lost spare tire

[Fast 1]

I had a 2001 3500 and the cable that holds the spare tire up broke. It probably hung loose for a while and wasn't clamped up tight.



You might want to check to see that yours isn't haggin loose.

I'm tying mine up with a couple of bungy cords.

It's alot of tire for only one little cable.

 

[rrausch]

Just curious, but where did the cable break?

I've thought also, that the cable looked a little light for the load.

Guess I'd better check mine.

 

[Fast 1]

I can't see the end of the cable. Must be right inside the rachet where it rubbed. I asked the dealer to warrantee it, still waiting to find out. It's long past 36,000 miles, but that should not matter. It's a safety issue. Things should't be falling off.

 

[Phil Stuart]

spare tire woes

I wouldn't think that bungee cords would hold up a tire that large either. Do yourself a favor and get a good heavy laminated cable and padlock from Home Depot or someplace like that. This will make sure that It's always there when you need it.



Phil

 

[Happy Camper]

I have a spare tire lock that is a rod that goes down thru the lug nut hole and locks so even if the cable could break the lock would not allow it to fall.

 

[Deezal Man]

The factory cable is more than strong enough to hold a spare tire.

Something else happened here.



I also have a lock like happy camper. Take it from experience..... Those cheezy cable & master lock setups take about 2 seconds to defeat. Half of which is required by the theif to crawl under your truck.



Naturally when it happens... you don't realize a perfectly good master lock and cheezy thin cable (which has been cut) is sitting in the parking lot as you drive away without a spare tire or lock.



The one we have isn't bullet proof either, but would require you to drill out or pick the lock. Even if they cut the cable supporting the tire... it won't let loose.



Besides, unless you buy the rubber coated lock... it'll rust itself shut in about a year or so. Gee... . I really miss dealing with that.



This lock has a grease fitting for lubrication. Really a slick little unit.

 

[rrausch]

Happy Camper & Deezul Man, What is the bolt attached to? I can't remember what's up there above my spare.

 

[Happy Camper]

CRS! Sorry, I will have to crawl under and see if my memory does not return. Come in Deezel Man!!!

 

[Fast 1]

It just was not clamped up tight and the cable rubbed against the side of the hole where the cable comes out of the rachet mechanism. I agree the cable is strong enough if it doesn't rub against anything.



I have had a plastic connector rub against a a/c line long enough to rub a hole in it and leak.



I still think 4 bungie straps would be enough insurance for me. Just enough to keep it snug if the rachet doesn't.



Or maybe we could use a 3/8 x 20 ft chain around the tire and over the frame in a criss cross pattern with a couple of binders so its tight and then bungie strap the binder handles. LOL

 

[Phil Stuart]

Spare tire lock

If somebody has the ba**s to try and steal my spare tire, more power to 'em. They don't want me catching them in the act



Phil

 

[illflem]

Sorry about your loss but when these lost spare threads come around it's always a good reminder for everyone to check that you still have a spare for when you need it. Seems crazy to me why a turdhead would want to steal just one tire but they do.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I bolted a piece of chain to the H crossmember and padlock the end to a lug hole of the spare. Will hold it if the cable breaks, and helps stop the lazier thieves. My friend, Bill Ruger, will help stop the more industrious thieves

 

[JBlock]

Originally posted by Deezal Man

The factory cable is more than strong enough to hold a spare tire.



The one we have isn't bullet proof either, but would require you to drill out or pick the lock. Even if they cut the cable supporting the tire... it won't let loose.



Besides, unless you buy the rubber coated lock... it'll rust itself shut in about a year or so. Gee... . I really miss dealing with that.



This lock has a grease fitting for lubrication. Really a slick little unit.

Where did you purchase the lock and setup with the grease fitting, it seems cool.



Joe

 

[MoparDave]

Jblock, spare tire lock

This is where i got the one I am using. it states up to 99 but it fits my 2001 just fine. Grease fitting included



http://www.quadratec.com/cgi-bin/sg...2&UREQC=3&UREQD=4&FNM=02&UID=2002012422555963

 

[Briar Hopper]

Bummer about losing your spare, Verlyn. On my '94 F150, my '98 Ram 1500, and now this '01 3500, I've had the spares come slightly loose, somehow. Thanks for the heads-up, I'll check mine tomorrow. On this truck, I can't feel the spare banging around like I could with the other two.

 

[Deezal Man]

Spare tire lock

If you refer to the link MoparDave has attached, you will see a U shaped clamp at the top of the lock. This is clamped around the bar controlling the spare tire winch. (What you turn when lowering the spare).



The bar is then guided through one of the stud holes in the rim, and the lock itself is slide up against the rim.



The grease zerk may be visible in the picture.



As for the protection offered by Mr. Ruger... . Thats about equal to having a deaf/old pit-bull.



He'll rip you up "IF" he happens to be awake at 4:00am for some reason... . to see ya robbing the store. Lord knows, he didn't hear a thing.



Oh, BTW: I bought mine at a local shop. The price posted at the website is slightly less than I paid.

 

[RustyJC]

I was under my truck changing out the rear axle lube a couple of weekends ago and found my spare loose by about a couple of inches and dangling on the cable. I know it was tight because I had it off when I was installing the Rancho 9000's a few months ago and cinched the heck out of it when I put it back in. Guess I'd better check it periodically!



Rusty

 

[DaveN]

They steal your spare tire so they can sell it back to you. My grandpa had one stolen out of a Kmart parking lot, called the police. Cop came there, was filling out the report and said "I get about two or three of these calls here a day. We don't know who's doing it, but I know where you can go to get your tire. " It was a local junkyard. Where else would you go to get a spare tire, it's on an ugly steel wheel, nobody wants to pay for a wheel and tire to match what they have... . he had to pay $35 to get a spare, he had a pile of them about 20 deep...



Well anyways, that's why they get stolen, so they can pay for whatever habit they've gotten themselves into.

 

[C Schomer]

I just bought a used spare tire winch from a wrecked Dodge PU in a junkyard to put under my RV - I want to be able to use the same tools to operate both. The cable looks fine but I ran it all the way in and out to be sure it works OK. I noticed the cable moves proportionately with rotation except for one spot in each revolution. Same thing with the carrier on my truck, and I know it's never been in a wreck to damage it. They figured out how to put a dead spot in the mechanism so it can't just unroll itself! I think if you don't hit that dead spot when you cinch it up, it might come down til it does. If that's the case, you could probably use a spacer to shorten the cable end just enough to get it on the dead spot when tight. Mine's always stayed tight. Something else to check out closer when I'm bored! Craig