Spare tire cable will not engage

Thanks very much. Sorry to hear I am not the only one this happened to. Will stay after it.

Have you tried, having someone underneath pulling down on the bar while you turn the nut?
good luck.

RoyF wrote:
The same thing happened to me with my fifth-wheel. The cable gets tangled on the takeup spool if it is rewound with no load on the cable. I bit the bullet and took it to my dealer to have fixed.

No doubt I could have tried opening the underneath fabric to gain access to the spool and untangle the cable, but usually my attempts end up making things worse than they were to start with. However, if you are handier than me, you may be able to untangle the cable and put things back together.

After that lesson, I do not rewind the cable unless there is a load on it, but rather let it dangle until I can put the spare back on the cable.

Probably this, I had the same thing happen to me. A sturdy pair of cutters were needed to cut the cable.

I had the same issue on our Jayco. The under side was covered with corrugated plastic in maybe 5 foot sections and I was able to take out a the screws from one section and get the cable loose.

Without weight the cable didn't drop down and my turning the handle to unwind it kinked the cable so it was a bit of a pain to get loose. I think I had to wind it up tightly and then had the wife unwind it while I put as much weight on is as a could.

Biggest pain about it is lining up the holes and putting all the screws back in the cover.

Now I just leave it dangling rather than rolling it back in.

Time to replace the 'tire hoist' You can buy them at any auto parts store. keep it greased and it will last a long time.

The same thing happened to me with my fifth-wheel. The cable gets tangled on the takeup spool if it is rewound with no load on the cable. I bit the bullet and took it to my dealer to have fixed.

No doubt I could have tried opening the underneath fabric to gain access to the spool and untangle the cable, but usually my attempts end up making things worse than they were to start with. However, if you are handier than me, you may be able to untangle the cable and put things back together.

After that lesson, I do not rewind the cable unless there is a load on it, but rather let it dangle until I can put the spare back on the cable.

Humm, That is one problem I never had.. And I had that kind of mount.

Usually the "Extension" tool (Also the hubacp removing tool) is a flat blade screwdriver with a hex nut head. Designed to be operated by the lug wrench.

Shove it in if it does nto go in all the way rotate SLOWLY by hand to see if it engages.

Possibility somethign rusted out and changed position.. That DID happen to me.