Max SPARE tire size under a Taco D/C

[friday]

Now I've got a 3 inch RevTek, 'Toyota' 18 inch rims with 285/65/18's. I started thinking, what about my spare? Anyone know what the biggest that will fit under there? I'm wondering if I pick up an 18 inch steel for a spare, or just another TRD wheel if it will even fit. One other suggestion was a 17 inch in a higher profile to give me the same size (33 inch) approx.

[herculean]

I put a 285/75/16 under there the other day. Had to bend the tabs back a little bit but there's still about an inch gap from the diff and about 3/4" to the exhaust. The question I have is whether anyone has figured out a good way to prevent the bed ribs from rubbing through the sidewall on the spare. Cardboard didn't work

[friday]

I wonder if you cut a template out of a heavy plastic or light plywood if that would last... According to my favorite tire size calculator (Tire Size Calculator - tire & wheel plus sizing) your tires are actually about 1/4 inch bigger then mine... so, it looks hopeful. I could go with a 265/70/18 and get the same size and save some width underneath...

I guess to be sure I'll have to drop my spare and try get one of my new wheels in there...