Spare Tire

[1972BlueC20]

So my truck didn't come with a spare tire or jack when I bought it, the jack was missing and I'm not sure if it ever had a spare.

What do you guys do about having a spare?

I don't see many trucks that have the spare underneath, and I really don't like the way it looks.....I roll around with a can of fix-a-flat in case I get a nail just so I can make it home or to the tire shop but that may not save me either....I also have AAA, but I always prefer to be self sufficient.

I was thinking of throwing a cheap wheel and tire in the bed of my truck and putting a bottle jack and tire iron under my seat, but someone might steal my spare without it being chained down.


What do you guys do? Any suggestions?

[butler57]

I picked up a cheap spare off CL and used the existing spare mount in the box. My truck is fairly stock so it looks good to me. Jack etc goes behind the seat.
I had to fab up my own bolts to mount the tire so I don't have it locked however the truck is mostly garaged so theft doesn't really bother me.

[1972BlueC20]

Good idea, and good looking truck!

I have a cheap aluminum tool box in the back that came with the truck, I might make 2 holes in the corner and run a chain through it and through a spare and just lay it in the bed flat. Then keep a jack ect either in the tool box or seat.

[brown7373]

I do carry my spare under the bed. I think it looks fine back there, but it is a real ***** to remove and replace. Getting the tire to balance on the arm and lift it up is very difficult. And it is very heavy, lying on your back and not able to get under it and get any leverage. Usually, I use my floor jack to lift it, but it still wants to tilt and fall off before it gets lifted into place.

I think newer pickups have a kind of pulley system to lift the tire into place. Is that correct? When I bought my truck, all the brackets under the bed and been removed and I bought replacements. 72 didn't come with the pulley system, did it? Has anyone adapted one for our vintage truck?

[Stocker]

My (original) spare is under the bed. Have not needed it in 37 years and I hope I never do. Four way lug wrench behind the seat and a bottle jack under the seat.

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by brown7373

I do carry my spare under the bed. I think it looks fine back there, but it is a real ***** to remove and replace. I think newer pickups have a kind of pulley system to lift the tire into place. Is that correct? Has anyone adapted one for our vintage truck?

I whipped this up for around 20 bucks or so. Chain hoist came off a Mitsubishi truck. My re-bar crank handle is long enough so I don't have to get under the truck to pull out the spare. Not pretty, but works.

[builtnb]

I just recently purchased a 16 inch donut spare at the pick and pull out of a 1990 caprice wagon, it clears my disk brakes, I am going to mount the tire underneath the back.

[kcsa75]

My spare is in the garage at home. I have good tires on the truck and don't normally go too from from home so I'm not worried about it.

I do have a 6-ton bottle jack under the seat though.

[motorcritter]

Good tires still get punctured. Most chain-hoist style spare mounts should install with minimal fabrication skills. Just don't use an impact wrench to raise or lower them. A pick-n-pull 'yard should have a nice selection, you can snag the crank handle- then you're ready to hang a little piece of mind out back.

[bonnieclyde100]

here is what i did

[Hubscrub]

I got a cable hoist off of a 90s model at the junk yard I plan to use only gave 5 bucks and mounts with two bolts I believe.

[mechanicalman]

error

[mechanicalman]

error

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by bonnieclyde100

here is what i did

Very NICE!

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by yuccales

i whipped this up for around 20 bucks or so. Chain hoist came off a mitsubishi truck. My re-bar crank handle is long enough so i don't have to get under the truck to pull out the spare. Not pretty, but works.

nice!