removing spare tire on 2013 tacoma

ok, i'm gonna ask. i've been driving and maintaining motorized vehicles for close to 60 years and never ran across this issue.
adjusting air pressure in my tires this am and thought "oh, i'll just check the pressure in my spare". read the owners manual regarding how to lower the spare so as to check pressure. per the manual it is a totally easy peasy two step process. i may be missing something but i spent at least 30 minutes trying to get the handle to connect to the lowering mechanism, including crawling under the truck and reaching up and in with my hand to feel to mechanism; no dice.
what am i missing? has anyone else encountered this problem? is it truly sposed to be as easy as the book says? might something be missing where to hooked rod is sposed to connect?
as it stands now, i get a flat tire, i call AAA; totally against me grain but ya do whatcha gotta do. any help will be appreciated
TIA, jerry

 

Shouldn't be that hard, but somewhere in here you'll find instructions for zip-tying a length of abs pipe under there that'll help with aiming the mechanism.

 

Linky: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...are-tire-pressure.670260/page-3#post-23596390

 

You may have a spare “lock” installed. It’s a smaller keyed nut similar to a wheel lock that is installed at the lowering mechanism and the corresponding key gets attached to the hook at the end of your lowering rod. If you can try and peek inside the guide tube with a flashlight you might be able to see something shiny. (The slot for the hook is painted black, while the lock kit has a zinc coating).

 

Beat me to it.

 

Perfect thank you! Tire installer showed up and we couldn't figure it out. its 2020 and the spare was mfg in 2002. Brand new which is a good thing I guess. Still replacing it so they all match.

 

Where would one of these keys be obtained. Don’t find one in my kit

 

You’ll have to go to the dealership. They’re Toyota specific.

 

Thanks. Got a part number? Or good description?

 

Much todo about nothing. The hooked end goes directly into the slot. Just too simple. I tend to overthink things. Thanks for the attempted assistance. Unfortunately, you can’t fix stupid. Just sayin

 

FYI mount the spare with the valve stem down. Never have to lower again to check.

 

Good idear. Thanks