1983 Ranger Spare Tire Location

[flwsock]

Hey guys, hoping I'll be blessed with a quick reply.

Been working on my 1983 Ranger all holiday week, trying to get it going again. Years ago, I replaced the gas tank and took the spare tire out for whatever reason. Now I can't remember if the spare tire goes above the little rack in the back, or below. Which way does the tire sit?

A pic says 1000 words and would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

 

[adsm08]

I'm not sure what the little rack in the bed is.

My first gens all had the T carrier under the bed, and the tire went above it, with the outside of the wheel facing upward towards the bed.

 

[flwsock]

By rack I just mean the little bar where the tire would hang/lay on, or the beam where the T hook would be bolted above/below.

Just to make sure I'm understanding. The T hook is underneathe the beam so you could undo it while laying under the bed easily, then the tire right above that. So the tire would fall right down as soon as you undid the hook. Am I relaying that right?

 

[racsan]

heres a exploded veiw of the arrangement, the 3/4 bolt you take out to pivot the spare down is at the back bumper end of truck. cant take a picture of mine as I removed the whole rack and mounted my spare in the bed.
many times that eye bolt securing wheel to rack seizes tight with rust, Ive had 2 twist off. My homemade hitches usually are easier to build by getting the spare rack out of the way.

 

[flwsock]

Thanks! I just bought the book for stuff like this. Thanks again everybody!

 

[FirstGenRanger]

That's weird, my truck came with a factory in bed tire carrier. Maybe that's because mine is dual tanks?

 

[sgtsandman]

That's weird, my truck came with a factory in bed tire carrier. Maybe that's because mine is dual tanks?

Yes, the extra spare tank is where the spare would normally be. So, they had to move the spare into the bed and mount it there.