Getting the spare tire out....

I had an enclosed hitch cargo box custom built for my 2016 GMC/ 10.4 Bigfoot camper. It has drop down doors on each side.I had the fabrication shop drill a 1" holes in the box in line with crank tube on my rear bumper so I can open the cargo box door, pop out the plastic plugs I have inserted in the holes, use a stiff wire with small hook bent into the end to catch hold of the tube hatch and pull it open, insert crank rod and use a ratchet inside cargo box to drop tire. I remove the lock cylinder from crank tube before I put hitch cargo box on. I set this up and did a dry run with it and it worked fine before i left home.....low & behold if I didn't have 2 flat tires in Arizona this spring due faulty valve stems ( GM warranty issue) and had to use my spare tire both times. First was a front tire so was able to lift truck ok with camper on. Second was passenger side inside dually. I lifted the camper up off the truck bed about 6 " to relieve weight then jacked truck up and changed tire no problem. Its a time consuming proceedure but it all worked good. I put the spare back under the truck by myself both times too using the ratchet to winch it up. It was a bit awkward getting winch wire thingy thru the wheel hole while working under the camper overhang and cargo box. Hopefully I will never have another flat again, but I am prepared if i do!!

Unloading the TC with a flat on the rear on the side of the freeway sounds like a bad dream in the making.

Think I'd rotate the winch to a more suitable position or replace it with a new one. Dorman makes them and Rock Auto and Autozone sell them. I think they ate about 70 bucks.

My old 97 don't have a winch at all. Has the cross carrier. I take my hydraulic jack and push the end of the carrier up and release the now frozen hold down and take the spare out. Done that before, not too bad actually. I carry a hydraulic jack and 4 way lug wrench all the time anyway.

I get a little dirty under there but it beats waiting for road service.... and it's a bunch cheaper.

I would just unload the TC. Others, besides the relocation of the crank, have added a front mount to the front of the truck.

Why not raise the camper just enough to get the spare out? That is our intentions, plan a. Plan b is call coachnet.

I’ve read of some with Fords who have rotated the winch so the crank is accessed from a wheel well. On our Chevy, I can use the factory tubes but cannot crank the handle. If I remember correct a 3/8” ratchet fit right into the tube end and worked great.