Alternative to stock spare tire hoist

[shgrier]

I bought my 2011 4x4 Sport a few years back as a used vehicle from Canada. This thing has NOT been maintained properly, so one of the first things I noticed is the spare tire hoist didn't work. I bought a new one from Ford, and had to cut the old hoist's cable pin to remove the spare and install the new hoist.

I am TRULY unimpressed with the design - the tip of the jack shaft does not stay in the little molded niche in the plastic "funnel", but spins out under any kind of strain. My 1999 never had this problem, and had the same design, so maybe the tip of the jack shaft is buggered, but I'm really hoping someone has come up with a better mousetrap.

My current solution is a 1/2" 12pt 3/8" drive socket hammered onto the lift shaft, and a 1/2"F to 3/8"M socket adapter snapped into that, and all installed as normal. I've taken one of the jack shafts, and squared all the edges on the female end, so a 16mm 12pt socket will fit on it. I then install that at one end of the jack shaft and leave the shaft that has the curved tip completely off. This whole shaft gets inserted backwards (the male end of the shaft fits perfectly into the 1/2"F adapter), and a 3/8" ratchet wrench hooks to the 16mm socket, and Robert's-Your-Mother's-Brother!

But it's ghetto, and there just HAS to be a better solution.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[franklin2]

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It's not the best place for the spare tire to live under the truck in all that salt and muck. Usually the spare rim will rust and the bead will quit sealing on the spare. When you need it, it is flat.

 

[Uncle Gump]

You could also do similar to this...

They also offer a hitch receiver mounted carrier.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

You could also do similar to this...

View attachment 119906

They also offer a hitch receiver mounted carrier.

So, that wasn’t my original plan for my green Ranger, but unless I want to get the exhaust re-done, I either have to carry a spare in the bed, carry no spare, or do a swing out carrier. I’ve been thinking about your setup there lately and it may end up happening. Be totally ridiculous on a lowered truck, but…

 

[Uncle Gump]

So, that wasn’t my original plan for my green Ranger, but unless I want to get the exhaust re-done, I either have to carry a spare in the bed, carry no spare, or do a swing out carrier. I’ve been thinking about your setup there lately and it may end up happening. Be totally ridiculous on a lowered truck, but…

I take mine off for most of the year. I just throw the spare in the bed if I'm driving an hour from home or more. I also carry a compressor and my tire repair kit all the time.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I take mine off for most of the year. I just throw the spare in the bed if I'm driving an hour from home or more. I also carry a compressor and my tire repair kit all the time.

Yeah, a compressor and a plug kit travel with me. I need another couple twin cylinder compressors. And I could use a couple more plug kits so every truck has one. Not a bad idea though only using it for long trips or where you need the bed space. I wasn’t really thrilled with having to bury my spare in the bed to go to LBL this year. It took up valuable space and it was buried if I actually needed it.