spare tire

iron_786 · April 3, 2004

i tried to lower my spare tire, to install some trailer wiring, the dam thing wouldnt come down the crank just turned and turned and realy made my day, went to the dealer they tried with same results told me to come in on thursday,,,,,, i wanted to get this project done and outa the way. anyone have problems with there spare like this?

ness5575 · April 3, 2004

i had the same thing happen to me. luckily i was just using the spare to halp rotate my tires and not because i was stuck somewhere trying to change a flat! they fixed it under warranty. there must be a way to take the whole assembly down. you could just unbolt it so you could get your wiring done?

lrymal · April 3, 2004

"thing wouldnt come down the crank just turned and turned..."

I did the same thing. Turns out I was either placing the shaft in backwards, or maybe the extension shaft in the hole. Can't quite remember. But, try again. It will work. Never take anything like this to the dealer. They just know how to sell.

seadoons · April 3, 2004

This same thing happened to me - and after getting really pissed off about the entire ordeal, I decided to pull out the truck manual and read how to do it and found that I was doing it WRONG!!!!

In our spare tire kit there are 4 pieces - 3 straight bars and a lug wrench. One of the bars has a different looking end on it - kind of like a wide flat head screwdriver with a curve to it. This is ONLY used for moving the jack up and down, and it is NOT USED FOR BRINGING THE SPARE TIRE UP OR DOWN!!!! I jammed that d**n thing in the hole and turned, turned, turned, Nothing!!!

Found out that it is actually one of the square ends that goes in that hole...it is the square end that you would stick something into. So, what you do, is leave the one piece that is only used to move the jack up and down alone. Connect the other two pieces, and stick them in the hole to move the tire. Connect the lug wrench to the end (it attaches perpinducular to the two connected pieces) and go to town!

Same rules apply for suburbans, tahoes, etc. I have stopped several times when I see people on the side of the road with all three pieces connected together and that have the flat head side in the hole...they usually have their wife turning and they are up under the truck beating the s**t out of the spare trying to get it to come down...

Hope this helps!!!

budchevyss · April 3, 2004

iron_786 · April 4, 2004

at first i tried the end with the flat hooky thing, thats how it worked on my 92, but after that didnt work and i had already gone under the truck and gave the tire a beating i read the book and used the square end, still didnt work, so i went to the dealer, its supposed to be under warranty, guess i will find out on thurs,,,,,,

03GMCinBC · April 4, 2004

Boy am I glad you posted this little bit of info. I am fixin to move back to the states at the end of the month and will be doing a 1800 mile road trip.

I will definitely check this before I hit the road! Thanks...

silverado man · April 5, 2004

I think last year or a couple of years ago GM sent out a flexible shaft or something to take care of it I this Shaners or MountaineerTom were the ones that ended up getting one of these. I didn't get one so I'm not exactly sure what it was for ago but I do remember something.

penguins1 · April 5, 2004

Does anyone know where I can get the kit (jack, tire iron, etc) that is supposed to be under the back seat? I kind of have been rolling the dice without one. When I bought my truck (used) it was missing. I am sure I could go to the dealer and pay $200 for it but if that is the case I would rather chance it. Any suggestions?

seadoons · April 5, 2004

You might check ebay!

gnutruk · April 5, 2004

Does anyone know where I can get the kit (jack, tire iron, etc) that is supposed to be under the back seat? I kind of have been rolling the dice without one. When I bought my truck (used) it was missing. I am sure I could go to the dealer and pay $200 for it but if that is the case I would rather chance it. Any suggestions?

Wrecking yard.

Quadrasteer · April 6, 2004

I had the same problem on a snowmobile trip up in Maine, in the middle of a snow stormwith a 14' trailer in tow. It was bad enough that they put "P" rated Cross Terrains on a truck with a 10k tow rating, tire blew out for no apparent reason, but then I had to solve the tire handle puzzle. If you plan on having the back seat filled with stuff, take the jack & handle out from under the seat before you load up. I had to empty the seat, which was packed with food, clothing and other stuff, onto the back of the truck in a snowstorm because the jack dosen't come out unless you fold the seat up! Also about rotating tires, the SD spare not only has a different wheel but the tire size is different too.

99-2door · April 6, 2004

I had the same problem on a snowmobile trip up in Maine, in the middle of a snow stormwith a 14' trailer in tow. It was bad enough that they put "P" rated Cross Terrains on a truck with a 10k tow rating, tire blew out for no apparent reason, but then I had to solve the tire handle puzzle. If you plan on having the back seat filled with stuff, take the jack & handle out from under the seat before you load up. I had to empty the seat, which was packed with food, clothing and other stuff, onto the back of the truck in a snowstorm because the jack dosen't come out unless you fold the seat up! Also about rotating tires, the SD spare not only has a different wheel but the tire size is different too.

Does your Denali have the weird 16" alloy spare wheel? That is what my brother's 2002 Tahoe Z-71 with 17" wheels has.

Quadrasteer · April 7, 2004

I think it does, not sure. It's a wierd looking rim with a lot of holes in it. Good thing I didn't ruin the Denali wheel, the dealer said they're around $600!

iron_786 · April 8, 2004

well i just got back from the stealer they said the winch mechanism is shot, too my knowledge it has never been used the spare looks brand new, anyhow a new one is on order and is supposed to be installed next week, until then my spare is in the box of the truck waiting for some a$$ to "borrow" it.