I notice most of you guys that are lifted esp. with a bodylift don't lug around your spare... I know with a bodylift it looks ugly as hell... I still have mine on and it looks like my 4Runner is wearing a diaper... Anyways, say for instance that I get a flat... I have 295/75/16's right now and my spare is a whooping 265/70/16... Would using my undersized spare be dangerous? Considering the size difference and etc... For all you guys without spares, would you rather just have the Runner towed away if you need to fix a flat?

I tried putting a bolt as a spacer to angle the spare a little more so it doesn't so weird but it still looks weird...

 

it's possible to make the stock tool work to lower the spare after putting on a body lift. you just gotta make that access hole larger.

i've only needed my spare once. that was after one of my beadlocked wheels, rear driver side, fell apart while driving (the inner ring separated from the wheel. i've since had them re-welded). i'm running 285/75/16s but my spare was a 265/70/16. it got me home, tho i didn't like driving with a smaller tire one bit. the word of wisdom i recieved is it's best to have the smaller spare on the rear anyway, you want two good tires for steering.

the long term plans for my runner call for relocating the fuel tank to where the spare currently resides. i doubt i'll go for a rear tire carrier, so i'll either just take a spare on trail runs only, or have a tire-repair kit or two and cross my fingers. eh, i'll cross that bridge when i come to it.

 

Yeah, I just did what others mentioned when I lowered the spare, popped the bumper piece off. It just looks so darn ugly with the spare on lol....

 

Every toyota I have owned in PA, the spare tire was stuck because of the chain mechanism being rusted solid. I've removed all the spare tires on my vehicles, and went on luck. Luck has been on my side.

 

You're going to get a flat tomorrow now...

 

Nope ...Can't drive my truck because my exhaust just broke last week coming back from a 400 mile trip. Talk about annoying. I'm glad because the dynamax muffler wasn't what I wanted all along.
I'm going to get the flat on my ford truck because I removed that tire also

 

drive around town w/o spare. call the ol lady (or AAA) to bring it if ya get a flat.
throw it on the roof when off road.

 

you could also get a rack and carry it on the roof

 

I'll be keeping mine. One bad experience out in the middle of nowhere was all it took.

 

If you have the room, just throw it in the trunk

 

You always get a flat at the worst time.I would feel stupid knowing my spare was at home doing me no good.A nail hole you can fix.A blown out side wall you cant.

 

Don't run a differnt size tire on the rear. That is your main drive axle. Running a different size tire will cause handling issues and extra stress on your differential. If your spare is small(or larger) you should run it on the front, the front is a free rolling, not powered when in 2wd. If you have a locker you should know this but for those that still have open diffs it's wise to learn the ins and outs of tire sizes and issues that can cause problems.

 

Thanks for the heads up guys... Getting a rack and putting the spare on top is a no go... Being only 5'7, it will be a pita to get the spare off the top if I need it... Also my MPG sucks already, putting the rack on would make it even worse... I like Schaefer's setup for his spare but that will probably cost alot of $$$. If I go with a full sized spare, it will probably stick down even more but then it won't have the wimpy Dunlop spare thread showing... Here is a pic I brightened up to see how ugly it looks...

 

i had this same problem with my old truck and having that body lifted, i hated how the tire stuck out like a sore thumb

and its funny, with my 4x4 i had a custom high clearanced rear bumper and the 33" spare tire underneath looks really bad, it can be seen even more and takes away from the high clearanced bumper

maybe you could build some kind of skidplate around it, so it wouldn't look so bad?

 

dont care how it looks !!
when i go out to the 2 day trails i even take 2 spares ! both full size 33 x 10 50 boggers ! and on 1 trip used them both i cut a valve stem off crossing and falling through some ice and slicing the side wall on the other !

i have both on board air and lots of patches and plugs even a inner tube if all else fails !

they call me fix-it for a reason i bring spares of everything . our trails are far from cell phone reception or any local towns for help .. i think the 1 thing i would make room for no matter how it looks is a good full size spare .

 

I figure, it isn't hard to carry a spare, while it may not be pretty, it isn't difficult and I would rather be safe than sorry. I actually made my first run without a spare a couple weeks ago because my '85 didn't come with one and I haven't bought one.

 

on my 85 i just upgraded from 33x 10 .50's to 33 x 13.50 tsl's while i dont have room or care to have the spare under neath (stuck or covered in mud ) i like to stand up the spares and push them up against my cab and strap them in .they dont move take up less room and easy to get to if needed . on my new bed design i will be still using this design but better d rings for a stronger mounting point . and to hold everthing else down i love rubbermaid heavy duty containers and strap em down with ratchet straps so nothing falls on my head when going extreme on the trails or in case of a flop .

 

i was in your same boat. body lift, where to put spare? im fortunate at being 6 1, and its not too much of a hassle to throw the 33 on top. its always an interesting sight though haha. and yes i agree, it does look very ugly with a full size mounted underneath. you can try a couple things. if you have any on board air, just deflate ur spare, and put it underneath. it wont look as bad. or you can just keep the tire in the trunk. i advise having a spare all the time. whats the purpose of having a spare tire if you dont have it with you all the time? how dumb are you going to feel when you get a flat tire that you cant fix, and your spare tire is at home?
just my .02

 

Sounds like everyone should stop installing body lifts since they make everything else ugly

You 4Runner folks should invest in a rear spare tire carrier/bumper combo.

 

That's what I do as well.
Throw 1 or 2 where you have room when off roading.