Getting the spare down?

[PolarisCobra]

I have a 2017 Big Horn that I got about 6 weeks ago. Just for the heck of it, yesterday I tried to drop the spare. Wanted to get some lube in the moving parts, and see how it works, because if I get a flat, it will be dark and rainy, better to know how it works in the driveway.

Manual was very little help. Problem is I can't get the tool to fit in the little square hole for the winch. I can see it with a flashlight, and I can get the tool from under the seat to the socket, but it won't engage. This shouldn't be this hard, what am I doing wrong???

 

[SitKneelBend]

I have a 2017 Big Horn that I got about 6 weeks ago. Just for the heck of it, yesterday I tried to drop the spare. Wanted to get some lube in the moving parts, and see how it works, because if I get a flat, it will be dark and rainy, better to know how it works in the driveway.

Manual was very little help. Problem is I can't get the tool to fit in the little square hole for the winch. I can see it with a flashlight, and I can get the tool from under the seat to the socket, but it won't engage. This shouldn't be this hard, what am I doing wrong???

If I remember correctly it goes in at an angle...maybe angled in slightly towards the center of the truck?

Sent from my HTC U11 using Tapatalk

 

[werdna1977]

Make sure you are using the correct end of the tool

 

[Bombdigitty]

Mine has a splined McGuard adaptor similar to the wheel lock, but smaller. Not sure if they are all this way or not. The adaptor clips onto the end of the rod.

If you shine a light down the tube where you put the rod in, you may see a funny shaped keyway where this would go.

 

[circuitguy]

That's why I got AAA insurance with road side service, so I wont have to get my spare down.

 

[crash68]

Mine has a splined McGuard adaptor similar to the wheel lock, but smaller. Not sure if they are all this way or not. The adaptor clips onto the end of the rod.

That is the Mopar spare tire "lock" and is an add on. I added it to mine.
Someone on this forum posted about buying a used truck that had this spare tire lock on it, but they didn't have the "key" that goes on the end of the rod.

 

[BWL]

My spare required a key that goes on the end of the rod and was not under the seat with the spare. It came in a bag with some other things in my glovebox. I was lucky enough to notice before I had a problem getting the spare down at night. Was a good idea to do a test run and make sure everything was there.

 

[PolarisCobra]

I can see the square hole with a flashlight, and yes, it is towards the middle. There is an arrow in the plastic where the opening is to guide you.

Putting the square end of the tool in, it just doesn't seem to fit no matter how much I twist an wiggle (the metal rod).

 

[22hemi13]

Funny thing. Back in 1999 I bought a brand new GMC Sierra. The 2000 year new body. I had a flat one day and for about 2hrs I couldn’t get the spare down. Finally had somebody come by with an air compressor, aired it up and limped I to town to tire shop. They couldn’t get it down either. There was a recall right after that. They didn’t equip the truck with one extension piece that allowed the tool that slides into the mechanism. Ever since then I’ve always carried my own stuff

 

[SitKneelBend]

Hmm...maybe it's defective? Do you have pictures?

Sent from my HTC U11 using Tapatalk

 

[Bombdigitty]

That is the Mopar spare tire "lock" and is an add on. I added it to mine.
Someone on this forum posted about buying a used truck that had this spare tire lock on it, but they didn't have the "key" that goes on the end of the rod.

Replacments can be ordered from McGuard. I know this because I broke my lug nut key and paid $40 for a new key from Mcguard refrencing the part number on the paperwork that came with it. I received the new key a few days later and it was the one for the spare. Before I realized it was the wrong one I destyroyed it so I could not be returned. (Longer story). Then I had to pay another 25 or 30 for the correct lugnut key.

 

[PolarisCobra]

Will try to get some pics. Been busy at work, not a high priority (unless I run over a nail).

 

[moparpeetie]

I can see the square hole with a flashlight, and yes, it is towards the middle. There is an arrow in the plastic where the opening is to guide you.

Putting the square end of the tool in, it just doesn't seem to fit no matter how much I twist an wiggle (the metal rod).

I've had 2 gen 4's now and that set up is junk...there is no trick, just plenty of patience, when you finally get it down remove the stupid thing and put the spare in the bed. That has got to be THEE worst engineered system ever!!!

 

[PolarisCobra]

Got it figured out. I have a flashlight with magnetic base, put that up under the truck, shining in the port where the rod goes. Noticed there was a shadow that I could not see before where the tool goes. Turns out I was using the wrong end of the rod. When I looked before, it looked like there was a socket back there, and that you would put the male end of the rod into it. Looked like the back of a 3/8" socket almost. When I noticed the shadow, I could tell that it was more like a square bolt head back there, and the the female end of the rod would fit. Sure enough, it went right in, was easy to turn the winch.

Got the spare down, found it had only 35 PSI, filled it up to 50. That is probably high, but I hope not to need it for a while, it will go down some by itself.

Sprayed some lube up into the winch, and on the cable, hopefully will slow down any rusting, and I will be able to get to it if I ever need it. Fact is, I have not had a flat in years, never needed to use the temp spare on any of my cars, I hope this will be the same. But at least I know how to do it if I ever need to.

The manual was no help there BTW, it doesn't say anything about which end to put in there.

 

[Robo23]

Yes almost impossible even in good conditions. I just keep a long 1/4” extension and ratchet, fits right in and lowers spare very easy

 

[sbarron]

Got it figured out. I have a flashlight with magnetic base, put that up under the truck, shining in the port where the rod goes. Noticed there was a shadow that I could not see before where the tool goes. Turns out I was using the wrong end of the rod. When I looked before, it looked like there was a socket back there, and that you would put the male end of the rod into it. Looked like the back of a 3/8" socket almost. When I noticed the shadow, I could tell that it was more like a square bolt head back there, and the the female end of the rod would fit. Sure enough, it went right in, was easy to turn the winch.

Got the spare down, found it had only 35 PSI, filled it up to 50. That is probably high, but I hope not to need it for a while, it will go down some by itself.

Sprayed some lube up into the winch, and on the cable, hopefully will slow down any rusting, and I will be able to get to it if I ever need it. Fact is, I have not had a flat in years, never needed to use the temp spare on any of my cars, I hope this will be the same. But at least I know how to do it if I ever need to.

The manual was no help there BTW, it doesn't say anything about which end to put in there.

Sooo... Post #3?

Glad you got it sorted.

 

[PolarisCobra]

Yup, that's what it was. Didn't look like that until yesterday, which was the first chance I had to take another look.

 

[ken jordan]

Werdna 1977 is on to something. Had the exact same problem when trying to change a flat in remote WV. Anyway the 4 hour wait for roadside assistance gave me enough time to figure out which end of the jack fits. The manual is not much help. Just try each end of each section and something will click.

 

[ken jordan]

oops did not read the rest of the posts to see you got it sorted out. Still, sometimes you can get a lot done while waiting for roadside assistance.

 

[PaulTGarrett]

That's why I got AAA insurance with road side service, so I wont have to get my spare down.

AAA won't come help you in the middle of the Green Swamp, Ocala National Forest, or Everglades... I hunt all three areas and know... I've tried... LOL