Porsche Cayenne Project: Installing A Swingout Spare Tire & Gas Can Mount

Every off-road rig needs a full-sized spare and a few extra gallons of gas, if just for peace of mind.

The plan when I bought a 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo with 115,000 miles on the clock included off-roading and ski-season storm chasing from the get-go. The summer tires that the previous owner installed, however, fit Porsche's roadgoing intentions for the Cayenne more than my own schemes, so one of the first steps I took to transform the Cayenne's capabilities came in the form of Toyo Open Country A/T III tires.

Because stepping up to 31-inch tires rendered the collapsible spare in the trunk no longer a match, I needed to figure out some way to carry a full-sized spare. Rooftop solutions seemed less secure than ideal for a car that largely lives in Los Angeles, while also compromising aerodynamics and adding additional weight up high, so a rear trailer hitch-mounted spare tire carrier entered the mix. After researching the options currently available, I decided to make the leap and shell out an intimidating sum of $1,369.49 (including shipping) for a high-quality piece from Eurowise, the Cayenne, Touareg, and Q7 specialist outfit located in North Carolina.

Eurowise sells tons of gear for modifying Cayennes for off-roading and overlanding, including an impressively beefy engine skid plate I also installed as underbody armor. When the spare carrier arrived in an enormous, heavy box, some assembly required gave me the chance to inspect the build quality up close.

I ordered the carrier with an optional fold-down table, even though Eurowise also sells mounts for Jerry cans, because I figured I could cobble together a gas can mount myself similar to what I made for my 1998 Mitsubishi Montero—and I doubted my ability to replicate the Eurowise table setup. Altogether, the assembly process proved fairly simple, though a few specialty tools make the job much easier.

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The first tool on the rarer end of the spectrum helps to mount the base of the spare carrier into the Cayenne's trailer hitch (my truck left the factory with the optional towing package). An expanding bolt system inside the hitch helps to secure the carrier in place and prevent wobbles, though actually tightening the device requires a long socket extension (or two) and a 10-millimeter hex-head driver. Much like many other similar products, the Eurowise design also includes a new two-inch trailer hitch just above the original, ostensibly to allow for an improved departure angle.

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The entire carrier weighs over 40 pounds, plus the weight of a wheel and tire combination and my planned gas can. As an additional preventative measure to keep the entire setup from rocking, bouncing, or rattling, Eurowise includes another plate-style stabilizer. I tried to figure out a way to install this upside down, just to prevent any hardware from dropping when loose, but ended up going with the intended method. The Eurowise instructions included torque specs for only some components, not the stabilizer, so I plan to double check the nuts regularly.

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After installing the base on the trailer hitch, I then used two massive sockets to install the hinge for the swingout arm. Finding two that fit 1⅛ inches maxed out my tool supplies but a monkey wrench might do the trick, if slightly less easily than using a large ratchet and my wheel lug nut breaker bar.

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Holding the swingarm in place, a solid handle with a safety catch arrived perfectly adjusted to fit snugly without requiring too much effort. This part matches the rest of the assembly and feels relatively over-engineered—all the better since off-roading will cover the whole package in dirt, dust, and snow-season grime. A little oil along the way may become necessary.

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Assembling the folding table requires only a 10-millimeter socket and three small bolts. As the only option that I dithered over when considering a purchase, I found myself happy with the design, since I can still open the rear hatch without worrying about hitting the table when folded up or down. And whenever I finally get around to building out a sleeping platform in the Cayenne's rear cargo area, the table will match quite nicely.

For Eurowise customers who find the table unnecessary, optional RotoPax fuel can mounts fit between the rest of the carrier and the Cayenne's trunk hatch. Instead, I decided to attach a mount usually intended for the Jeep Wrangler but designed to work universally depending on lug stud layout. Unlike the Montero's six-lug pattern, the Cayenne's wheels fit the mount perfectly without requiring any drilling.

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I used the LOX mounting system from RotoPax, which includes a visible locking cylinder in the hopes of deterring gas can theft. After all, these components don't come cheap! But in some ways, the locking cylinder feels like a bit of a joke, since anyone clever with an allen key can disassemble the entire setup in about 20 seconds. A cover for the keyhole might protect against the elements but leaving it exposed provides the easily visual theft deterrent element—a tough tradeoff.

With the universal mount installed, I did decide to weld the movable lower studs on the Eurowise carrier in place to prevent them from spinning while tightening down lug nuts to hold the wheel in place. I also used an angle grinder to trim the length of the center connection piece and move the can about 1.5 inches closer to the wheel and tire, though that decision depends on your wheels and tires (also your personal aesthetic preferences).

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Strangely, Eurowise sent the carrier with three conical lug nuts even though Porsche uses ball-seat nuts. Hoping to avoid damaging the wheel itself, I ordered a set of three ball-seat nuts from FCP Euro—I cannot recommend these specifically for holding a wheel on an actual hub while driving, as they feel super flimsy, but they should do just fine for holding on a spare (never tighten your spare too much, since dealing with a flat already causes enough frustration).

A few additional purchases to improve the gas can's security and reliability include a cable lock to wind and wrap through the large carrier and gas can handles because the RotoPax design is so easily defeated, plus a backup venting spout from Scepter, which I learned makes a higher quality spout than RotoPax when I used my Montero's can and the RotoPax spout cracked immediately. If any option better than the RotoPax and FuelPax gas cans and mounting systems existed, much of this process might have been avoided.

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Now ready for the trail with a full-sized spare and 3.5 extra gallons of gas, the Cayenne sure looks the part, too. Of course, with a 26.4-gallon fuel tank, I hope to never need more—but out in the desert or up in the mountains, safe is better than sorry. Plus, I might meet a fellow traveler in need.

I feel a lot more confident headed out to my next adventure on the Mojave Road testing those Toyos and Porsche's engineering decisions by climbing up Paiute Ridge, which I previously explored in the Montero, as well as a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. In the meantime, more skids from Eurowise should arrive soon and I need to start working on the interior design before I can make the leap from tent camping to sleeping inside sheltered somewhat more from weather and wildlife.

Sources: eurowise.com, rotopax.com, fcpeuro.com, scepter.com, and amazon.com.

Michael Van Runkle grew up surrounded by Los Angeles car culture, going to small enthusiast meets and enormous industry shows. He learned to drive stick shift in a 1948 Chevy pickup with no first gear and currently dailies his 1998 Mitsubishi Montero while daydreaming about one day finishing up that Porsche 914 project. He's written in various media since graduating from UC Berkeley in 2010 and started at HotCars in February 2018.