Spare Wheel Mounted Racks?

[surfsup]

My Surf has the spare wheel mounted on the robust swing-out arm. I am interested in using a bike rack mounted on a spigot under the spare wheel. Does anyone have any information regarding this? How much weight can this arm safely hold (including the spare)? Do you recommend or not, the use of the spare for bike racks? (I would like to use a three-bike rack). I have requested some info from Toyota but will not be holding my breath! I will post it if it arrives, Cheers from NZ.

[rainmaker02]

Hi matey

got no particular info on the capabilities you've asked about, but I have seen a guy near me who removed the spare altogether and mounted it under the car (I think he used a Hilux pickup spare wheel mount). He's also cut off the swing-out arm to leave two small stubs at the hinge (about 6" long each). He told me that he modded the swing arm so that he can mount/dismount at leisure by using a couple of pins thru the stubs left on the truck. He said that he uses the modded arm to carry bikes (plural) so it can't be that weak.

just a thought