Spare tire question

Hey everyone I recently purchase a beautiful used 2006 Tacoma and the previous owner put a 6 inch lift with big tires on it. Currently there are LT 295/70R17 Yokohamas on it. On the downside I don't have a spare for it and would like to have one before hunting season. Additionally the Jack is too small for it now question 1, do I need the exact same size for a spare? And question 2 should I buy an extension for the bottle jack or buy a new one that will reach the frame? All help is much appreciated! Thanks

 

I carry a big chunk of wood in the bed (4x6 I think) so I can Jack up the truck with the OEM Jack if needed.

As far as the spare goes, I have a stock size spare as well but 33” tires. The stock spare will likely get me to a tire shop driving slow. I also carry a big can of “fix a flat”

 

Wood blocks like motorhead said. A plank on the ground is better for stability anyways.

For the spare, really you won't fit another 295 back there, so just leave it stock and swap it to the front to get you back to the roads. As long as you don't put an undersized spare on a driven axle you'll be ok.

 

I'd put the biggest spare tire under there that will fit under the truck. Most tire stores have usable take off tires they will sell and mount cheap. The spare on my 2007 was the one that came with the truck and I recently bought a newer one. IIRC I paid about $30 total. The "new" spare is 4 years old vs 14 years old on the "old" spare tire.

If you've not already done so I strongly recommend buying a small compressor, tools and plugs to repair your own tires. In the last 20 years I've probably plugged 25-30 tires for myself and others I've helped. Mostly other stranded drivers. It is a LOT easier, safer, and faster to just fix the flat on the truck than put the spare on. Even if the repair is just temporary until you can get to a tire store where it can be done right. Or replace the tire. I've only had to resort to mounting the spare tire once in over 20 years. The hole was just too big and the tire couldn't be saved.

 

I keep the stock jack in my rig for things, its very usefull for trail fixes and such. Not so much for jacking the truck up

This is what the guys in the Ontario section suggested for a jack, bunch of us have it. Safe and awesome.




Full size spare is the only way to go, dont even think about anything else.

Same tire and size you have on the truck, that way its not a temp spare, you can drive it for as long as you need.