removing spare tire

Need advice. 2012 Tacoma full size cab 4WD. Never a problem with the spare tire lift but on the highway yesterday when crossing railroad tracks the spare came lose entirely bumped out from under the truck off to the side of the road. Any thoughts? I am worried about just lifting the spare back in its storage place. I did read that the box itself that is attached to the frame can get gunk up over the years. Thanks, Steve

 

If the spare tire lift has broken, it is replaceable with a couple of bolts through the frame. But it sounds like you need to climb under there and take a good look at it.

 

See the following picture.
1. Run the hoist up all the way.
2. A double length of chain will hang down.
3. Loop the chain through the two large holes in the bracket, as shown.

I've had mine this way for going on 3 years now, with no problems. The spare rides in the bed.

 

This is true and what I used to do with my Jeep that had 5 full size wheels and tires the same. it keeps all the tires wearing mostly even as all five get to be in each position on the ground and one takes a break it can actually make your set of tires last up to 20% longer. A buying all 5 replacements at once you actually don't really need to do that. what I did once when cash a little tight was replace the 4 worst of the 5 on the jeep keeping the 5th as the spare. Then I had the tire shop order the 5 new tire to be in went back 6 months later for my first rotation. of course the jeeps TPMS tracked all 5 tires too.

not sure but you would probably need 5 sensors in the tires with the Tacoma and have to re-program the TMPS each time with 5 tires since it only stores 4.

I have 265/75/16 on my truck but the spare is 245/75/16. I've never had to use it.