Spare Tire Winch Failures!

[PBJ2500CTD]

Just tried to lower the spare and the winch rod gave some fight at first, but now turns in both directions without doing a thing. Before I cut the stupid thing off are there any tricks to get the winch to move?

IIRC there is at least one roll pin in the linkage. You may have bent or lost one when turning the crank.

 

[Regcabguy]

On the 3rd gens there are opposing holes on the inside of the frame. Put the hooks in them and crank her up.

 

[LFalconer]

I concur on the ratchet strap, have had this issue in the past. Also spare tires go bad. My 2003 Chev HD 2500 [496 V8 ] spare tire was badly cracked, replaced it with a fresh tire. That has a ratchet strap on it as well... I have a Dodge as well - Chev is backup towing machine for the farm.....


Luke

 

[MarkEkberg]

Yikes. Might have to add the ratchet to mine.



I lost one on a superduty once. It hit the ground at speed and came back up picking the back of the truck up off the ground (or at least it felt like it). It dented the bottom of the bed, and almost ripped the bumper off the truck.

 

[EDankievitch]

We need to slush the cable or it will rust and fail. I've been giving the cable a coating of heavy duty corrosion spray from CRC and have never had a failure.

 

[brods]

It was the R clip that connects the shaft to the winch that let go. It might be a good idea to preemptively change that clip out every few years if you live in the rust belt.

#ad


And for those who took apart their toys to see how things worked:

#ad


#ad

 

[Regcabguy]

Yikes. Might have to add the ratchet to mine.



I lost one on a superduty once. It hit the ground at speed and came back up picking the back of the truck up off the ground (or at least it felt like it). It dented the bottom of the bed, and almost ripped the bumper off the truck.

My wife's Superduty work truck had the identical winch as my 2nd gen did at the time. it's contagious.
Mine was not corroded when it failed.

 

[crispyboy]

I swapped in a newer spare tire last year. I slathered up the cable with wheel bearing grease and sprayed a bunch of Fluid film into the winch body.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Mine is just fine but I don't go off road much any more. Plus when I crank it back up I make sure it's tight so it won't swing back and forth. ( And when off road, it was just roads (two rut) along fields. )

 

[RideSlow2004]

Will be getting a couple of ratchet straps. New tire in spare position, and my toyhauler also uses a winch to hold the spare under the garage. TDR rocks.