Until now, I liked those easy to use spare tire hoists

[danandamy]

Came home this evening and noticed my wife's Ram was getting a flat. Well, knowing she's got to go to work tonite and anyplace to fix a flat is closed by now, I go to put her spare on and IT'S GONE! I sat there puzzled for a minute, trying to remember if I had took it out for something, which I hadn't. Damn. Ripped off. Well, nothing else to do but take off the spare from my Ram, double damn, they ripped me off too! We both met at a restaurant the other evening and that's the only time we had the trucks in the same place at once (we live way out in the sticks so I know it didn't happen there, besides I have alot more valuable stuff than that laying around). They must have had a crank stuck on the end of a power drill and zipped 'em right down. Then, to top it off, they cranked the hoists back up so we wouldn't notice when we came out. Guess I gotta round up some spare wheels and tires. I just can't believe the stupidity of some people. I mean, is a tire worth your life? I was originally thinking that I wish I would have caught them at it but then decided it was probably best I didn't. I guarantee you it would have been real ugly.

Rant session over.

 

[jmeehan]

Originally posted by danandme

I was originally thinking that I wish I would have caught them at it but then decided it was probably best I didn't. I guarantee you it would have been real ugly.

Rant session over.

I know what you mean. My old chevy was broken into years ago and the punks couldn't get my $150 tape player out of the dash so they stole $300 worth of tapes. Iwas HOT! I grabbed the shovel out of the back and wailed on a brick wall a few times. Later I found the empty casset box and thought, gee I could have tracked those guys down with my shovel! Definitly better that I didn't find them.

 

[work2muchplay2little]

danandme, same thing happened to me a few months ago. Definitely ruins a perfectly good day. I bought one of these afterward: http://www.sparetirelock.com/ If you're interested, I've got 4 stock chrome steel wheels with Michelin 245/75R16 tires with 28K miles and about a 1/4" tread that I recently took off and could make a good deal on.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

That totally blows. The day i got my Ram, the dealer even said lock your spare. I got a weatherproof master padlock and one of those coiled cables and locked the spare through the rim and around the frame. That will hopefully keep the thives away.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have the total oposite problem. The aftermarket flatbed on my truck has this aluminum plate with the three center marker lights on it. Because the right marker lined up where the hole should be, the installer offset the access hole for the shaft. Trouble is, the shaft won't line up. In order to drop the tire, I have to agravate myself with a pipe wrench turning the shaft. Guess that is not so bad afterall.



Worst thing about being violated is when you can't catch em' in the act.

 

[dmurdock]

cable lock

I thought the trucks came with a cable and padlock around the spare??? mine did (wow, guess the dealer installed it for free???)

 

[illflem]

Another thing to realize concerning the spare is that the crank won't turn to lower the tire if the tailgate is down. Beware if you are hauling a 10' camper or long load, you will need a pipe wrench to turn the shaft under the truck.

 

[merryman]

Way back when I bought my '84 Ford, the dealer threw in a cable and lock, explaining that a short time before, they had showed up one morning to find that the spares had been taken from most of the trucks on the lot. I have used that cable and lock ever since. The Ram dosent know its wearing a ford cable and lock.



Vaughn

 

[YA_TO_UPA]

Was at my buddies farm one day and he was looking under my truck and he asked where my spare tire was. I thought he was joking with me. I couldn't believe it was gone and to tell ya the truth I don't even know if it was there the day I took delivery of the truck!! Now there's a cable and lock keeping it under there.

 

[beartrace]

My Y2k came with a steel lock that bolts right through the rim with a key lock. This should slow up anyone trying to make off with the spare.

 

[Tulsa618]

Am I fooling myself with the Mopar hoist lock? It takes a keyed shaft into a like-keyed replacement female slot in the hoist. Just use the keyed shaft in place of the stock shaft when hoisting. Am I to understand that I'm still vulnerable because the cable is easy to cut? It seems that it really wouldn't be that easy to get far enough under there to get to the cable - at least it would be challenging to get MY hand in far enough to do so...

 

[Fireman]

Better watch your tailgates too

Fireman

 

[Timinator]

Make sure you test your lock regularly. My "weatherproof" lock rusted/froze shut. I had to cut it off.

 

[RKHebert]

good point about those tail gates. one of the first things i did was install a cable/lock on spare tire. i also installed a hose clamp around the slotted "easy off" tail gate hinge. if they want it, their gonna get it, but they'll have to work for it!

 

[GeneA]

You may have just lost the spare. That happened to me pulling a 5er. I knew it because the trailer ran over it scaring the bejesus out of me. I pulled over not knowing what it was. A van following me also stopped and asked if I had hit it too. I go what was it and he said someone lost a wheel. Not seeing any damage I went on. Then the light bulb went off and I pulled over to check and sure enough the spareb was gone. Since then and after about $350 I keep it in the bed chained with a log chaine and monster padlock.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Nice Avatar!

Hey Dan!



Nice avatar!





Sorry, couldn't resist.



Dave

 

[Coop]

My 99 came with the factory installed lock. Wow, DC actually added something instead of cheapening it.

 

[Randy J]

May be a little late on this, been gone for a while, but I can hook you up with a spare tire maybe. I have a brand new 245/75/16 Michelin that was my spare. The "new" 245 is just ridding in the back of my truck right now. If you want it, it's yours. I had one of my old 285's put on the spare wheel instead. As for wheels, there's a tire dealer here in town that makes really good deals on wheels, especially steel. Let me know.

 

[Bad340fish]

A few years ago my cousin was driving around with his spare tire in the bed. Before he went to the Fair one night my uncle told him that he better get the spare under the truck or someone would take it from the bed. Well he did that and they stole from under the truck that night!!



I haven't checked but if my 99 does have a lock... . wheres the key?? Uh oh, I bet thats the key that was in My console when I got the truck... . hmmmm where is the key now

Clark

 

[Archive]

Originally posted by illflem

Beware if you are hauling a 10' camper or long load, you will need a pipe wrench to turn the shaft under the truck.

Bill... I haul a 10ft Northland camper, and have had to change the tire. My spare operates normally with the camper on, but unloading the backseat(carseat, etc) is what was a pain...