Removing Spare Tire

[MorganMcCann]

I've been trying to remove my spare tire, and the tool Ford gives you will not lock into the notch under the bed.
How else can I remove it?
Or am I doing something wrong?
Thanks!

 

[RonD]

I thought the '99 would have a key that unlocks the plug in the rear bumper so you can slide in the bar and just lower the spare tire.
Any other Ranger key should fit that plug, usually

Maybe you need the bolt "key" instead, it goes on the end of the long rod, it is similar to a locking lug nut design, the bolt on the winch has a round head and a "cloverleaf" type pattern that requires a matching "key" on the end of the bar to unscrew it.

This F-150 video shows that style
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpIbeEaWRKg

 

[MorganMcCann]

It has a key the unlocks the pulg, but the previous owner removed the plug, but sent the key with it.

My tool that came with the truck is the square one.

 

[RonD]

Odd then that bar doesn't just slide in and turn the winch.

Does bar lock in but not turn?

Or doesn't it lock in at all?

I often use my cell phone camera to look in places I can't see well, turn on Flash, the put cell phone where it can see the place you want and snap the picture, or any digital camera.

maybe there is something in the winches hole??
Or the tube has slide off to the side.

 

[MorganMcCann]

It doesn't lock in, or I'm doing something wrong to get it to lock in.

 

[gw33gp]

Are you using the end that fits into the jack? On mine, the links fit together with square sockets but the part that fits into the jack and spare tire winch is not square. It has kind of a curved, hook like shape to it.

 

[MorganMcCann]

The one that has a groove in it is the one I'm using.
Do you have a picture of it? Maybe the previous owner didn't include it, or broke it.

 

[adsm08]

Shine a flash light in and look at what is at the winch end. Some of these had, in addition to the locking plug, a locking lug type key on the tire winch.

 

[MorganMcCann]

This is the tool that it came with, plus the extensions (there are 4 of them)

After looking down the hole, I think this might be the wrong tool.

 

[adsm08]

Looks right.

4 square pieces go down the hole and the one with the hook and square hole goes on the end to use as a handle.

 

[MorganMcCann]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Explor...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3380f6e164&vxp=mtr

Don't I need that other piece?

 

[gw33gp]

That square end you show in the picture will not engage the spare tire winch, at least it would not on my truck. That end engages onto a male end to make the rods long enough to get to the winch. The one small end piece (top left, long rod) on the eBay photo is like what works for me. That end piece is off to one side and has a slight hook in it. I am pretty sure that is what you need (or something similar to it) to engage the spare tire winch. I don't know if all model years use the same type mechanism.

 

[MorganMcCann]

Picked this up at the scrap yard today, they didn't have any out of Ranger's.
This is from a 96 Explorer, so the handle sadly will not fit in the side pockets.
Hopefully I was get it from another local yard.

Apparently the tip fell out of mine.

 

[MorganMcCann]

Also, the winch works perfectly.

 

[RonD]

Thanks for the update