Spare tire lowering

[RyanR]

Hello all,
I just bought a 96 4.0XLT 4x4. I can't figure out how to lower the spare. There doesn't seem to be a hole to lower it. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Ryan

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Look between the tailgate and bumper right above the middle of the license plate. Unless someone took it out, there will be a piece of black plastic with a key hole in it. If nobody lost the key and the lock isn't rusted to crap, you remove that to access the mechanism to lower the spare. The jack rod is used to lower it. The key for the spare tire lock is usually in the glove box or center console but someone might have hid it with the jack or something. If the lock is rusted to crap, it'll have to be broken out unless some locksmith is able to remove it.

 

[koda6966]

Typically in my area the tire needs to be cut out from the carrier, hopefully you're luckier out in California.

 

[4.0B2]

some of them don't have the key cover.... but yeah, between the tailgate and bumper you should see it.

 

[97RangerXLT]

That looks like it has the 1998 + style spare carrier on it. the 97 and older just have a 3/4" bolt on the tire carrier that allows you to tilt the tire carrier down to access a large eyebolt and then once that is removed the tire can be lifted out.

For the 98+, Lil Blue's advice is spot on.

btw... once that eyebolt rusts into the carrier, it usually snaps off once you try to remove it...Did that with mine a few years ago. took me a day of combing the junkyard for one that was not rusted into place...

AJ

 

[Insanejughead]

Took me a day of combing the junkyard for one that was not rusted into place...

AJ

Oh, the things we do for our beloved four-wheeled friends.