My tech article--Spare Tire Rack Mod

[edjolly]

Got tired of looking in the passenger side mirror and seeing my spare swinging free. I just got a new set of 5 31" 10.50's and didn't want one of those swinging loose either, but I couldn't work out a good way to attach a safety cable (I may do that yet, anyway.)

I went to the local Ace and bought a cotterless hitch pin. With the tire off, holding the release lever fully engaged to the stop sear, I drilled a proper sized hole through the two plates which make up the release lever/pipe catch combo. Now when I latch the tire, I put in the pin, and presto! the damn thing CANNOT unlatch until I pull the pin.

Sorry no pics as yet.

Price of the hitch pin: 1.50
Knowing your spare won't kill pedestrians: Priceless.

Where's my t-shirt? ;D ;D ;D


Ed

 

[DPM77]

I like this! Mine had this weird stainless steel/chrome sleeve screwed to the pipe, kept the thing latched about half the time, now it just takes off any time it likes. I start a feasability study on this tech upgrade. Sounds so simple......

by the way, even with the stock cable attached, that wheel swings out far enough to scare ya. Did it to me on the highway after I hit a pothole. Verrrry uncomfortable feeling....

dpm

 

[WyleCoyote]

Now I just need a warning light to tell me if I forgot to latch it!

 

[Broncobowsher]

Safety cable?
What safety cable?
I though that when it hit the body and shook the truck was the warning sign that it wasn't secure.
I ran mine for years with a bungee cord as a safty. I knew the latch was loose when I would accelerate and get a clunk in the body as the bungee cord threw the spare tire back into the tailgate.
I just gave up and made a bumper mounted spare tire holder.