Hi all,

Yes, I've found old threads on this but not specifically this question...

About to size up to 285/70s on my 4th Gen SE V8 that has the towing package. I have a roof basket, but would prefer not to keep a spare up there. So, I was wondering...

Can I remove the tow hitch, still have a rear recovery point, and fit a deflated and more treadworn 285 70 in the spare tire area? I have onboard air, so I'm really OK with keeping a deflated spare. If not, can I do this with a 255/80 or 70?

I can't tell if removing the tow hitch will give me THAT much more room because it looks like it's more about the panhard bar and bumper, but I really want to make this work without cutting.

Edited to add qualifiers: Yes, I will be off-roading my truck, but not crazy rock-crawling with it. I never had a puncture in my D-rated Duratracs with my 3rd gen, and I really doubt I'll be doing anything more difficult than I did with that. Think medium difficulty Colorado 4WD stuff and you should get an idea of where I like to go.

I think it is possible to fit one with the tow hitch removed. I tried with my 255/80's and it did not fit, close but no go, if there was a couple more inches it would. I just put it up on my roof rack for now.

Was yours inflated fully?

I had about 15lbs in it, if I remember right.

I have an 03' with the factory hitch and I'm able to store my spare 285/70/17 in the factory location. Not sure if your hitch is different than mine, I'm able to leave the receiver in as well

Aww crud, there goes that idea then. I can't imagine I'd want to go lower than that and risk it coming off the bead or something.

Was it a brand new tire? I'm thinking a more worn 33" or bigger 32" would be the ticket.

So there are two types of hitches for ours. One is the standard hitch and the other is a beefier one for the "towing" package. I think the easiest way to tell which you have is the presence of a brake controller plug box or something. Someone correct me if I'm wrong though.

This gives me another idea though. I wonder if I can just replace the towing package hitch with the smaller standard hitch. I literally have nothing to tow, and if I ever did it would be like a small trailer for a snowmobile or moving. Hmmmm...

Edited to add; it looks like you have Toyo Open Country 2's. According to tiresize.com those actually measure at 32.8" so maybe it's the smaller "285s" that fit and not the ones that are closer to 33".

Brand new tires, and I have the V8 tow hitch. I want to say the V8 hitch attaches to the frame and the V6 hitch is attached to the bumper? Maybe get a V6 hitch and use that?

And I didn't know about this issue until after I bought the tires.

Can anyone answer this? I have a V8 with the towing package (there's an aux trans cooler). The hitch connects to the frame. What's the largest size tire that will fit the factory location? Okay with having it partially deflated and/or old.

265/70/17?
255/70/17?
275/70/17?
285/70/17?

I've got my 275/65/18 in that location fully inflated to 36PSI.

I've got a 265/70/18 in mine (dang limited wheels), but it barely fits.

In retrospect, that would have been a great tire size to run, but I wasn't sure it would clear the UCAs.

Hey, original poster here. I have the V8 tow package and I have a very worn 285/70 17 BFG KO2 under there. It's deflated and doesn't rub, and I have a compressor onboard so no issues there. Very soon I'm going to be getting a different cheap steel rim and spare set up to better match the offset/backspacing on my SCS Ray10 wheels. I'm doing this in the event I need the spare tire up front so it'll clear the UCAs.

I also have an extra 285/70 Duratrac tire with 14/32's tread now but I'm quite certain it's going to be too big even deflated, but I'll report back. If it is, I'm going to get a used 275/70 17 somewhere and see if that works.

It should fit. I've had BFG K02's and Duratracs in various stages of wear, down there before with no issues. A brand new one MIGHT just barely rub on the panhard bar, but that's hardly a major issue. I feel like everyone who says a 285/70-17 won't fit down there just really isn't trying.

they were brand new and around 30 psi,

I tend to agree, so we'll see how it does. I still need to order the dang rim though.