holding the spare

[ARhine]

Tired of the spare tire ridding in the bed all the time. The stock under bed deal is a joke as well. Had to cut the bolts to get it out the last time.



Is there a cable/winch setup from a newer truck that would work well?



Anybody else find some other solution?

 

[TKingsbury]

I have a winch out of a 2nd gen dodge, and one out of a chevy. I haven't got any further than putting them on my shelf at home as they are project eleventybillion. Too many more important things to do that aren't getting done either. It's been about 12 years since I have used a spare tire on anything besides my trailer, so I'm not too worried about it. As far as putting it in, if you have a bit of fab skills it should be easy.

Travis. .

 

[dslcummins]

I bought an ATV winch out of Harbor Freight, when on sale, they are about $50.

I bolted it under the bed, above the spare. I fixed the hand controls, so they would plug into another trailer lights plug, I mounted by the hitch. I still use the factory spare tire bar, to make sure it stays tight under the truck. I don't have to climb under the truck any more, I undo the bar, swing it out of the way, lower the tire with the winch. I do the reverse, when putting it under the truck. It works good.



I did the same thing with my flatbed trailer.

 

[DRettie]

i used to run the bed mount, but had to turf it due to the camper... i looked at the factory rear underbed mount, but due to the hitch previously installed and the sheer grunt factor of the factory underbed mounting ( i hate crawling under to loosen things when u need to... its always raining or on a crappy surface )... . anyway, i went to the salvage yard, and pulled out a 80's chev truck underbed cable winch, and fabbed it up to mount in the centre area. i used a piece of channel iron with a 3/8 bolt sticking up on each end about an inch ( to go into opposite lug holes), and the cable passing thru the center, to pull and center the spare on the way up or down... the drive rod i access near the licence plate area, and is also fabbed out of a longer piece of tubing, as the length need is different on the chevs... oh, i also whacked flat the outside end so as to insert and turn the tire iron... . fyi, i looked at early 90's dakota set ups and more or less imitated it, but didnt use the dodge parts as they are not skookum enough for the big spares on the ram

 

[ARhine]

thanks for the tips. The local yard has no newer dodges, but has boatloads of chevys and fords. Guess I will have to go on a scavenger hunt.