AU2011100906B4 - A spare wheel carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A spare wheel carrier 10 for mounting to a trailer hitch mount of a vehicle such as an 5 all wheel drive off road vehicle is disclosed. The carrier 10 includes a carrier base 12 for mounting to a trailer hitch mount and an arm assembly 14 mounted on the carrier base 12. The arm assembly 14 includes a first arm section 16, and a second arm section 22 mounted to the first arm section 16 at a point spaced from its mounting to the carrier base 12. The second arm section 22 is folded out when the arm 0 assembly is changed between a folded configuration in which it extends above the first arm section 16, and an expanded configuration in which it extends away from the first arm section 16. When the arm assembly 14 is in the folded configuration the second arm section 22 is vertically aligned with and positioned closely adjacent to the first arm section 16. The carrier 10 further includes a wheel holder 40 mounted 5 on said second arm section 22 including a post 42 and a wheel mounting 44 on which a spare wheel can be mounted. The arm assembly 14 further includes a locking arrangement for releasably locking the second arm section 22 in a fixed position when the arm assembly 14 is in each of the folded and expanded configurations. Figure 5 for publication

Description

1 A SPARE WHEEL CARRIER FIELD 5 This disclosure relates to a spare wheel carrier for carrying a spare wheel on a vehicle. This disclosure also extends to a vehicle including such a spare wheel carrier. o This disclosure relates to a particularly to a spare wheel carrier for a motor vehicle, e.g. an off-road vehicle having four wheel drive, and such a vehicle including the spare wheel carrier. It will therefore be convenient to hereinafter describe the disclosure with reference to this example application. However at the same time it must be recognized that the disclosure is capable of broader application. For 5 example the disclosure could be used for all types of vehicles and not just motor vehicles. DEFINITIONS: 20 In the specification the term "comprising " shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the term "comprising" such as "comprise" and "comprises". 25 BACKGROUND TO THE DISCLOSURE Motor vehicles having pneumatic tyres are a ubiquitous feature of modern societies around the world. A pneumatic tyre is a rubber tyre that is inflated with compressed 2 air. This air cushion provides for a smooth ride on many road surfaces. Pneumatic tyres can get punctured and when this occurs they need to be replaced. Ever since people have been using pneumatic tyres they have had to deal with the problem of removing a tyre that has been punctured and has deflated and replacing it with a 5 spare tyre. . A majority of road vehicles are adapted to carry a spare wheel which can be used to replace a wheel that has a flat tyre or has otherwise become unsuitable for use during travel of the vehicle on the road. Typically vehicles are built by manufacturers 0 to carry a single spare wheel on the vehicle. This is suitable where the vehicle is used for use on suburban roads near built up areas. However when a vehicle is driven in a remote area it may often be desirable to carry a second spare wheel. However motor vehicles are generally not designed by the motor vehicle 5 manufacturers to carry a second spare wheel. A second spare wheel is therefore often mounted in a storage area of the vehicle. However in this position, the second spare wheel occupies a portion of the storage area which obviously takes away from the ability of a user to store other goods in the storage area. o SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Applicant has recognised that it would be advantageous if a facility for carrying a second spare wheel on a vehicle could be devised. Applicant has also realised that it would be advantageous if such a carrier could be devised that did not intrude on the 25 traditional storage space or storage areas of a vehicle According to one aspect of the disclosure there is provided a spare wheel carrier for mounting to a vehicle, the carrier including: a carrier base for mounting to a trailer hitch mount, the carrier base including a hitch coupling for operatively coupling in a 30 releasable fashion the spare wheel carrier to a trailer hitch mount on a vehicle; an arm assembly including a first arm section mounted on the carrier base, and a 3 second arm section that is mounted to said first arm section at a point spaced from the mounting of the first arm section to the carrier base, the second arm section being changeable between a folded configuration in which it extends along the first arm section above the first arm section, and an expanded configuration in which it 5 extends away from the first arm section; and a wheel holder mounted on said second arm section, on which a spare wheel can be mounted, to mount it on the carrier. The hitch coupling on the carrier base may comprise a HAYMAN REECE tow hitch for coupling to a complementary HAYMAN REECE hitch mount on the vehicle. 0 The arm assembly may further include a locking arrangement for releasably locking the second arm section in a fixed position relative to the first arm section when the arm assembly is in each of the folded and expanded configurations. 5 Further the second arm section may project away from the first arm section at an angle of about 180 degrees to the first arm section when the arm assembly is in the expanded configuration. According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a spare wheel carrier 0 for mounting to a vehicle, the carrier including: a carrier base for mounting to a trailer hitch mount, the carrier base including a hitch coupling for operatively coupling in a releasable fashion the spare wheel carrier to a trailer hitch mount on a vehicle; e.g. releasably, an arm assembly mounted on the carrier base; and a wheel holder mounted on said arm assembly onto which a spare wheel can be mounted. 25 According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a road going vehicle including: a vehicle body, e.g. having a vehicle chassis, including thereon a trailer hitch mount; and a spare wheel carrier including: a carrier base including a hitch coupling that is operatively coupled in a releasable fashion onto the trailer hitch 30 mount, e.g. on the vehicle; an arm assembly including a first arm section mounted on the carrier base, and a second arm section that is mounted to said first arm section at 4 a point spaced from the mounting of the first arm section to the carrier base, the second arm section being changeable between a folded configuration in which it extends along the first arm section above the first arm section, and an expanded configuration in which it extends away from the first arm section; and a wheel holder 5 mounted on said second arm section, onto which a spare wheel can be mounted, to mount the spare wheel on the carrier. According to another aspect of this disclosure there is provided a spare wheel carrier for mounting to a trailer hitch mount of a vehicle, the carrier including: a carrier base 0 for mounting to a trailer hitch mount; an arm assembly including a first arm section mounted on the carrier base, and a second arm section that is mounted on said first arm section, the second arm section being changeable between a folded configuration in which it extends along the first arm section above the first arm section, and an expanded configuration in which it extends away from the first arm 5 section; and a wheel holder mounted on said second arm section on which a spare wheel can be mounted whereby to carry the spare wheel on the carrier. The second arm section and the first arm section may be vertically aligned with each other when the arm assembly is in the folded configuration. In particular the second 0 arm section may be positioned closely adjacent to the first arm section in its position above the first arm section when the arm assembly is in the folded configuration. Further the second arm section and the first arm section may be substantially co extensive with each other and may for example be of substantially the same length as each other. 25 The second arm section may project away from the first arm section at an angle of about 180 degrees to the first arm section when the arm assembly is in the expanded configuration.

5 The arm assembly may further including a coupling, e.g. an elbow coupling, for mounting the second arm section to the first arm section in a way that permits the arm assembly to move between the folded and expanded configurations. 5 The elbow coupling may include a stub axle associated with the first or second arm section and a boss that is mounted for rotation on the stub axle associated with the first or second arm section. In one form the stub axle may be formed on the first arm section and the boss may 0 be formed on the second arm section. The elbow coupling may include at least one bearing interposed between the boss and the stub axle to facilitate low friction rotation of the boss on the stub axle whereby to facilitate free rotation of the second arm section relative to the first arm 5 section to move the arm assembly between the folded and expanded configurations. In one form the pivotal mounting may have two or more bearings, e.g. taper bearings, interposed between the boss and the stub axle. The arm assembly may further include a locking arrangement for locking, in a 0 releasable fashion, the second arm section in position relative to the first arm section when the arm assembly is in both the folded and expanded configurations. The locking arrangement may include a flange with at least two locking apertures defined therein on the first arm section, and a locking pin on the second arm section 25 that can be inserted into one of said locking apertures to lock the second arm section in the position corresponding to that locking aperture. The flange may extend in a substantially horizontally extending orientation. This locks the arm assembly securely in each of the folded and expanded configurations.

6 The wheel holder may include a post having an operatively lower end projecting up from the second arm section and an operatively upper end spaced therefrom, and a wheel mount mounted on the post towards the upper end thereof. 5 The wheel mount may include a mounting flange onto which the spare wheel is mounted. The mounting flange may have a plurality of wheel bolt apertures which are positioned such that they can be brought into registry with corresponding bolt holes on the hub of a vehicle wheel to mount the spare wheel on the mounting flange. o The wheel holder may include gusset formations on either side of the post for strengthening and supporting the post. This enables a post of lighter gauge material, e.g. steel, to be used for the wheel holder which in turn enables the overall weight of the wheel carrier to be reduced. 5 Each gusset formation may comprise a sheet material that extends along part of the second arm section and at least part of the distance up the post. Each gusset formation may optionally extend up substantially the full height of the post. In particular each gusset formation may have a free edge extending from the second arm section to the post and the free edge of each gusset formation may be concave. 0 The first arm section may have one end towards its mounting on the carrier base and another end adjacent the stub axle. The second arm section may have one end adjacent the boss, and another end towards the wheel holder. 25 The carrier may include a fastening arrangement for fastening the other end of the second arm section to said one end of the first arm section when the arm assembly is in the folded configuration and these ends are adjacent to each other. The fastening arrangement may include a fastening loop on the second arm section 30 that latches to a complementary fastening pin arrangement on the first arm section.

7 In particular the fastening loop may be attached to a resilient element, e.g. including a coil spring, that enables it to be stretched over the fastening pin and then to pull tight when it is released. 5 The carrier base includes a hitch coupling for coupling to a trailer hitch mount defining a receiving opening. The hitch coupling may include a protrusion that complements an opening defined by a trailer hitch mount within which it is to be received so that it can be snugly received within said trailer hitch mount to mount the carrier on a vehicle. The carrier base may further include a fixing arrangement for 0 fixing the hitch coupling to the hitch mount. According to another aspect of this disclosure there is provided a spare wheel carrier for mounting to a trailer hitch mount of a vehicle, the carrier including: a carrier base for mounting to a trailer hitch mount; an arm assembly including a first arm section 5 mounted on the carrier base, and a second arm section that is mounted on said first arm section, the second arm section being changeable between a folded configuration in which it extends along the first arm section, and an expanded configuration in which it extends away from the first arm section; and a wheel holder mounted on said second arm section on which a spare wheel can be mounted 0 whereby to carry the spare wheel on the carrier. The spare wheel carrier may include any one or more of the features of the spare wheel carrier defined above according to the first aspect of the disclosure. 25 The disclosure also extends to a vehicle including: vehicle having a vehicle chassis including a trailer hitch mount mounted thereon; and a spare wheel carrier as defined in the preceding aspect of the disclosure mounted to the trailer hitch mount. The trailer hitch mount may be a HAYMAN REECE hitch mount for coupling a 30 HAYMAN REECE tow hitch thereto.

8 The spare wheel carrier may include any one or more of the features defined above with respect to the first aspect of the disclosure. 5 In particular the vehicle may be an off road vehicle, e.g. a four wheel drive off road vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 0 A spare wheel carrier and a vehicle having a spare wheel carrier in accordance with this disclosure may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe one embodiment of the disclosure in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the disclosure how to 5 carry the disclosure into practical effect. However it is to be clearly understood that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. In the drawings: Figure 1 is an upper three dimensional view of a spare wheel carrier in accordance zo with one embodiment with its arm assembly shown in a folded configuration; Figure 2 is a front view of the spare wheel carrier of Figure 1 with its arm assembly shown in the folded configuration; 25 Figure 3 is a rear view of the spare wheel carrier of Figure 1 with its arm assembly shown in the folded configuration; Figure 4 is an end view of the spare wheel carrier of Figure 1 with its arm assembly shown in the folded configuration; 9 Figure 5 is an upper three dimensional view of the spare wheel carrier of Figure 1 with its arm assembly shown in the expanded configuration; 5 Figure 6 is a front view of the spare wheel carrier of Figure 1 with its arm assembly shown in the expanded configuration; Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the spare wheel carrier of Figure 1 mounted on a trailer hitch mount on a vehicle with the arm assembly shown in a folded 0 configuration; Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the vehicle and spare wheel carrier of Figure 7 with the arm assembly shown in an intermediate partially unfolded configuration; and 5 Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the vehicle and spare wheel carrier of Figure 7 with the arm in a fully unfolded configuration; Figures 1 to 6 illustrate a spare wheel carrier for mounting to a trailer hitch mount on 20 a vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure. In the drawings reference numeral 10 refers generally to a spare wheel carrier in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure. Broadly the spare wheel carrier 10 comprises a carrier base 12 for mounting to a 25 trailer hitch mount, and an arm assembly shown generally by numeral 14 mounted on the carrier base 12. The arm assembly 14 includes a first arm section 16 having one end 18 mounted on the base 12 and another end 20 spaced therefrom. The arm assembly 14 also includes a second arm section 22 having one end 24 that is pivotally mounted to the end 20 of the first arm section 16 and another end 26 that is 30 remote from the end 24.

10 The arm assembly 14 is interchangeable between a folded configuration in which the second arm section 22 is folded over the first arm section 16, above the first arm section 16, and an expanded configuration in which the second arm section 22 5 extends away from the first arm section 16. In the folded configuration shown in Figures 1 to 4 the second arm section 22 is vertically aligned with the first arm section 16 and the first and second arm sections 16, 22 are broadly co-extensive with each other. In the expanded configuration shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first and second arm sections 16 and 22 are arranged end to end in a line and the second arm 0 section 22 extends at an angle of about 180 degrees to the first arm section 16. The arm assembly 14 includes a coupling indicated generally by the reference numeral 30 that mounts the second arm section 22 on the first arm section 16. The coupling 30 comprises a stub axle 32 formed on an end of the first arm section 16 5 that projects up from the first arm section 16. The coupling 30 also includes a boss 34 formed on the end 24 of the second arm section 22. The boss 34 is mounted over the stub axle 32 such that it can rotate relative thereto. The pivotal coupling 30 further includes several bearings, e.g. taper 0 bearings (not shown), interposed between the boss 34 and the stub axle 32 whereby to facilitate low friction pivoting of the second arm section 22 relative to the first arm section 16. The arm assembly 14 includes a locking arrangement shown generally by the 25 reference numeral 35 for releasably locking the second arm section 22 in one of a number of positions relative to the first arm section 16. One such position locks the second arm section 22 in its position when the arm assembly 16 is in the expanded configuration. Another such position locks the second arm section 22 in its position when the arm assembly 16 is in the folded configuration. 30 11 The locking arrangement 35 includes a flange 37 mounted on the end 20 of the first arm section 16 with several locking apertures 39 defined therein. It also includes a locking pin 41 on the second arm section 22 that can be inserted into one of the locking apertures 39 to releasably lock the second arm section 22 in a desired 5 position, e.g. its position corresponding to the folded or expanded configurations. This holds the carrier 10 and particularly the wheel holder 40 thereof firmly in a given position in the expanded configuration. It is most useful to hold the holder 40 firmly in a single and stationary position when a wheel is being mounted on the wheel holder 0 40 and also when a wheel is being taken off the wheel holder 40. The carrier base 12 includes a hitch coupling 36 for coupling to a trailer hitch mount on the rear of a vehicle. The hitch coupling 36 comprises a male formation or protrusion 38 that can be snugly received within the hitch mount to mount the carrier 5 on a vehicle. The hitch coupling 36 also includes a locking arrangement for locking the carrier base 12 firmly on the vehicle so that it does not move around on the vehicle when the vehicle travels on the road. In the illustrated embodiment the hitch coupling 36 has a couple of bolt openings along the length of the protrusion 38. These bolt openings enable the base 12, and the spare wheel carrier 10 as a whole, 0 to be coupled to the hitch mount in a number of positions. This enables a user to adjust the spacing of the arm assembly 14 from the back of the vehicle on which it is mounted. For example a user can choose whether they want the carrier 10 as a whole to lie close up against the rear of the vehicle, or to be spaced a short distance away from the rear of the vehicle. This can depend of the type of wheel and size of 25 wheel that is being carried and it can also depend on user choice. The spare wheel carrier 10 further includes a wheel holder 40 positioned on the end 26 of said second arm section 22. The wheel holder 40 in turn comprises a post 42 that projects up from the second arm section 22 and a wheel mount 44 at an upper 30 end 46 of the post 42 that projects transversely away therefrom. The spare wheel can be removably mounted on the wheel mount 44.

12 The wheel mount 44 in turn comprises a cylindrical element 48 projecting transversely away from the post 42 and a mounting flange 50 mounted thereon intermediate its ends. The mounting flange 50 defines a plurality of bolt openings 52 5 therein for receiving wheel mounting bolts there through to fix the spare wheel to the flange and thereby mount it on the wheel mount 44. The wheel holder 40 further includes gusset formations 56, 58 on either side of the post 42 comprising a sheet of steel for strengthening and supporting the post 42. o Each gusset formation 56 and 58 extends along part of the second arm section 22 and up substantially the full height of the post 42. Each gusset formation 56 and 58 has a free edge 60 extending with a concave shape from the second arm section 22 to the post 42. 5 The carrier 10 further includes a fastening arrangement 66 for fastening the end 26 of the second arm section 22 to the end 16 of the first arm section 16 when the arm assembly 14 is in the folded configuration. The latching arrangement 66 also includes a fastening pin 68 on the first arm section 16 that can be engaged with a fastening loop 70 on the second arm section 22 to hold the arm assembly 14 as a whole 0 securely in the folded configuration, particularly during travel of a vehicle on the road. The fastening loop 70 includes a resilient element 72, including a spring or an elastic section, mounting it on the second arm section 22 such that it can be stretched over the fastening pin 68. When the fastening loop 70 is released, the resilience of the element 72 draws it in and holds it tightly over the locking pin 68. 25 In use, the spare wheel carrier 10 is mounted to a tow hitch mount on the rear of a chassis of a vehicle in the manner shown in Figures 7 to 9. In Figures 7 to 9 the vehicle, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 80, might typically be on off road vehicle having all wheel drive. 30 13 The vehicle 80 has a chassis having a chassis rear end 82 and a trailer hitch mount 84 mounted on the rear end 82. In the illustrated embodiment the trailer hitch mount 84 is a standard Hayman Reece mount for coupling to the popular and widespread Hayman Reece hitch coupling. As the Hayman Reece hitch couplings would be 5 known to persons skilled in the art they will not be described in greater detail in this specification. As shown in Figure 7 when the arm assembly 14 is in the folded configuration, the second arm section 22 lies up against the rear end 82 of the chassis of the vehicle. o In this configuration the entire arm assembly 14 including the second arm section 22 is received within the lateral extent or the width of the vehicle. The arm assembly is locked in this position by the locking arrangement 35. To facilitate access to a rear door on the vehicle, the locking arrangement is unlocked 5 by a user pulling the pin 41 up out of the opening 39 within which it is received. Thereafter the arm assembly 14 is moved to the expanded configuration where the second arm section 22 and also the wheel holder 40 is positioned laterally outward and proud of the associated side of the vehicle 80. Figure 8 shows the second arm section 22 in a partially unfolded configuration and Figure 9 shows the second arm 0 section 22 in a fully folded out configuration. In the fully expanded configuration shown in Figure 9 a person or user can freely open a rear door on the vehicle and gain unhindered access to the interior of the vehicle. 25 Once a user has finished what they are doing and they no longer require access to the rear of the vehicle, the user can pivot the second arm section 22 back on top of the first arm section 16 to move the arm assembly 14 back into the folded configuration (shown in Figure 7). The resilient fastening loop 70 is then passed over 30 the fastening pin 68 on the first arm section 16 to fasten the arm assembly 14 in the folded configuration. The vehicle is then ready for travel on the road.

14 A spare wheel can be mounted on the carrier 10 in either the folded or expanded configurations. To mount a spare wheel over the cylindrical element 48 a user holds the hub of the wheel up against the mounting flange 50 on the wheel mount 44. The 5 user then positions the bolt holes 52 on the mounting flange 50 in register with or in alignment with the corresponding bolt holes in the hub of the wheel to be carried. Thereafter wheel bolts can be passed through the bolt holes on respectively the flange 50 and the hub of the wheel to be carried and wheel nuts can be fastened on the wheel bolts to complete the mounting process. . 0 During travel on the road a puncture or other wheel damage to one of the operational wheels on the vehicle, might create the need for a wheel to be replaced with the spare wheel mounted on the spare wheel carrier 10. In such a situation the arm assembly 14 is folded out into the expanded configuration in the same manner as 5 described above. The wheel can then be removed and mounted on the vehicle as an operational wheel. The damaged wheel in turn can be mounted on the spare wheel carrier 10. An advantage of the spare wheel carrier described above with reference to the o drawings is that an additional spare wheel can be carried on a vehicle without intruding onto other storage regions of the vehicle. The additional spare wheel is mounted on the carrier and lies up against the rear of the vehicle where it does not project far away from the vehicle. Further it is inconspicuous and to the extent that it can be seen it is aesthetically pleasing. The positioning of the second arm section on 25 top of the first arm section such that it is vertically superimposed therewith also assists in achieving this advantage. A yet further advantage of the spare wheel carrier described above with reference to the drawings is the use of a stub axle and a boss to facilitate movement of the arm 30 assembly into the unfolded configuration. This provides a sturdy construction which 15 is also provides close tolerance pivoting of the arm assembly between the folded and expanded configurations. A yet further advantage of the spare wheel carrier described above with reference to 5 the drawings is that it has a locking arrangement for locking the arm assembly in each of the folded and expanded configurations. When the arm assembly is in the expanded configuration this is useful because it locks and holds the second arm section 22 and the wheel holder 40 thereon steady in a fixed position. o Further the locking arrangement also locks the arm assembly securely in the folded configuration for travel on the road with the second arm section 22 positioned on top of the first arm section 16. This increases the overall safety of operation of the carrier 10. 5 The spare wheel carrier described above with reference to the drawings also confers a very important operational advantage that is set out in the paragraph immediately below. This advantage make it particularly well suited to perform its function by ensuring that the wheel carrier does not intrude upon or detract from the other operational features and advantages of the motor vehicle. 0 The second arm section including the wheel holder can be swung away from the back of the vehicle by moving the arm assembly to the expanded configuration to move the wheel holder and wheel mounted therein away from a rear door or hatch door on the rear end of the vehicle to provide access thereto. This is important 25 because very often a rear door provides primary access to a storage compartment within the vehicle. It will of course be realized that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the disclosure and that all such modifications and variations thereto, as 30 would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the disclosure as is herein set forth.

Claims (5)

1. A spare wheel carrier for mounting to a vehicle, the carrier including: a carrier base for mounting to a trailer hitch mount, the carrier base including a 5 hitch coupling for operatively coupling in a releasable fashion the spare wheel carrier to a trailer hitch mount on a vehicle; arm assembly including a first arm section mounted on the carrier base at a mounting point, the first arm section having one end towards the mounting point and an opposite end remote therefrom, and a second arm section having one end that is o pivotally mounted on the opposite end of the first arm section, and having an opposite end remote therefrom, the second arm section being changeable between a folded configuration in which it extends along the first arm section above the first arm section, and an expanded configuration in which it extends away from the first arm section, and a locking arrangement positioned adjacent to the opposite end of the 5 first arm section, for releasably locking the second arm section in a fixed position relative to the first arm section when the arm assembly is in each of the folded and expanded configurations, and a fastening arrangement for fastening said one end of the first arm section to the opposite end of the second arm section in the folded configuration; and 0 a wheel holder mounted on said second arm section, on which a spare wheel can be mounted, to mount it on the carrier.

2. A spare wheel carrier according to claim 1, wherein the locking arrangement includes a flange on the opposite end of the first arm section, with at least two locking 25 apertures defined therein one for each of the folded and expanded configurations, and a locking pin on the second arm section for insertion into one of said locking apertures to lock the second arm section respectively in the folded and expanded configurations. 30

3. A spare wheel carrier according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fastening arrangement includes a fastening loop on the second arm section that latches to a complementary fastening pin arrangement on the first arm section, and the fastening 17 loop is attached to a resilient element that enables the fastening loop to be stretched over the fastening pin and then to pull tight against the fastening pin.

4. A spare wheel carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the 5 second arm section projects away from the first arm section at an angle of about 180 degrees to the first arm section when the arm assembly is in the expanded configuration.

5. A road going vehicle including: 0 a vehicle body including thereon a trailer hitch mount; and a spare wheel carrier including: a carrier base including a hitch coupling that is operatively coupled in a releasable fashion onto the trailer hitch mount; arm assembly including a first arm section mounted on the carrier base 5 at a mounting point, the first arm section having one end towards the mounting point and an opposite end remote therefrom, and a second arm section having one end that is pivotally mounted on the opposite end of the first arm section, and having an opposite end remote therefrom, the second arm section being changeable between a folded configuration in which it extends along the first 0 arm section above the first arm section, and an expanded configuration in which it extends away from the first arm section, and a locking arrangement positioned adjacent to the opposite end of the first arm section, for releasably locking the second arm section in a fixed position relative to the first arm section when the arm assembly is in each of the folded and expanded 25 configurations, and a fastening arrangement for fastening said one end of the first arm section to the opposite end of the second arm section in the folded configuration; and a wheel holder mounted on said second arm section, onto which a spare wheel can be mounted, to mount the spare wheel on the vehicle. 30