Under Bed Spare Tire Mount Mounting Questions

[Mike Quillici]

I am considering purchasing the under bed spare tire mount from LMC, and I'm trying to figure out if it is absolutely necessary to spend almost $30 on 2 long bolts. I seem to remember reading somewhere that a threaded rod from Home Depot will also work. Does anybody have any thoughts on this? Also, the long bolt that the locking device attaches to looks like it's supposed to thread down from above. Does the bed have to be removed to install this bolt? Any pictures would also be really helpful.

Thanks!

[Sinister]

I have the underbed setup from LMC. Bought the bolts. One of them I couldn't install without pulling the bed, so I used some threaded rod instead. You could probably use threaded rod for both sides. You'll want the threaded retaining nut thing they sell for the right side though.

[Mike Quillici]

Thank you. I just can't see pulling the bed to install a $20 bolt. Threaded rod it is!

[CG]

Just a thought...You could become a subscriber to the board for 25 bucks (good for a whole year) and you would be able to post a WTB ad in the classifieds. I bet you will find an original for sale by someone here and end up paying less for it and the board membership put together than you would pay for the parts from LMC.

[Mike Quillici]

Sinister, 2 questions: What size tires do you have, mine are 265/75R15's and which holes in the frame did you use. The larger ones that are farther to the back don't seem right, but the smaller ones that are slightly closer together put the bots supporting the cross strap at a really sharp angle. Thanks

[Mike Quillici]

Also, does your spare sit flat, or slightly at an angle facing down toward the front of the truck and up near the back?

[Sinister]

My tires are 265/70R16. I used the 3rd hole from the back on my frame. The holes are bigger, I actually still need to get off my butt and put some washers on them. Thanks for the reminder. Tire sits pretty flat from front to back.

[Mike Quillici]

Alrighty. I think I might take some pictures and post them, so I can make sure we're talking about the same holes. Or that I even have the same holes! I'll get on that in a few. Thanks!

[leddzepp]

I used angle bracket and bolts from Lowes to extend out just beyond the frame rails. I played around with it until I got it centered.

[Mike Quillici]

Could I trouble you for a picture? I'd love not to have to engineer this from scratch.

[leddzepp]

Here ya go. I used a factory hole on the bottom of the frame for the other side. I got the tire pretty centered right to left and front to back.

[48richard]

Just picked up one complete from a junkyard for $15, but installed it using existing holes on the diagonal. The one on the driver side is forward, and the other side rearward. The holes are slotted so the bolts can be put through at an angle without raising the bed.

[Mike Quillici]

I finally got mine in. It took a while, but it's in and stable. I ended up using angle brackets. Because I have coils with overload leaf springs, I can't mount it as far forward as leddzepp's. Does anybody with overload leaf springs have a picture of their tire mount? I'm really curious about the placement.