Problem Lowering Spare Tire. Need Some Info

Ok, dont laugh. No really, please dont laugh. So I had to drop my spare today. No problem, Ive done this many times on previous trucks. Well as usual I run into a problem. The hook tool that fits into the slot on the lowering winch was too big to seat all the way in. So I had to crawl under the truck with a pair of pliers to get it down. So has anyone ever ran into this problem? I did buy the truck used so I not sure if the previous owner had the wrong tool kit. But from the pictures I have seen online my kit looks the same.

 

dont have a spare tire wheel lock on it that requires the proper key?

fire off a pic of your setup.

 

Nope. No lock installed. All stock.

 

Sounds like the previous owner or dealer switched out the correct tool.

 

I remember a thread on here a few years ago of some fuckface asking what all he could strip off his truck before trading it in....like stupid small parts too. People are assholes.

 

I feel your pain, I've got an 06 and when I went to drop the spare to check the psi, I struggled with it for a while, had to have my buddy help align the tool, seems that you have to have it in just the rite spot for it to work.

 

Your jack/ tire iron kit should have a small silver metal piece that has a star shaped head. This has to be put onto the end of the hook tool to lower the tire. Check for this piece in your kit, it might be at the bottom of the bag. I didn't see it right away when I used my spare for the first time.

 

I had to look up what you were talking about as I had never heard of this small silver piece. Did Toyota change out the spare tire hoist slot design for 2014? Cause on my 13 it has the standard slot to fit the hook as is, no star key attachment needed.

 

Sure you don't have a lock installed? It is well-hidden when installed, and would prevent the hook from seating.

 

Again, no lock installed. The diameter of the hook end of the lowering bar is too big and does not seat into the lowering screw.
The picture below is what Im talking about.

 

Any chance of seeing the hook?

 

Well I did some google and Ebay searches to compare what my tool kit looks like compared to online pics. And it looks like I dont have the right tool kit. Maybe swapped out by the previous owner or by the dealer when it was last sold used. I dont know anyone with a Tacoma here to compare so Ill hit up the dealer on Tuesday to see if I can verify if my tools are right or wrong.

Here are pics of the tool kit in my truck.

 

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I think you have the 1st gen kit and hook.

My 2nd gen hook does not have that bolt on the end, and the hook part is shaved down to be thinner.

 

Based on reading the thread and all the comments so far - including the history of the truck and having bought it used - it seems most likely that at some point someone threw the wrong lowering kit back there.

But the other possibility that occurs to me is that someone used that hook as a lever at some point and bent it out. In which case you could heat it up with a propane torch and bend it back with a Big F'n Hammer.

But my kit looked like the one tomwill posted.

 

Thanks for all the help. I had a feeling it as the wrong kit.

 

Well mystery solved. Double checked the bottlejack to make sure that it was also the right one. Nope, its for a Sequoia. So I now I know that I have a Sequoia jack setup in my truck.

 

So now all you have to do is find a Sequoia that has a Tacoma kit and swap it out.

 

not that one...
not that one...
not that one...
not that one...
not that one...
dammit all!
...not that one...