up at my door in a nicely designed shipping box festooned throughout with the Rig’d logo. Inside, each component was in its own, smaller box, likewise branded and clearly labelled and nested together. While the packing doesn’t directly effect the function of the tire carrier, it was clear from that first moment that a lot of care and attention to detail had been put into how the Rig’d gear was packaged. In an overland gear sort of way, it reminded me of the experience of opening my first iPhone box — it was a purposeful, thoughtful presentation. That care, attention to detail, and clear engineering would pervade my experience throughout my time with the UltraSwing. As I unpacked each component, there was a reassuring heft to each part, and all of the steel was wrapped in one of the nicest powder coat finishes I’d seen in a long time.
Assembly and Installation
Assembly and installation were a relatively straightforward and painless process. The Rig’d folks offer both printed instructions and video tutorials for most of the major components they offer. Most of the assembly is intuitive, and where I was unsure about something, I bounced back and forth between the instructions and the videos. I did struggle with two things, both of which turned out to be of my own making. The first was simply mixing up some of the fasteners that were sent in separate bags for a reason. Rookie move, I opened multiple bags at one time and immediately lost track of which bolts of which length went with what. Don’t do that.
The second was that I didn’t evenly grease the wedge that marries the UltraSwing to the hitch receiver. The system works by tightening a bolt accessed through the center of the receiver that pulls a wedge up the angled end of the tire carrier. As it is torqued down, the wedge tightens against the interior of the receiver, functionally merging it with the structure of the vehicle. It is a brilliant design that is truly impressive. Sadly, it’s hidden in the receiver, so it gets a bit overshadowed by other aspects of the UltraSwing design.
Where I struggled was that as I torqued the bolt up to spec, the assembly would ever so slightly rotate in the receiver, which would misalign the holes for the hitch pin between the receiver and the mount. I spent at least an hour struggling to get the alignment to work, all the while rather “colorfully” muttering to myself and thoroughly convincing my neighbors that they might be living next to a crazy person. Giving up, I called the Rig’d Supply support line and talked to an incredibly patient and helpful person who troubleshot the issue with me, concluding that the lateral movement was caused by an uneven application of the grease required between the two sliding surfaces. Sure enough, that was it, and after a quick regrease, all was right with the world again.
READ MORE: Editors’ Choice: Best Overlanding Tires
Using the UltraSwing
With that, the UltraSwing was in place, and it was time to start using it. (I was tempted to say “kick the tires” right there, but I avoided the dad joke.) The swing out is held in place with a two-component system – the UltraLatch and a large retention pin that acts as a belt to the latch’s suspenders when closed. The UltraLatch is another engineering feat that deserves some admiration. It is a beautifully machined latch and handle system with the latter being wrapped in a soft-touch knurled rubber and bright red anodized set of trim pieces. While it requires a little bit of force to open and close, the latch system does a brilliant job of stabilizing the swing arm against the rest of the UltraSwing and holding it in tension. Through high-speed freeway driving and spirited offroad time, I never heard an inkling of a rattle or any other evidence of movement. Through the combination of the wedge mount and the latch, I was never reminded that I had something hanging off the back of my vehicle.
The arm of the swing out is similarly well designed and built. When open, the large, barrel-style hinge firmly holds the swing arm in position. Though there are four open positions the arm can be locked into with the use of the same pin that augments the UltraLatch, I never felt the need to use it. The rotating mount simply doesn’t move unless you move it. After seeing far too many tire carriers free swinging and occasionally damaging the back of their vehicle or its neighbor, it’s nice to know this one isn’t going anywhere.
An Overlanding Multi-Tool
While the tire mount is the main attraction, the system has a lot to offer to the overlander looking to augment their rig’s capabilities. The addition of the SideHack provides a modular mounting system that extends beyond the tire and is the basis for much of the expandability of the UltraSwing. In its stock configuration, it adds a Molle panel that provides a convenient mounting location for a small gear bag such as their own TrailPouch, or in my case something like my Blue Ridge Overland Kitchen Kit bag. Whether holding kitchen gear or tire tools and air lines, it provides a convenient and easily accessible place for such items.
If you remove the molle panel part of the SideHack, Rig’d has a jerry can holder for either a 20L fuel or water container (the direction I went with the kit). Alternately, you can keep the molle plate or forego the SideHack altogether and mount a Rotopax in their 2, 3.5, and 4 gallon varieties behind the tire. There are also options for mounting a High Lift, MaxTrax, and a few other accessories.
Further expansion is available through its dual hitch system. With the UltraSwing installed, you don’t lose access to your tow hitch. Extending out from the vehicle receiver is another receiver built into the tire carrier that is rated for up to 10,000 lbs. and 1000 lbs. of tongue weight. That’s significantly over the towing capacity of my vehicle and gives me the ability to pull a trailer without demounting the tire carrier. There is a second receiver built into the swing arm itself primarily intended for installing a bike carrier, such as their own RambleRack. (Which as an aside is very much worth a look if you are in the market for a bike carrier with or without the UltraSwing.)
The UltraTable
My aversion to camp setup and tear down had led me to my favorite of Rig’d’s options, the UltraTable. Having a camp table that you can deploy in just a few seconds is the ultimate in lazy camp luxury. The fact that it is extraordinarily well made is just icing on the proverbial cake for me. The table is made of a thick aluminum backplate powder coated to match the rest of the system. The drop-down table is made of brushed stainless steel that looks beautiful and is of food grade construction. Tucked into the stainless-steel table is a full-length cutting board that effectively doubles the size of the table. The cutting board is made of BPA-free, food-grade plastic. Between the two, there is plenty of room for a two-burner camp stove while leaving a decently-sized prep space. The UltraTable has largely replaced my usual camp table when adventuring alone.
Like the UltraSwing itself, the table is rigidly mounted and doesn’t make a sound, even on washboard roads. The fold down component is firmly held in place with a stainless steel latch that doubles as a bottle opener, which in turn holds the panel tight against rubber bumpers.
Takeaways
The Rig’d UltraSwing tire carrier is a rugged, brilliantly engineered tire carrier that provides a platform for a wide range of problem-solving accessories. For me it has ticked all the boxes of what I had hoped for in getting my spare out from under my vehicle and offering a good bit of additional utility along the way. The fact that it is built like a tank, is mounted to my 4Runner as though it were part of the frame, and works remarkably well, has me suspecting that it will be a fixture on my future builds. If you are looking to bring the utility back to your SUV, the UltraSwing system is well worth looking at.
What to Know
UltraSwing
- Available in 3 sizes to fit most vehicles – Mega-Fit, Multi-Fit, and Short-Fit
- Capacity: Supports up to a combined weight of 250 lbs. (275 lbs. for the Mega-Fit model)
- Weight: 65 lbs. with wheel plate
- Integrated Receiver: SAE J684-2014 Tow Rated lower receiver (Class 4- 10,000 lbs/1,000 lb tongue)
- Finish: Zinc prime with a black powder coat finish
- Tire Fitment: Up to 35″ (Short-Fit), 37″ (Multi-Fit), 40″ (Mega-Fit)
- Price: $1599 ($1650 for Mega-Fit model)
UltraTable
- Weight with Mounting Bracket: 22 lbs.
- Static Load Capacity on Table: 125 lbs.
- Table Surface: 25 ½ inches x 13 inches
- Cutting board surface: 17 ½ inches x 12 ¾ inches
- Table material: Food grade stainless steel
- Cutting Board Material: FDA approved food-grade, BPA free
- Price: $399
