Any mods to ease lowering the spare tire?

Yesterday I changed the diff oil in my 2010 Taco (first time doing it myself) and to make it easier to pour in the new fluid, I lowered the spare tire. This is (thankfully) the first time I had to mess with the spare.

I really like some things about how Toyota did the spare tire (it's in the perfect out of the way place and the hoist set up eliminates the need to lift the tire and try and secure it at the same time), but I thought the method of using the metal rods essentially as a giant flat screwdriver to wind down the spare tire hoist was cumbersome. It's not bad on a sunny day, but in the dark it would suck to try to line everything up. Are there any mods anyone has done to make it easier to lower the spare tire?

 

They make attachments for a hand drill so you can lower the tire faster.

 

Lower it at least once a year and saturate the mechanism including the cable with lubricant. It's not that hard to use with a little practice and it's not like you should need it often.

Here's a mod one member did using PVC to guide the rod into place:
Cheap/Free Mods

 

That is perfect! Thank you!!

 

I got a pump to replace the diff fluid so there is no need to move the spare

 

Yeah ford has something like this for their spare tires that make it so much easier.

 

I got a pump as well, but it was too big to fit into the narrow opening on bottle of diff fluid . Luckily I was able to pour the diff fluid into the diff. If I was doing the front diff or xfer case I'd have been out of luck. I'll make sure I get something figured out so I can pump fluid into the front diff and xfer case.

 

Some one design a tiny"transmission" to add some gearing for speed.

 

That is cool!

 

Is it mounted with the valve stem down so you can keep it inflated properly? If not, flip it over.

And check the pressure. In this case it's fine to inflate to the sidewall max rating, but do it before you snug it up.

If you have to use the spare, check the pressure and lower if needed.

 

The pump should have a cap that fits large and small bottle opening. The inner circle thread is the one that screws on to gear oil bottle.

 

Same here,best $10 spent and no mess.

 

Or you can add one of those flexible valve extenders like they use on duallys and eighteen wheelers; you can buy them in truck stops or on ebay and Amazon. Example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/190mm-Flex...ension-Car-Motorcycle-Motor-Bike/172961736349 I always over-inflate my spare by about ten pounds then just reduce it if I need to use it.

I've had my hand pump break while changing my fluid so I just used a short section of tubing shoved on the pointy tip of the gear oil bottle. Hold it up as high as you can and then squeezed the bottle; bit of a PITA but it works.

 

Agreed.

I've run one of those on my '04 Highlander since new because the tire has a snazzy plastic cover that makes the spare less visible under the vehicle.

I've also run them on other vehicles where the tire was in the trunk, but to be able to secure it you couldn't flip it. So the extender worked well.

 

I guess Toyota has a few different models of the spare tire lift tool. The one for my 2015 access cab off road has a hook on the end and it grabs a loop on the other end that engages the hoist, almost impossible to do wrong. Even in the dark, it just lines up and goes no problem.

I have seen teh flat screw driver style on a GMC and I was not impressed.

 

Interesting. My 2010 has a hook on the end but it is supposed to go in a slot like a screw driver rather than hook something. There’s enough wobble where it’s not super easy to line everything up so the hook rests in the slot like it’s supposed to. Sounds like they may have made improvements in later years.

 

I also do not use the entire tool, they give you 3 parts to attach. It makes it to long and wobbly, I only use 2 of them. As short as possible.

 

I’m used to working with short objects

 

I’d say make it a once a year maintenance to lower the spare, inflate it, clean the debris, and lithium grease the cable spindle/spool. That alone will keep it new feeling and easy to use.

 

This type doesn't fit on Redline MT 90 bottles. I still use it though. I just put the pump in the bottle and push the bottle up against the bottom of the truck to pump fluid. It's easier to pump that way even when the pump does screw on the bottle.