Someone at the dealership is gonna get yelled at

Yup - saw that...it's what prompted me to go look. Now I'm dropping the spare and the neighbors are like "what flat tire dude - they're all full." Go figure. Glad for the OP though. It's these little things that sneak up and kill you.

 

If you go in there guns a blazing like the OP is suggesting then it’s not going to change anything. Most likely whoever gets an earful has no idea who is even responsible for checking that and won’t put forth the effort to find out, especially if the person is an asshole

 

Soooo...I guess it IS a common (enough) problem. Those parts are nowhere to be found (on my truck anyway). Just the jack extensions and hook. The winch mechanism for the spare CLEARLY won't work with just the square ends. To the dealership it is then.

 

I suppose I should RTFM, but is this an option or do all Tacomas have it?

 

https://parts.westkendalltoyota.com/productSearch.aspx?searchTerm=spare tire lock

Two part numbers...I guess one for Tacoma & one for Tundra.

 

It appears someone screwed up and didn't include everything needed. Good on you for having the compressor, but buy the other tools and plugs too. I keep a compressor and set of plugs/tools in every vehicle. In the last 20 years I've had to put one spare on, but have probably plugged 20 tires, aired em up and just kept going. It is a lot faster, easier, and safer than putting on the spare. The hole in that one was just too big to plug and the tire couldn't be saved.

At times that was all that was needed. Other times the tires needed to be properly patched or trashed, but the plugs and compressor got me to a tire store where they had proper tools to do the job.

 

You have a good point, but if you read the OPs post #16 he’s really not going to go in with guns a blazing.

 

Your first mistake was going out with those stock tires. Lol. I got a pin hole side wall flat randomly out on a trail with the stock Wranglers at around 8,000 miles so I feel your pain. Replaced all 5 with Toyo MT’s so I don’t have to worry about that problem again. Glad you made it out. An air compress and plug kit are key when your away from home. But seriously though, get yourself some better tires if you want to go roam around far away from help. Tires are the only thing that touch the road (or trail) so I’ve always invested in good rubber for all my vehicles.

 

Thats the stock tire carrier, here is mine w the spare lock installed. You can see the part is clearly different where the rod slides intothe mechanism


Also you said square end, the square dose not go in, the hook at the end goes in first.

Watch "Tacoma Spare Tire Lowering Easier Than A Tundra?" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/TkkGPoJpwF4

 

Well, OP got me to go double check

 

That looks like the stock tire assembly to me.

Hook end goes in first and lines up in the slots.



No lock key needed. Just the owner's manual.

 

@3r3Taco and @sagexp LMAO... don't I feel like an idiot. This is what I get for not reading the manual. First "under body" spare for me. 4Runner had a a swing-away on an aftermarket bumper...FJ & Heep had spares on the rear doors and back in the stone age an S-10 Baja with a carrier in the bed. NEVER would have guessed the hook goes in. THANKS for the education!!

 

Lol.... blame others for your lack of preparation for off-roading

ok, boomer

 

Gonna look for this bad boy this AM.

I thought OP was talking about lug nut key.

"Thingy"? About half the population got one. No one yelling at the dealer man about it.

 

Thanks, those pics explain it without me having to go outside!

 

Haha, I thought he was talking about those silly ass locking nuts too!
Thanks guys, I learned something, I'll go check my spare for the Cali lock.

 

Tire repair kit

Next caller

 

My 2019 Sport doesn't have nor need the tool. Has the slot for the hook end.