Anyone seen or know of a source for an aftermarket (or plans for homebuilt) for a spare holder on the rear swing out door of a Cargo version of the Aerostar? Putting the underbody hitch from my 86 XLT onto my 96 cargo so no room for underbody and the position of the inside spare holder is not suitable for me having to mount shelves and racks. Started tearing down the 86 this weekend - I took the Ford pickup style bow mirrors from the 86 XLT with the inside stiffeners and put them on the 96 Cargo - nice big mirror heads now, no magnifying right glass, room for my 3" spot mirrors and of course it allows my communications antenna to mount on the flat aluminum bar. Taking the roof rack soon. I'll be posting various items soon. If anyone has a particular need email me. The seats (two bolted front buckets, two mid body captains chairs and the full back bench) go as a set and can go any time (grey with the maroon roping that XLT's have) but of course will be a pickup only item. If someone wanted the entire thing minus the mirrors, hitch and roof rack then we could work out something - or I could leave the rack on and buy a commercial lader rack for my 96 - it doesn't matter. The only problem with the 86 was a blown head gasket a couple years ago and a minor right rear dent...has a 2.8L carbureted engine with auto/air/etc and digital dash. Black and silver paint scheme but the clear coat needs to be restored on the roof. All glass, interior, etc in good shape - might even be a good parts unit as a whole for someone that really has a serious Aerostar addiction. About 60 miles from south Louisville, 25 west of Elizabethtown off the WK parkway, just one mile from the parkway on city streets - no rural mud hole to pull it out of. With dry rotted tires it would have to be trailered/flatbed tow trucked. Get with me if interested in the whole thing in the next few days before I decide to remove the roof rack. I can take digital pics if interested party wants a look inside/out. Still in decision mode on my course on the rack so time is of the essence.

I've never seen one, either, and I've been looking, as well, for reasons of clearing a Class 4 hitch on a short Aerostar. Until now, I've simply mounted a 195/75R14 tire on a spare rim, which will then fit under the 3rd seat (any wider, and it won't). I've done some study of the rear-mount racks on Bronco 2s, etc., and notice that they don't mount on the rear door- the hinge mounts on the metal above the taillight. That's not a possibility on the Aerostar, but beneath the taillight is. I've never spotted a purpose-built one that will work, however.   The roof rack is a possible, now that I think of it.   So, for my question: anyone ever put a new chip in their 3.0, or used any of Bamachips' reprogrammers? I'm considering this, along with a change of gearing from 3.73 to 4.11, to give it a little more oomph when towing. From what I've studied lately, I could better match my computer's programming - I have an '3.0 from an '03 Taurus, but running the '96 EFI intake manifold, plenum, injectors, and computer - for both the transmission and engine, at the same time I optimize it for the new axle ratio. Or am I barking up the wrong tree? It's doing well on unloaded fuel economy, but it shifts into OD at 45, and the OD's too tall - my tach is reading 1000 rpm at that speed/gear. I usually leave the OD locked off until I get to 60, and when towing, the OD is absolutely unusable and I have to go to 2nd when towing a heavy load.   AC

Missed the last part - decided to go with a regular ladder rackmade by Works in Brooklyn, ordered it Friday. I've had rood mounted spares - hard as heck to get down and they ruin the roof and the sun plays heck with the rubber up there. I'm thinking along the lines of possibly building a partition (aka bulkhead) behind the seats that separates the cargo area and front cabin, then mounting the full 205 sized spare on it using the present bolt system for inside mounting so the underbody spare mount from the smashed 95 will likley be on ePay soon.   Thinking real hard on just selling the 86 as a whole rebuildable minus the mirrors and hitch since the only thing that took it out of service was a slight head gasket leak.    

It would only need the outermost point mounted near the door latching area, the weight would be supported by the hinges. I think the doors are ABS or another plastic just like the hood but your point of it being plastic not steel is well taken.    

I do that on the 93 since I despise and dread the donut spares and they are always out of air when you need them, and the underbody holder won't take a full sized tire. I stole the spare from my 84 ranger and put the 96 cargo's donut spare with the Ranger, which is soon to be sold as soon as I dress it up and fix some rubbed wiring.    

Hmm just noticed I have some 1" steel tubing in the garage - might see if a custom Aero cargo version like the ones on full sized vans is a possibility...    

I have to admit I'm tempted. Wouldn't have to pull the engine to fix the head gasket, after all. It's otherwise in decent shape, mechanically? What would you be asking? I'm in Louisville, and I reckon my '96 could drag a '86 here. It's been dragging various Volvos without protest. - AC

i mounted my spare on the roof.