My idea is pretty simple, weld on a slanted piece of 2x2 square tube and then with whatever spare space I have, weld on a gusset to support the slanted beam. I'll have a better idea once I get the metal in my hands and the project started but I may figure out a way to add extra gussetting on the sides or something. The tire carrier is extremely stout by itself so my only worry is supporting the beam that the tire will sit on. I was also thinking for added strength, I could possibly add inner gussetting plates but I'm not sure how much strength that would actually add and it'd probably add to the difficulty of the project.
Once the tire is up and out of the way, the plan is to mount my license plate near the upper middle/top of the exposed carrier frame with LED 3rd brake light and a license plate light bar bracket where I want to put like a cheap 10" single row light bar as a backup/trail/fuck you light. The hi lift will be mounted to the lower section of the exposed carrier frame horizontally. It's 60" so it'll take up the width of the bumper and jeep, but the carrier will still swing open with it and it wont hang out wider than the jeep. Down the road I'll move things around and add rotopax where the license plate is and mount the licence plate on top of those but rotopax aint cheap. Note that the sketch is absolutely not to scale - the license plate and hi lift will actually occupy the exposed space perfectly and there wont be huge gaps or open space like in the picture.
EDIT: Found a neat picture of a JK where he added wire meshed over the tire carrier frame. Might be neat to add just as an aesthetic thing.
