Silly question. Is the chain supposed to be hanging through the spare?

Yep. I know a dude who hooked his through a piece of rubber hose and zip tied it. No more clanging.

 

^That rubber hose will trap water and salt and cause the chain to rust.

 

When did they change that my 2011 has a cable and a big spring on the bottom.

 

Chain and padlock is a great idea to get the chain out of the way and deter theft. I just have a simple 4 digit bike lock on my '11.

 

My 2012 has the chain.

 

Chain is all Toyota offers now. For 2005-2008 year owners who have had their frames replaced due to rust, the new frame comes with a chain-type hanger.

 

OK, I'm glad that it's just one more thing I blast with FF every year has any one heard of them breaking? Kind of seems it would hit the news with spare tires bouncing down the road. I can't remember what my 97 had and I kind of remember GM cables breaking.

 

Its normal. I took high quality plastic cable ties and secured it up tight against the bottom of the rim where its not dandling and it wont rattle. The ties wont rust and can be cut with a jack knife if the spare is needed. I also spray the chain from time to time with anti corrosion spray. No rust...

 

Not with the trucks. There was a recall with Siennas, if I remember correctly. Toyota basically did this change on Tacomas as a preventative thing going forward.

 

We gave up cable for the chain gang.

 

Yes, mine does that.

 

Just hope Toyota doesn't wussy out and replace the spare with a can of sealant like it does with the Prius.

Wonder where GM will put the spare in the Colorado diesel next year, since the urine DEF tank is behind the axle:

 

I actually removed my spare and chain hoist this afternoon. Threw the tire in the bed for now.

 

My 2002 was recalled because of the spare tire cable rusting.

 

After I turned my spare over so I could easily check the spare air pressure, I just pushed the chain back through the hole out of sight. I do not hear any rattling at all.

 

I just laid the chain up on the rim of the spare.

 

I zip tied it through the holes in the wheel and it doesnt make any noise. The first time I took it offroad was the weekend after I lifted it. I kept hearing that noise and was trying to figure out what bolts I forgot to tighten. Zip tied it up and its nice and silent!

 

My wife has a '14 Prius, it has a spare.

 

^Ah, must be specific to the Prius Plug-in model, then:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHstOGSRsOA

 

Good Gawd! all that for a flat tire? Is that because the car is so low you couldn't slide a pizza under it let alone a jack?