flat tire

[Arcadi6730]

Man,

I got a flat in my left rear tire today... I had never actually worked the spare tire lowering mechanism before, and this was my first time actually cranking down the spare. My previous truck had the "pull the release, and everything comes crashing down" mechanism. Once I got everything down, everything went well, but getting the crank to fit correctly to lower the spare was a pain...

anyways, just a simple rant.

Later,
M

[Arcadi6730]

True, true, true... And I guess I shouldn't forget that the other mechanism slammed down to the ground instead of slowly lowering it to the ground.

-M

[TMS2U]

Just goes to show ya-

You should give your "recovery gear" a dry run in the drive way with a cold one instead of on the shoulder at night in the rain!!!

[5 Speed]

Run some electrical tape around your lowering bar so you don't chip your paint where it rides on the metal, always was a little disappointed that there wasn't a rubber grommet where you insert the shaft like some other trucks have.

[Wiley]

Had the same system on my old Explorer. If the tire isn't cranked up real tight the tire will move around, wearing thru the sidewall.

Put some sort of padding between the tire and the truck or check that it's tight a couple of times a year.

[Arcadi6730]

Cool deal on all the advice. I will check the alignment of the spare underneath this weekend. And I will check the air pressure in there as well.

I guess I should be glad that this all happened in my apt complex's parking lot.

Lates,
-M

[filhiol]

I've got a question along this line. I have never had to drop my spare since I have owned my 2002. "Knock on wood". When looking at the spare it is installed with the inside of the rim facing down. Therefore there is no way to check the air pressure in the spare without lowering it. Is this the way they come from the factory? Mine had some kind of anti theft device installed at the dealer so they could charge 3 times the price for what it would cost if the owner did it himself. Did they just put the tire in upside down?

[Arcadi6730]

When I placed the spare tire back on, I noticed that I could place the tire with the valve stem pointing down. Seeing no harm, I installed the spare under the truck in this new way. I checked after a week, and nothign appears to be rubbing, and everything looks straight.

I don't think there's any other way to check your spare tire's air pressure...

Later,
-M

[ZdaMan]

Thats the nice thing about buying the truck new. Road side assistant.