94 Ranger - Largest spare tire size for under bed spare carrier.

[jschner]

I have a 94 Ext Cab 4.0 4x4 with stock suspension and 31s on 15" rims. I need to buy a new spare tire and tired of it riding in the back of my bed. The AZ sun is not kind to the spare either. What is the largest spare tire size that will still fit in the under bed spare carrier? Mine is the bolt and swing arm style carrier.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I tried a 31 under my '85 and was a hard no-go.

I am not sure when if ever they changed the carrier until they went to the cable style.

 

[Shran]

235-75-15 is a pretty safe bet especially on a 3rd gen.

First gen trucks were hit or miss, my '88 won't fit anything bigger than a 215-75-15. I found a spare tire carrier from a 2nd gen that a 235 fits in though and it was a direct bolt in on a 1st gen frame.

I will confirm that a 31" tire will not fit there regardless, I tried and it will simply not fit with stock parts. If you built your own cradle, it may work, that size tire does physically fit between the frame rails but it's the cradle and the rear crossmember that don't allow it to fold up into place.

 

[SenorNoob]

Soo, cable style swap for OP?

 

[sgtsandman]

Soo, cable style swap for OP?

A cable swap should enable the OP to shoe horn a 31 under there. It barely fits under my 2011.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

235-75-15 is a pretty safe bet especially on a 3rd gen.

First gen trucks were hit or miss, my '88 won't fit anything bigger than a 215-75-15. I found a spare tire carrier from a 2nd gen that a 235 fits in though and it was a direct bolt in on a 1st gen frame.

I will confirm that a 31" tire will not fit there regardless, I tried and it will simply not fit with stock parts. If you built your own cradle, it may work, that size tire does physically fit between the frame rails but it's the cradle and the rear crossmember that don't allow it to fold up into place.

Mine would have worked but the passenger side of the tube had a dogleg in it, likely for the original exhaust that screwed me up.

 

[Josh B]

If it's the metal cage type rack a 15in. Goodyear wrangler can be a tight fit.
If you have a flat on the back axle you have an access problem

I have a 93 Supercab with a toolbox and opted to just keep it in the bed.
There is also a fair size rack out there I can easy lift the box and leave it chained to the rack if I need to do some moving/hauling
The spare is chained to the bed on the driver side
Best option I came up with

 

[Bgunner]

The owners manual for my '94 says that "A full size spare may break the hanger". This boggled my mind as mine came with 14" rims and had a full sized spare. A 225/75/14. Maybe they were referring to the 15" rim but who knows what they thought at the time.

 

[gw33gp]

My 02 easily fits a 31x10.5" tire in the spare carrier. It is the cable type. I have a 32x11.5" spare tire in there now and it is a very tight fit. It does not go all the way up in the front but probably would if I didn't have a receiver hitch keeping it from moving back a little. That 32" tire has less than half the tread on it and that helps it fit. I tried a nearly worn out 33x10.5" tire but that was a complete no-go.

 

[Josh B]

Have you ever had to get it out while a rear tire was flat?
I wonder if I could rob the hangar off my 96 Explorer and install on the 93 Ranger

 

[Sean_1970]

The owners manual for my '94 says that "A full size spare may break the hanger". This boggled my mind as mine came with 14" rims and had a full sized spare. A 225/75/14. Maybe they were referring to the 15" rim but who knows what they thought at the time.

I am actually trying to figure out what the issue is with this. My 96 owner’s manual says that a 235/75/15 spare will damage the tire or the truck. I have that size in my cage now. I had to trim the curved part of the flap that holds the cage up so it would fit around my hitch, but I’m not finding anything, anywhere for an explanation on this.

 

[Bgunner]

I am actually trying to figure out what the issue is with this. My 96 owner’s manual says that a 235/75/15 spare will damage the tire or the truck. I have that size in my cage now. I had to trim the curved part of the flap that holds the cage up so it would fit around my hitch, but I’m not finding anything, anywhere for an explanation on this.

On my spare there are deformations in the rubber from the rack. I believe this is the main reason for why it says it can damage the tire but it is still just a guess. The 235/75/15's weight may break the rack and could also be the reason for it saying it can damage the truck itself.