Best way to remove spare tire guide tabs?

What are the recommended ways to remove the spare tire guide tabs?

I've seen a few posts mention:
1) Cutting them flat using a sawzall or angle grinder cutting wheel
2) Drill out the rivets the remove the entire tab

Any other options or recommendations?
I like the idea of #2 but I'm guessing it would be fairly difficult to drill through the rivets using just a battery/hand drill. Unless they are aluminum rivets, but I doubt it.

 

What size spare are you trying to mount? I think some guys were able to bend the tabs a little. There is a thread on here somewhere about it.

 

I have 295/70/18

 

I'll keep looking for the thread.

 

I saw the thread about bending it, but I think removing it might be a batter option. Just curious on the best way to remove them.

 

Try drilling them out

 

Maybe this one... @TheBeast may be able to help you out.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/largest-spare-that-will-fit.65259/

 

Have you done it? How hard is it to drill the rivers? Just from looking at the size of them, I’d imagine there’s a good chance of destroying my wrist in the process

 

Thanks. I saw that thread that gave info on cutting the tabs. I read about drilling out the rivets but didn’t have much detail on how it was done and how difficult it would be.

 

I tried #2 and gave up before I made it through the first rivet and went with #1.

 

No but I dont use that space and I've thought about it but right now I'm still in the maybe phase lol

 

I'll give you a #3 just for fun.
Box and brace your frame.

 

I drilled mine out and relocated. The drilling was as bad as people say. Quality drill bits and cutting oil. And a face shield. Still bad. But worth doing.

 

Thanks for the real-world experience. I figured it would be a huge pain in the ass. I will probably just cut them off as well.

...I considered using a grinding disc to grind off the bottom of the rivet. That might work?

 

On one hand... I like your style. On the other.... oh god.

 

I cut them off with a dremel, smoothed down the sharp edges, and then applied spray paint.

 

thanks, that’s good to know. I don’t think I’m convinced it’s “worth doing”
If I ever get to that point, I’ll take it to a fab shop and have them drill it out and make a new bracket to install

 

Bend them with a jack

 

Oooo. The lazy turd in me likes the sound of that!

 

Kind of defeats the purpose or your questions, since you'll have to put your spare in the bed, but come on all the cool kids are doing it.
From @joonbug

With the angle grinder that I have, it was difficult to get a good position. If you are able to get the disk in there it might be worth a shot.

 

I’ve seen all the posts from Joon & Warren, and while I’m jealous, I also don’t have that kind of time or money. ...and also my wife would probably leave me

 

Well fine then, have fun with your drill

 

Drop the spare, get a 5 pound hand held sledge and bang those brackets. Easy as hell and they still exist if you want to reverse the modification.

 

One thing to note is that if you have the TRD dual exhaust you WILL rub on the exhaust with the 295/70/r18's. Found that out the hard way just two days ago. I don't see a way around it with dual exhaust.

 

I’ve been wanting to do this but those rivets are a pain. If they’re like the ones for the rear bump stops, I cut x’s on the heads and used an air chisel to knock them off. Then an air hammer to pop the rivet out.

I think I might try this route since I have a dremel but no angle grinder.

 

I haven’t had an issue with my 295 spare rubbing the exhaust. I guess I might if I finally cut those guide tabs off

 

hmmm. Maybe I'll have to go check it out again and make sure I didn't do something stupid because mine wasn't even close. It hit the tabs and the exhaust at the same time with no wiggle room.

 

There was no way my 295 spare was fitting with the tabs in place.

I drilled out the rivets. It's a pain but doable.

 

I started grinding the rivets.... got impatient and just cut the tabs off with the sawzall. That was much quicker!

 

I have a hard learned respect for angle grinders and it didn’t look I could make a clean cut with a sawzall. I Decided to drill out the heads with a 1/4” bit, then chisel the heads off with a $10 harbor freight air hammer. After that I used the air hammer to punch the rivets out. It was really fast and I don’t have to superglue and major lacerations on my hand. It’s not that loud with earplugs under earmuffs