I would advise everyone with a '03 to check their spare. There are some serious rub/burn marks on mine. I have around 10k on my 03, but have never used the spare.

I decided to check it out (better than on some dark wet night when a tire was really flat) and there are rub/burn marks on different parts of the tire wall and tread. It's driveable, but I am concerned about the tire @ 20k or 30k... I plan to go to the dealer and ask about it.

BTW: We needed a screwdriver to undo the rods and a flashlight to guide the poles into the socket, something you may want to check out if you haven't already.

 

Which side of the tire, up or down? If it's the up side and you have the rear air suspension, I'd worry that the electrically driven spring compressor overheated. It's very close to the sidewall when the spare is up. Otherwise, when I dropped my spare I didn't see any other potential heat sources, only the metal guide/seating loops.

Was your spare fully seated before dropping? Did you off road and drag it? Did you ask your dealer for a warranty replacement? Just some thought starters.

 

Worst case I'll drive home or where ever on the rim, isn't that why they gave us a matching spare.

My friend got a flat with his 10 year old Toy Pickup and the spare was dry rotted plus the chain rusted so the spare had to be cut down, took all day.

Why didn't they just make the floor deeper in the rear and put the tire inside, it does not stay to clean underneath and it is not the easiest to get down the 1st time, the screws where actually frozen so if I ever got a flat on the size of the road:pat:

I checked mine and it was fine but Im gonna drop it again to clean it

 

Nice truck...I got me the V6 sport 4x4 -Galactic Gray also.
Pics are at
http://home.nycap.rr.com/baje/lizzy.htm

I am a brooklynite also...lived in Bedstuy for a while.
I am upstate Troy/Albany area now.
Thanks for the advice re the spare..

 

I had to use my spare due to a nail in one of my tires, it was before the 10k mile mark and I saw the 'rub' marks on the side of the tire that is facing up...to me it seemed more of a rub/indentation than burn marks because I dont think there is anything up there that gets hot, but who knows. I got the tire plugged that had the nail and put it in the spare location, so when i take that one down again I will see if those marks are on it

 

No, top part.. They are wear marks, because I cannot see anything that would burn them... But, I still don't think they should be there. No real offroad use. I'm going to ask the dealer anyway.
I'll tell you, I'm glad Itried it out because Iw uold have been screwed had I not. I couldn't loosen any of the screws on the rods. I should have done that on day one.

 

The next time you have the handle and rods out, check the handle. It has a nut driver built into it that fits the hex nuts on the rods. :pat:

 

Ahh, they think of everything don't they....

 

Actually, I find it nice that the access hole for the spare tire "winch" is covered by the tailgate. On the F150, it was a hole in the bumper, so stealing the spare was much easier.