Spare tire lowering mechanism hook wrench connection

I am a new 2022 Tundra owner and just experienced my first flat tire change on the side of a busy highway. It took me three times as long to actually get the hook end of the wrench to connect with the drop mechanism than it did to jack the truck up and change the tire. Looking for idea's short of not using the underbed location to facilitate making this work. I am considering dropping the tire and drilling a small hole and putting a bolt in and leaving the hook end piece of the rod in permanently with a rubber bushing on the bumper end to keep it from making noise and then getting another hook piece for the jack. Anyone have other idea's on how to see in to get the hook to set in the crank on the spare tire lift portion. Once you put the hook in you can't see in the hole to line it up. I would like to meet the Toyota engineer who designed this ???

 

Your in luck! I found him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGjWFFQMKI4

 

I had a ford truck that never had a flat tire in the 160,000 I had it except once. When I tried to lower the spare tire, the cable/mechanism was so rusty I couldn’t lower the spare lol. I carry a patch/plug kit and air pump now lol.

 

The mechanism on Toyota trucks hasn't changed in 40+ years, that crank will rust up and be forever locked in the up position. First thing I did when I got my truck was to drop the spare and fluid film the heck out of the crank. Put it on your yearly maintenance list.

 

This!! I've always lowered mine once a year & lubed it up good. Keep air pressure checked as well.

 

Consider spraying it down (lubing) it with this wonderful gem from the aviation industry/recreation: ACF-50 anti-corrosion fluid. And a wonderful lubricant.

 

I just sprayed the entire frame of my new Limited (1,000 miles) with this:



The process did include lowering the spare tire, and spraying the chain, mechanism and the wheel.

 

I experienced the same just recently. It was dark and as you said, it's pretty damn difficult to see and get the hook engaged. Imagine trying to hold a flashlight and stab the thing in. Also, once I got the hook in place the first crank it would fall out.

You'd think a square type end and receptacle would be so much easier. Kinda like ratchet and socket wrench setup

 

And yet, fully hammered, you can find the drunk sorority girl's little-man-in-the-canoe on the first shot. Rethink your energy and desire to hit it the first time.

 

Ditto on that. That same bonehead engineer had them hang the spare valve stem side up!! (Same on my ‘16 Taco) First thing I did when I brought it home was flip the spare so I can check the pressure easily.

 

Mine broke first time I used it changing a tire on side of highway in the snow. My spare doesn't fit in the stock location anymore. Anyone use this area for storage? Maybe an air tank?

 

On my list is to wire in a rock light near the mechanism so it’s easier to see the hook placement. I painted the hook and its mate bright orange for now. That and get a sensor in the spare so i dont have to to crawl under there to check the pressure

 

They make flashlights with magnets. You know: to light the way.

 

I hear ya. The engineers seem to think you'll be in a sterile, dirt free, well-illuminated laboratory setting when you get a flat tire.

 

Be thankful Toyota engineers did not learn from BMW engineers. Many of their vehicles have a dinky little plug kit and a compressor, which is the solution they came up with after their previous brilliant idea of space saver spares left their customers with no place to put the full size - now kaput - tire and wheel back in the vehicle to carry it to a workshop to be fixed. After all, duzzunt evellyvun have AAA and cellphone service wherever they go?

Next time you wonder "what were they thinking?" about any vehicle "feature", just remind yourself "they weren't - obviously". Rinse and repeat as necessary.

 

And Audi's solution is a completely deflated spare that has to be aired up before being used.

 

Did you use the jack the truck came with or do you carry a different one?

 

it took me one hour to get the spare down the first time. Had to get under the truck with a flashlight to see how to get the hook thing into the slotted crank. I want to get under the truck again and design some round or square tube with a bar inside it to fit the yolk. I also think the opening to get thru will have to be opened up to for a larger diameter connection.
Keep you up to date what I do.
PT in Tennessee

 

But I've never had a flat on my 2014 since I bought it.
That stated I do have the OEM spare tire lock.
You'd still need a flashlight, that EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE IN THE TRUCK, but it may be easier than the hook.
It's more funneled guided into the socket, at least mine is....



2010-2024 Toyota Spare Tire Lock PT276-34071 | Sparks Parts

Not sure if the newer ones are funneled..



Just a suggestion..
Good luck..

 

Thanks for the suggestion. That seems to be adding security while also adding some ease of use.

 

I will admit freely that I stole this idea from the Tacoma forum and used it on my Tacoma before I upgraded to my Tundra. ( and my brother in law, a Chevy guy, says that they have a tube built in to there truck) but I made a modification that makes it really easy to raise and lower the spare.
I took an 14 inch section of a 2 inch PVC pipe (my Home Depot sells them in two foot sections), cut a notch on one end that is one inch long and 1/2 inch deep, and rounded off the corners of the notch so it fits over the shaft where the hook is supposed to fit in. I secured it to the crossmember with two zip ties and drilled a couple small holes in the rail that supports the shaft and used a small zip tie to keep the tube aligned with the shaft. The hook slides in the “bumper” slot and is directed into the slot. It might align better if a made a little notch where the tube rests on the crossmember, but I’m thinking I’m not going to need it often enough to take it apart to make that change.

 

Awesome idea!!!

 

Mine had the lock in the top pic. I removed it and use normal hook..

 

I have to try this. It's enough of a pain to do this at home in my driveway in good weather. I hate to think what it would be like on the side of the road in the dark towing my trailer in poor weather. I take my spare down spring and fall when I change snow tires. In summer I don't carry that crappy temporary spare, not much good if I'm pulling my trailer. I use one of my snow tires instead. I don't understand why Toyota didn't use a tube in the first place. They used it on my 2007 4Runner, worked well. Until I can do the mod I'll carry one of those battery puck lights that'll fit on top of the spare. I think there's room.
Some on here complained about the spare being mounted valve stem up. They do this so the side of the rim that faces the rotor doesn't corrode from years of neglect making it impossible to mount safely on the axle. I actually witnessed this once. We had to help the guy hammer the rusted retainer out of the center of the rim. Of course it was winter, at night and years of road salt had taken their toll but the think still held air. Don't want to experience this with my Tundra. Thanks again for the mod suggestion.

 

I made a 3D print thing to fix this on my old Tacoma. Essentially, it is just a conical docking adapter like on a space station epoxied into place on the frame cross piece. The narrow end of the cone keeps the end of the rod on the mechanism centered and the wide end guides the hand crank rod right in. I haven't tried this part on my Tundra yet so it may or may not fit. It is on my list to check it out this spring.

Oh, this is with the OEM spare tire lock on the Tacoma. I think I have the same thing on my Tundra.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3837183