Spare Tire

Buy an Arctic Fox TC they don't cover up the hole.

Funny thing I haven't changed a flat tire on my 2016 Ram nor on my old 2011 nor the 2005. All were duallys and I always run good tires. If you are running dually's and have good tires, it's likely a very rare event. I think my last flat on a pickup or SUV was 15 years ago or more. Now trailer tires are completely different, LOL.

Now on my 2016 I installed the 55 gallon replacement tank and the 30 gallon ''spare tire'' tanks made by Titan Tanks so lost my spare tire area.. my solution is the tire is chained into the bed of the truck or on a ''reciever hitch carrier which I can mount under the camper overhang or on the front of the truck too on the front hitch.

Fishhunter wrote:
What's the best way to lower the spare tire with TC on truck blocking the access hole in the bed?

Did that. Done that. I-405 southbound in Renton, exit 3. Right front went flat. Solution was disconnect tie-downs & lift off the camper. Crank down a half turn at the time because the hand part of the handle was hitting the bottom of the camper.

The bigger problem... Unbeknownst to me the aftermarket wheels installed by the previous owner had lug nuts that were NOT the size of the emergency wrench. No problem, I had a spare wrench in the toolbox...until that broke. $196 for the tow truck to show up and say, 'here, use mine'.

Lesson learned, a proper lug nut wrench is now on board.

-Eric

I had to change a flat once with the TC on the truck. It was a major pain to not only get the spare down but to drag it out from under the truck.

So, I put on a front receiver hitch and a spare tire carrier. The next flat I had was SO much easier to deal with.

That's what I suggest.

My Dodges ('96 & '04) both are above the bumper and below the tailgate.

Wayne

Fishhunter wrote:
What's the best way to lower the spare tire with TC on truck blocking the access hole in the bed?

I've never seen the access hole through the bed. If it was there, wouldn't it require removal of the tailgate to get at it? (I can't imagine a manufacturer making something so inconvenient)

All the access points I've seen go through the rear bumper.

^^__this!

For me, I think the best is:

1 Leave the spare where it is.

2 Keep good tires on your truck.

3 If you need to use the spare, raise the TC with its jacks and pull the truck forward about a foot to clear the access hole in the bed.

4 While the TC is raised, change the tire.

5 Back under the TC the 1-foot.

6 Lower the TC and go camping.

I think this is what I will/would do. I have not needed access hole in the bed for the spare in over thirteen years.

I will admit, for my '04 Dodge, I made an adapter for the spare crank. From underneath, I can put the spare crank extension in place, it is about 2-inches out from the bumper. I can raise or lower the spare with a ratchet, crescent, or wrench. I could use a pipe wrench or vice grip pliers to raise or lower the spare without being outside the bumper. Why did I fabricate the adapter? Cause I could, and I thought it was a good idea. I did not need the spare for over thirteen years, so with any luck it was a waste of time.

Wayne

I carried mine on a front bumper receiver mount because I had a very heavy duty hitch fabricated and welded under the rear not allowing the tire to fit back there anymore. This was in the days of before being able to buy a good aftermarket receiver.

Bill

Some people have rotated the mount to come out through the side/wheel well. I'm not sure how that works on a Ram.