Spare Tire Storage

2019 Tundra
Icon Stage 9 lift
7x8 Icon Rebound wheels. 315/70/r17 Falken Wildpeaks

I've looked up different options on this site and others to store a large spare tire.

I've read of people cutting the area under the bed to fit the larger tire. Or use a rear bumper swing. I see some options of storing the Spare in the bed. I see there are some tie downs, some that connect to the bed rails.

May I see your set up? I've been looking around for months. I currently have my spare locked in the bed with a cable.

I'm not sure about the rear swing. The truck may not fit in my drive way with the rear swing.

I may get the Decked Tool Box, so that will limit me bolting it to the rail near the cab.

Also, do you cover the spare to protect it from the sun?

Thanks!

 

That should fit once the spare tire guide is removed.

 

Yeah. I was wondering how far down passed the bed it'll be towards the ground. By cutting the support, will it effect the support of the bed?

 

I beat the spare tire supports on my 2010 with a 4lb sledge to get my 285/75r18 spare to fit under the bed. I just flared them out a bit and it worked for me. I’m not sure if your 19 has a different setup but it may be an option for you.

 

With your larger tire up in that area, does it show under the bed? I was worried about clearance if going off road. I have a Icon lift, so I was worried about the tire hitting the ground if going uphill and making that 45 degree angle.

 

It’s tucked up there pretty tight. It isn’t lower than the hitch. I’ll see if I can get some pics tomorrow.

 

Man, thanks for the pictures! I may do this for my spare. It'll save me from having to get a bumper with a tire swing. Those are expensive as heck. That angle is exactly what I'm talking about.

These guys make armor for the hitch that may also help with that angle approach. https://41twentytwo.com/product/hitch-slider/. I'm thinking of getting one.

I sold my old factory tires and when I pulled my spare off, there were marks from the brackets holding it in place. I must have tightened it too hard when I used it last. lol.

 

Here are some more pics of how it’s tucked up under the bed.

 

Is the tire rubbing on the leaf springs? Thanks!

 

Not rubbing, just close.

 

When you used the 4lb hammer to beat the guides up, did you bend the frame they are tacked to? Was going to try soon and wasn't sure if it damaged else.

 

The frame is much thicker metal than the spare tire guides, and it didn’t budge when I hammered the guides. At first I was going to try and grind them off but I figured it would be easier to bend them out of the way.

 

I had been wondering about 285/75-18 tire there. Looks really close like maybe the Coachbuilder shackles being thicker than stock shackles they may hit the tire?

 

Yeah. Its close. I was thinking about coach builders as well, but I don’t think it would work.

 

Man, finally had time to work on this project. Took two days. I tried to do it by hitting the guide brackets with a 4lb hammer but I couldn't get it all the way flared out. So, I used an angle grinder on the rivets and hit it with an air hammer. Took awhile, but I was able to remove the rivets and brackets. Painted over any dings on the frame to prevent rust.

My 315/70/17 Falken Wildpeaks are a little closer to the leaf springs than yours. So, I'm waiting to see if the bolts in the shackles rub when the bed is loaded or I'm off roading.

I was looking at your pic here and noticed that your tire is closer to the driver's side leaf springs than your passenger. Mine did that too. So I used my legs to move the tire more passenger to try to get more room on driver as I raised it.

You feel or hear rattling from the spare without the guides? I may need to tighten it up. Do you know the max weight for the chains holding it up?



Thanks!

 

I will be trying to stuff a 35x12.5x18 down there soon. Thanks for the encouragement!

 

Good luck. It's hard work. Air hammer definitely helped. But really need some elbow grease to get it.

 

I just cut the spare guides off with a sawzall... the used a grinding wheel to smooth it out hit with some paint...

 

Air hammer to remove mine as well. For reference, that's a 295/70/18 with coachbuilder +3 shackles. Not much room left at all.

 

Do you feel any shaking from the tire since there's no guides? I keep looking back to see me dragging it because the chain or chain housing gave. LOL.

While I was under there I saw one of my Icon leafs were flat which is why I saw my bed lower in the back. Sucks because I just got them last year.

Any rubbing from the shackles?

 

No shaking. My guides were removed and the tire hung in November, so about 6 months so far, but no issues whatsoever. The shackles are definitely much wider than the factory shackles and will leave less room for the tire. With the coachbuilder shackles I'm not sure I could fit any larger tire. I believe there are a few other companies for aftermarket shackles that are not as wide. No rubbing on anything, but the tire is pretty close to the shackles.

 

My true 35” would not fit underneath so I took the expensive route with a hitch carrier.

 

Yeah I'm trying to figure out if I want a fab bumper with the swing out or just the hitch with the swing. I use my truck for everyday (work, haul) and off road, camping, etc so didn't know what set up I wanted. Does anyone use their swing out carrier with their everyday truck? Wasn't sure if people have an everyday vehicle and use their truck just for off roading.

Nice set up. What leaf springs you running with the tent on top?

 

I work from home so don’t daily commute, but do use it for every use. Just have to be mindful of the extra length on the back end.

If you go with a hitch carrier, I highly suggest the Dirtcom over the other brands. Better quality and better departure angle. It’s more expensive but worth it.

Answering your question, I’m running Alcan springs built for a 2 inch lift and a +800 lb load. I added an additional inch with the shackles so a total 3 inch lift on the rear. Been very happy with them.

 

I have a 275/70R18 Falken Wildpeak A/T3W as my spare mounted onto the OE Steely.

 

Have you flexed out the suspension? With +2 shackles my leaf hits TRD sway bar when a wheels droops too much. Seems like +3 shackle would be even closer.

 

Haven't flexed it. Well I may have in Joshua Tree NSP.

That's a good point about the shackles. I may call them tomorrow to talk to them. Just wanted to figure out if it could work ecause they're having a 25% off sale ends today. Lol

 

Keep the 40s inside the cab.

 

Aww man. That's a first for me. That's a nice set up. Did you figure that out yourself or is that a kit?