Can't drop spare tire

[SammerP]

Hi everyone!

I just bought my second ever 4runner, 1999 SR5.

I was trying to drop the spare tire and the rod won't line up with the winch?!?!

If I shine a light through the holes in the spare tire, it seems the rod can't get low enough to get in the hole. I tried a 3/8 ratchet extension, jammed my arm up above the spare tire, and jammed it in the hole, but can't get anything to mate with that because the angle is off, like the winch drive shaft has been bent down an inch.

Any ideas would be awesome, all my knuckles are bleeding.

Thanks!

 

[techno]

I've seen this happen after a wider than stock spare tire has been fitted. The tire sidewall interferes with the direct line from the bumper slot to the winch funnel. I saw it happen on a friends 2nd gen and we fixed it by deflating the tire which allowed us to flex it enough to get the rod in.

Could this be a solution for you?

 

[Will_4R]

Can you use a u-joint on the socket extension?

 

[theizzardking]

I've seen this happen after a wider than stock spare tire has been fitted. The tire sidewall interferes with the direct line from the bumper slot to the winch funnel. I saw it happen on a friends 2nd gen and we fixed it by deflating the tire which allowed us to flex it enough to get the rod in.

Could this be a solution for you?

lol that's flipping re****ed, you need to get your spare tire out and you gotta deflate it first....:guitar2:


why does no SUV company think to make the spare tire area big enough for larger tires (like i would have designed to fit 33's)
even my jeep had a hard time fitting the 33 spare in the rear i had to custome make a bracket for it.

 

[JeremyH]

why does no SUV company think to make the spare tire area big enough for larger tires (like i would have designed to fit 33's)
even my jeep had a hard time fitting the 33 spare in the rear i had to custome make a bracket for it.

Because they know that we all know we should install a rear swingout when getting larger tires. You know those hinges on that jeep tailgate cant handle the weight of a larger tire!

 

[theizzardking]

Because they know that we all know we should install a rear swingout when getting larger tires. You know those hinges on that jeep tailgate cant handle the weight of a larger tire!

yeah i know but it'd be cool if they sorted it out, you know like offering a factory locker they should offer a real factory offroad package.
that would be sweet!

is there a 4runner rubicon? lol

 

[techno]

lol that's flipping re****ed, you need to get your spare tire out and you gotta deflate it first....

No silly, of course that isn't what you'd do every time. That allowed us to fix the issue by putting a spacer under there so the tire couldn't be lifted up that far in future.

 

[theizzardking]

No silly, of course that isn't what you'd do every time. That allowed us to fix the issue by putting a spacer under there so the tire couldn't be lifted up that far in future.

lol, yeah i figured you'd sort something out for that, just thought it was a funny situation, i can only imagine how pissed you must have been if your really did need that tire!!!

i think i'll just use my cargo basket untill i can afford one of those sexy new cbi rear bumpers

 

[LINY4Runner]

is it possible that this thing has been body lifted?

 

[SammerP]

Wow, barely able to get my hand in there to throw the u joint in, barely able to ratchet my ratchet 1 click. Then 15 minutes of click, bang knuckle, scream, one more click, finally got it down an inch, then two, then took the u joint out and went with a straight extension, 20 minutes later spare tire is out!

NOW WHERE DO I PUT IT!? HAHAHA.