Williamemslie

Hi all,
I'm new to this website and new to 4runner ownership. Bought a 1997 4runner limited a couple months ago. It looks and runs great but came missing its spare tire. I can only assume that because half the hoist was missing and the cable gone that the spare tire was either stolen or that cable snapped and dropped the spare out the back. (yikes!) I have a new (used) spare and hoist now but this whole hoist thing seems unsecure to me. A 50lb. Spare tire hanging from a cable seems hokey to me. My question is - is there a simple more secure way to hold the spare tire in its stock position and still be easily accessible? Should I just trust that the engineers at Toyota knew what they were doing?

tj884Rdlx

Mine, and most I've seen, are a chain. But ive got an 88. And i have 33s which don't fit under my truck anyway. I wouldn't trust a cable either.

I'm most likely going to buy a carrier that fits into the tow hitch receiver. Have you considered one of those?

Williamemslie

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping to keep it under there only because I like the clean lines and I'm a bit of a stock kind of guy. I was thinking more along the lines of say a couple stainless steel bolts long enough to extend down and a couple lug nuts to secure it but I haven't really thought that through yet.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

I have never had one of those Spare tire carriers ever that was not rusted solid. Living in the great Brine belt.

Then the last thing I want to do is lay in the slop messing with a tire.

Yours was most likely cut off.

I just put mine in the back secured with a ratchet strap and never gave it another thought .

It will handle the weight just fine if it is in good mechanical shape

Williamemslie

Thanks for the info. I live in northern Illinois so I know what you mean about the Rust Belt. I could use the cargo hold but I have 2 kids and need the space a lot. I guess I should just trust that the hoist is fine now that I've replaced it with one that's in good shape.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

I will say where you live keep after the spare tire mount with lubing at least every oil change.

Then don`t forget to check the air in the spare every time you lube it as well

Nothing like fighting to get the spare down only to find it is flat.

Williamemslie

Thank you that's good advice. I don't know why they didn't just stamp the indent into the bed and store the spare tire under the carpeting in the cargo hold. It would have been safe from the elements and eliminate the need for a hoist at all!

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Well you can always make a nice little box like that should be pretty simple .

I see people unloading there SUV`s all the time to get spares

AZ_98_4Runner

You could go the Hilux Surf route. I have seen similar mounts on the boards here.

Williamemslie

Thanks AZ_98_4Runner, I'm definitely going to look into that if it's not too expensive. Can I ask you how the spare tire moves out of the way for the back hatch? That's a nice truck. Looks just like a 4runner.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

It swings to the right side.

Williamemslie

Yeah I found that out after some investigating. I like the look of the spare tire on the back but for me it's too much work and too much money. I'm okay with it under the truck too I just feel that a cable to hold it is not the best way. :/

ZGjethro

I bought my 1999 4runner in 2002. The spare has been under there since then, and seems secure. 265/75/R16. I air it up twice a year when I put snow/summer tires on.

Buster Bloodclot

The stock system really isn't bad at all. A big improvement over the 2nd generation chain, in my opinion. Now that you've put new parts in, they should be good to go for many years.

Williamemslie

Thanks for the comments on the subject. I'm not so worried anymore as it's been under there for a while with no issues. The only thing I did do was shove a piece of foam between the tire and the forward frame rail because I noticed I could grab the tire from under the hitch and rock it.