PSA: So, have you ever checked your spare?

Great advice

I picked up my 07 in may of last year. Never thought about checking the spare or at least checking it out. June rolls around and I have knee surgery. 3 weeks after knee surgery I have a flat, keep in mind knee surgery, still recovering. I figure quicker to change the spare then wait for AAA. I read the manual, get the parts out and begin. I discover that one of the rods is missing for the crank but its still long enough to release the spare. Spare comes down within 6" of the ground and that's it. The cable was fryed it wouldn't come down any further. I finally get the spare off and notice that its a dunlop, I bought it with fairly new Firestone ATs. I go to crank it up and thanks to the extra rod missing it became very difficult to lift the vehicle up. Get the spare on, go to discount tire and come to find out it's the original 10yr old spare tire. Get that replaced and the new AT and the spare tire crank in the wheel well is shot. So I decided to go with a newer one with the chain instead of a stupid cable. Get one for free from a guy on FB, install it and realize that it came off a taco, the rods don't fit. Finally get that figured out by rigging a rod together and losing a month of my life all because I didn't check out the spare ahead of time.
 
Millman said:
Great advice

I picked up my 07 in may of last year. Never thought about checking the spare or at least checking it out. June rolls around and I have knee surgery. 3 weeks after knee surgery I have a flat, keep in mind knee surgery, still recovering. I figure quicker to change the spare then wait for AAA. I read the manual, get the parts out and begin. I discover that one of the rods is missing for the crank but its still long enough to release the spare. Spare comes down within 6" of the ground and that's it. The cable was fryed it wouldn't come down any further. I finally get the spare off and notice that its a dunlop, I bought it with fairly new Firestone ATs. I go to crank it up and thanks to the extra rod missing it became very difficult to lift the vehicle up. Get the spare on, go to discount tire and come to find out it's the original 10yr old spare tire. Get that replaced and the new AT and the spare tire crank in the wheel well is shot. So I decided to go with a newer one with the chain instead of a stupid cable. Get one for free from a guy on FB, install it and realize that it came off a taco, the rods don't fit. Finally get that figured out by rigging a rod together and losing a month of my life all because I didn't check out the spare ahead of time.
Click to expand...
My 04 sport had a tpms sensor in the spare. When it got low the dash light came on. You only found out it was the spare when you checked the pressure in the other 4. I assumed that this was common in the 4th gens.

Sent from my SM-T820 using Tapatalk
 
When I purchased the 2016 T4R I did drop the spare down and inspected it . flipped it so the tire valve is pointing down . then I checked out the toyota jack tire removal equipment not all that happy.

I now carry a hydro jack to jack up the front end under the control arms .. very safe compared to the toyota frame jack procedure.

the spare did have 50PSI.. max pressure is to be 44psi.. I set it to 38psi.. since valve sticks down I check it when I do the rotations ..no TMPS in it...

I did lube the spare tire lift mechanism also..
sprayed silicone on the tire as well..

the tire wheel studs are very soft so 80ft lbs is the max .. these will snap off easy if too much cranking..
 
2016 4Runner SR5 said:
Lube the crank mechanism at least a couple times a year also. I do it twice a year when I check the tire pressure. Really not a big deal to get to at all though, very simple to crank down and back up.
Click to expand...

I came here to say this as well. Cause if you don't, when you need the spare .....
 
2016 4Runner SR5 said:
No, that's a lazy idea. You'll regret not dropping the tire and lubing the crank twice a year. Throw that one, 5-6 years goes by, you get a flat, good luck getting the tire down. It'll be frozen solid with rust up there.
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I’ve had my 4Runner for 5 years now. I’ve dropped the spare twice in five years and no rust that would keep it from lowering. I don’t know how many owners really drop the spare every six months, I bet not many.
 
MAXISTYLES said:
I’ve had my 4Runner for 5 years now. I’ve dropped the spare twice in five years and no rust that would keep it from lowering. I don’t know how many owners really drop the spare every six months, I bet not many.
Click to expand...

well IMO ,,, living in SW florida the only problem you may have is , your ride will be blown away LOL....

Up in the cold winter regions [RUST BELT] you best do the winter prep ..

also if you do go to the cold north east you best drain that washer fluid and install 30 below zero washer fluid .. LOL>........

I am here in your area now , no rust problems here !
the only problem I have is that sand gets into my ride ...
 
MAXISTYLES said:
I’ve had my 4Runner for 5 years now. I’ve dropped the spare twice in five years and no rust that would keep it from lowering. I don’t know how many owners really drop the spare every six months, I bet not many.
Click to expand...

I see you're in Florida, probably a big reason why. Move up north where there's snow and salt then you'll understand lol.
 
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