Removed Spare Tire Today

there is a little hole unfer the tailgate. use the tools supplied with your jack and insert them through the hole into the crank for the spare tire and turn it. it will slowly lower.

 

Next step:

.Replace all your nuts/bolts in the truck with super light weight aluminum
.Removed everything in the interior except steering wheel, seats, gauges
.Get rid of the bed, who needs one anyways?
.All unnecessary wiring and cables = tossed

Now, you should see a huge improvement in gas mileage. Also during the summer, make sure to:

Take of your doors
remove windshield

that will save you lots and lots of weight...

 

Hmm does it "drop" to the ground at some point? How about putting it back? Does it require a person to actually lift the whole tire up? I want to know because I want to take care of some underbody rust that is hidden by the spare.. Don't know how much of a pain it is to put it back on..

 

Leave it on. You never know when you may need it and you'll wish you had it when the time comes. Plus it's got a dedicated spot on the truck. Why take it off to take up space somewhere else?

 

At least on the second gens you crank it down and it's like a mini manual winch. The foot is in the center of the rim. The hardest part is finding the hole to insert the pole into(not sexually).

 

no it does not drop you can winch it all the way to the ground and when it touches the ground give it a few more turns until the cable gets slack and you can pull the "foot" out of the center hole.

when you go to lift it just set it in that general area, insert the foot back in the center of the wheel and crank the opposite way, winding the cable back up and pulling the tire up. it will cente3r itself

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxRLGDE0dF4

 

Good to know

 

Thanks for some of your responses. It's been off for about a week and well. I did see a difference. I removed the tire and all associated hardware and while I would be stuck with a flat, my insurance has roadside assistance which is free towing to anywhere I want under 50 miles. I just have to wait an hour which for me is worth it. Flat tires happen but not that often for me so saving the extra load / cash and having the luxury to be towed anywhere is great for me.

 

I've already had to use my spare tire on my 2010 so there's no way I would get rid of mine. I'd much rather take 5-10 mins to change it out and be able to get to work or home on time. Not to mention you will have to leave the truck at the shop to have the tire patched or replaced. It's much easier just to drop off a tire and come back later. Then again I drive 450-550 miles per week so the odds are much greater I'll get a flat.

 

You: "Hey man, I need your help. I just got a flat and I don't have a spare."
Me: "Why don't you have a spare?"
You: "I took it out to get better mpg."
Me: "Call AAA you moron... click."

 

Id put it back on, but thats just me.

 

by law manufactures have to provide a spare tire or run flats in order to be compliant with federal law.

I suggest you put it back on.

You didn't buy a Tacoma to save gas. If you wanted to get great gas mileage, you would drive a Honda civic, fit, or hybrid. It is a truck. It is going to burn more fuel than most other vehicles on the road. The Tacoma is better than most trucks. Be happy with that.

 

x2

 

you could buy some tire plugs and a bicycle pump, that would take care of 90% of your flat tires. Of course by the time you got your tire inflated enough to drive home with a bicycle pump or 12 volt compressor you could have walked home.

I used to carry a can of fix-a-flat and some plugs which I used a lot back when I only bought six dollar used tires and couldn't afford a spare.

 

thanks carson!

 

Yep

This guy's an Obombo supporter.

He wants someone else to take care of him.

 

Leave it on dude and your friends and family wont be bothered. I could see maybe a woman (no offense gals) calling me to help change a flat. If you can't change a flat and you are taking it off for some excuse to wait an hour and be late to work or an appointment its no to hard to learn.

Also, what if one of your friends calls you and they dont have a spare on their truck and your lug pattern just so happens to fit. You can save the day!
Or what if you have an emergence and have to go out of town and have a flat!

If you want better mpg, do the deck plate mod! It wont break the bank and you will be able to see a savings after a few tanks!

 

Maybe that explains why my spare got swiped. Not this truck a different truck. Somebody's gas saving trick gone bad.

 

Spoken like a cliche southern douche bag. Sometimes it's disturbing I support a country with morons but hey, it's the Internet where everyone is a tough guy. Stick to watching cars make left circles...politics don't appear to be your strong suit.