1998 Ranger Spare Tire Issue (no hole)

[Zoso]

Hey guys I brought a 1998 ford ranger xlt about a month ago. So kids went through my neighborhood slashing tires. They slashed my rear passenger side tire. Yesterday I was trying to change the spare and found there is no hole to lower the spare downs is it located in a different spot on these years. In the past it's been right above the liscense plate and the tail gate. Any help would be great, thanks!

 

[Doofy]

My '98 has the hole there but I blocked it when adding an led lightbar. Mounted in the bed now. Try looking with the tailgate up.

 

[Zoso]

No led light bar on mine and I have looked with the tail gate down and up, no hole ate all. I'll take a picture when I figure out how to post them on here

 

[Doofy]

Perhaps the bumper is mis-adjusted or bent up. Hard to imagine that there would be no hole.
I think I would be drilling one. Could there be a small plastic cover over the hole? Try looking from the back side from underneath.

 

[Zoso]

I'll take a look a little later again and see what I can find. I have a question about tire fitment while we are here too. I plan on replacing the back tires (the one that got slashed) with general grabber at2. I only have the money to do the backs right now. Will I be fine running my Cooper cobras up front for a little bit until I get the money to replace those too?

 

[Doofy]

I'd never run mis-matched tires on a 4wheeldrive but I have on 2 wheel drive trucks and cars. Could act squirrelly or not. Some shops wil not mount them for you. Guess you won't know until you try it. Good Luck.

 

[Zoso]

Mine is 2 wheel drive, I'm guessing it will be fine for a few months until I get the money for the fronts

 

[BLOODBANE]

Here is what to look for (around the 2 minute mark)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVucvYCLjcc

 

[Zoso]

Yes I have watched this video a few times. I'll post a picture of what I mean when I figure out how to post them, and when the weather in Portland clears up

 

[planeflyer21]

My '99 has a keyed plug where that hole in the video is located. The truck didn't come with the key, which is about 6" long.

A local key shop made me two keys for $15.

 

[BLOODBANE]

To post pic use the

. I use photbucket.
Example....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/BLOODBANE81230/thumbnail_20160905_092315_zpshxv0nhhc.jpg
Put the

at the end behind .jpg
or copy paste address in the yellow square icon above (click on it it will show you where to put it). The pic needs to be hosted somewhere else though.

 

[Dangerrangers]

If you put the new tires on the rear just watch out for the truck doing a bit of pushing​ in and when turning. You should be fine .

 

[Swervn]

The keyed plug for the spare tire is seized. how can I remove it?

 

[Curious Hound]

How long have you been soaking it with good penetrating oil? If you have time, do that and keep trying to jiggle it each day. Then soak it some more and try again the next day.

Otherwise, if it were me, I would drill the lock out. Start small and keep increasing drill size until the plug is destroyed and comes out.