Secondary latch on spare - DRIVING ME NUTS!!!

[ts_hunter]

So I thought it would be nice to repaint or powder coat my reciever hitch since it was starting to look bad. So in order to take it off, I thought I would drop the spare tire to get at the bolts better. It has been a few years since I have dropped the spare - - I try to do it every year or so to make sure it stays limber. Well it appears as if my secondary latch is stuck.

 

I tried the trick the manual shows - no luck. I have the license plate off and have tried to pound on the latch mechanism, I have sprayed it with alot of WD-40 - no luck. It this point I just want to drop the entire hoist off the truck and fix it when it is off the truck.

 

I saw some youtube videos where it looks like there is just one bolt holding up the hoist. Does anyone know if there is a nut on the top of that I will have to hold while I take the bolt out? Any other fasterners I should know about?

 

Thanks.

[kstruckcountry]

I think it's just one bolt, and it wouldn't surprise me if the nut was welded to the truck so you don't have to hold it.

 

I have to repair mine as well. Either that or replace it with the GMT 400 style.

[montyss]

if you let the air out of the tire you may be able to rotate the tire / wheel to a spot so you can get to the single bolt holding the hoist, long extension and a 13mm socket

[ts_hunter]

OK. I will try a few things and see how it goes