Spare Tire Wisdom

[Ken154421]

sounds like a great time to buy a star wrench. ( you know one of those 4 sided things). Throw it back there if it will fit.

I have a collapsible 4-way lug wrench that I picked up at Harbor Freight years ago. Works just as well as the solid ones and it folds up to fit easily in the backseat storage.

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[White Thunder]

I have a collapsible 4-way lug wrench that I picked up at Harbor Freight years ago. Works just as well as the solid ones and it folds up to fit easily in the backseat storage.

I think I have one of those stores near me.I‘ll have to look it up. Thanks for the info.

 

[Tiger Dude]

That F-ing cone was almost the death of me

 

[MetalsGeek]

That F-ing cone was almost the death of me

Aren't you glad you found that slit and figured out how to get it off the cable under "good" conditions? Now that you've joined the ranks of the enlightened ones, Murphy's Law will ensure you never have a flat!

 

[Lobstah]

They make those little Li-ion jump boxes with compressors now. Often they have a built in flashlight. These are absolutely indispensable. Temporarily reinflating a tire with a slow leak is a million times better than trying to change a tire in the cold, dark and rain.

I had to help my BIL a few years back when his tire completely blew out on a major highway, stranding him. He didn't even know where his jack was - turned out the one in the car was broken. 5 minutes going through the car when he got it could have saved him several nerve wracking hours stuck on the side of a highway at night. But at least it wasn't raining.

I keep on of these in my hybrid, just based on all of the "dead hybrid" posts I read here. No idea if it would restart a dead hybrid, but doesn't cost me anything to just keep it in the truck.
I also keep a can of Flat Fix for just in case.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

RE: 150 ft lb = THX and OMG, that is even worse than I thought. No wonder people are writing that the pathetic lug wrench included with the truck is unsuitable.

Is the 2% of the people that do not have trouble with the pathetic lug wrench the same 2% that have Neanderthal in their DNA?

 

[Tiger Dude]

Aren't you glad you found that slit and figured out how to get it off the cable under "good" conditions? Now that you've joined the ranks of the enlightened ones, Murphy's Law will ensure you never have a flat!

No I figured it out on the side of the road. My bed still has sand in it 6 months later.

 

[Decayed]

I keep on of these in my hybrid, just based on all of the "dead hybrid" posts I read here. No idea if it would restart a dead hybrid, but doesn't cost me anything to just keep it in the truck.
I also keep a can of Flat Fix for just in case.

Fix a flat is one of those things that seems like a good idea...

Unless you are physically unable to actually change the tire for the spare, you never want to use fix a flat unless you don't mind trashing your tire, TPMS sensor and possibly your rim.

It makes a mess inside that has to be cleaned completely or it throws the wheel severely out of balance when it pools at the bottom. Tire techs hate it and I've heard of tire shops refusing to work with rims that have it on there.

 

[rlhdweman]

I know this will generate lots of grief, but AAA is your best friend. Especially if you're the other side of 70. I've had multiple flats repaired by AAA, both at home and on the road. Usually pretty quick, pretty friendly, and free with a very affordable membership.

To kneecap the inevitable know-it-all, snarky troll responses. Yea, I know how to change a flat tire and have done it many times over the years (including Army Jeeps and other military vehicles). Doesn't mean I want to when I don't have to. And yea, there are locations where AAA won't reach you or you can't reach them.

Exactly, I will call AAA rather than sit, kneel or lay near fast paced traffic. I have been driving for 45 years & have never had a flat while on the road, I did come out to my garage a couple times over the years & a tire was flat, at that point use the floor jack or take a different vehicle. If I am traveling 100's of miles from home & not hauling anything I throw one of my steelies with a winter tire in the box to make it easier for the AAA service person.

 

[Delzona]

Good stuff, OP. The spare tire components are so Rube Goldberg-ish that the replacement process is definitely not something you want to have to figure out on the fly. And +1 on having a compressor handy…

The additional tip I’d offer is that you may want to keep some large garbage bags (the “contractor” size) in the truck. One of them could serve as your “tarp” for laying down on the roadside - but another use is for wrapping the flat tire. There is conceivably a situation where the flat tire will not fit back up under the bed, or even in it, so you might have to put the tire in the back seat or something. If you have a clean, dry bag you don’t have to worry about messing up the interior of the truck.

I am currently in the midst of replacing the mini-donut with a true full-size wheel/tire and may do a thread on that if I don’t see a good precedent. It has not been as plug-and-play as I thought it would be, but the end result will be a spare with zero compromises to traction, handling, or speed.

Edit: Nothing about replacing a spare (or working on a car in general) gets easier in the dark. I keep a battery-powered light in my vehicles, always. There are some really cool rechargeable ones out there with strobes, magnets, hooks, stands, or all of the above.

I would be interested in hearing what you find for a spare. Thanks

 

[wax87]

Since the Maverick has a new-to-me approach to stowing the spare tire, I thought I would do a dry run on its use in my driveway on a nice, sunny afternoon. After all, why not play with my toys for an hour and also reduce future swearing, at night, in the rain, on the side of the interstate? I strongly recommend that you do the same, since you may discover some things sure to make your future life easier and safer. Here's my list of personal epiphanies:

1. IMPORTANT: The tailgate MUST be up for the jack handle extension tube to fit thru the hole above the bumper and lower the spare. If you have a jack extension drive tube in place and lower the tailgate, you may damage the tailgate. (Don't ask how I know this.) If you get a flat while carrying a full load that covers the tailgate, you're screwed. An attached trailer will also interfere with your ability to turn the handle and lower the spare. All these problems could have been solved by putting the access hole in the wheel well or on a corner instead of centered above the bumper. Great job, Ford!

2. Study how the jack is packed when you unwrap it so you can get it back the same way. The manual has sketches on p.357 & 360. The small plastic tip seems useful for removing XL hubcaps but n/a for alloy wheels.

3. The gender of the jack extension tubes may seem backwards to anyone used to square drive tools. e.g. The female end goes into the truck, and the male end engages a square hole in the handle.

4. You will probably have to lie down on the ground to be able to reach under the bumper well enough to disconnect the spare from the cable system. I suggest you keep a small (5x7) Harbor Freight tarp with the jack. Some heavy nitrile gloves wouldn't hurt either, to keep your steering wheel clean on the rest of your trip.

5. There's a heavy redundant cable (in addition to the winch) on the spare. I assume this is to prevent injury to the person tailgating you, should your winch cable fail.

6. There's a blue plastic cone that must be removed from the cable to get the spare off. This item is at VERY high risk of loss on the roadside, so try to put it back on the cable as soon as you disconnect the spare, and of course, winch the cable back up so it won't drag on the ground.

7. If you have aftermarket lug nut locks like McGard, consider putting the key where you're sure to find it even if you forgot where you put it several years from now. You DID already order a spare, right?

8. I don't carry wheel chocks, but I do carry ratchet straps that tie up tightly for storage and could be used for that in a pinch.

I'm sure other members will chime in and share the wisdom. Please do!

Edit: Thanks everyone so much for all the really good suggestions on lighting (flashlights, magnetic 12V LED work lights), better tooling (compressor, plug kit, socket & ratchet), and hygiene (disposable attire, large trash bags to cover failed tire, etc).

Did you try to store a full size tire where they spare is located? I am wondering if it would fit there. probably not because that is why they have the strap in the kit and want you to strap it down in the bed. Well what if my bed is already being used?

 

[Carlitos_92]

I would be interested in hearing what you find for a spare. Thanks

I basically got something like this. This is Tire Rack, but I bought from Discount Tire, which was only $86 for the wheel at the time. Had them put a matching Pirelli Scorpion on it, and called it done.

Did you try to store a full size tire where they spare is located? I am wondering if it would fit there. probably not because that is why they have the strap in the kit and want you to strap it down in the bed. Well what if my bed is already being used?

A full-size tire fits on my EcoBoost, but as I mentioned somewhere else, it puts the tire precariously close to the stamped "deflator teeth" under the body. I am dealing with those to make the full-size spare a long-term solution.

 

[Aherpa]

When I first got the truck, I winched down the spare to see what was involved and I wanted to lube anything that might need it . . . One thing I would add to your list is to position the spare so the air valve stem is placed so checking the spare's pressure is half way convenient to check.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

I basically got something like this. This is Tire Rack, but I bought from Discount Tire, which was only $86 for the wheel at the time. Had them put a matching Pirelli Scorpion on it, and called it done.

A full-size tire fits on my EcoBoost, but as I mentioned somewhere else, it puts the tire precariously close to the stamped "deflator teeth" under the body. I am dealing with those to make the full-size spare a long-term solution.

I'd be curious to hear what size holes for the lug studs that wheel has (sized for 12mm or 14mm). A long time ago, a member related that an aftermarket steelie did not work well with the Mavericks 14mm lug nuts. I know the BAP wheels I bought that are offered for the Bronco Sports has smaller diameter holes than the OEM BAP wheels I took off my '24.

HRG

 

[MetalsGeek]

Did you try to store a full size tire where they spare is located? I am wondering if it would fit there. probably not because that is why they have the strap in the kit and want you to strap it down in the bed. Well what if my bed is already being used?

No, I did not try that. I seem to recall from other threads that the optional "full size" spare is still not quite up to that claim. I suspect it might be a similar diameter (to reduce differential wear) but not as wide. The location for the spare seems arbitrarily size-limited. Ford clearly does not expect you to have a flat while carrying any payload, since the tailgate blocks jack access when down. I threw a large trash bag in my tool kit so I can put the flat tire in the back seat should the bed be full. For fun, I carry a tire plug kit and a 12V compressor so I may not have to deal with the spare at all.

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