Seems like the winding aparatus had gone faulty. I installed my spare just fine, but I can't get it down now. Bad thing is I can't get in, around or above the tire to get to the source of the problem. Don't have much room to work with (35" spare stuffed within the receiver hitch bracket). I've got the "Blade" style stock wheel, so I was thinking of trying to get a cutting torch through one of the holes and burning the steel cable in two. Any other ideas before I burn my truck to the ground? I did get a new insurance policy today, just in case...

 

Remove the bed (6 T45, 3 8mm filler neck bolts and the hose clamp on the filler neck about halfway down) and unbolt the winch from the top side (two 13mm bolts IIRC)


Edit i found my picture:


Actually looks like the bolts go from bottom to the top, but you should still be able to get in through that opening to access them inside the wheel, if you have it face down. If not cut around the bolt heads since you are gonna replace the winch anyways.

 

Cut the bottom piece that hols the tire up, cut it where the cable comes through it... Just support the tire with a couple jack stands

 

Remove the bed huh? Wouldn't have been my first guess but I'll give it a whirl, since I'll need to replace it anyway. Guess I might as well look into that body lift now.

Thanks fellas.

 

Lol now would be the time

 

what it is, there is a finger type thing as a safty mechanism on the stock of the cable above the tire it is most likely hung up on a ledge inside the winch what you need to do is unbolt the winch from the frame then proceed to take the tire off

 

I had a similar thing happen a while ago and it turned out to be that the cable had gotten frayed and then bound up. Regardless, if you can't get the tire down at all, you're going to either get in there and cut the cable somehow or remove the winch assembly.

 

Mine is stuck too. It is an 03 with only 60,000 miles and it is rusted solid. I am going to cut the cable and mount it in the box somewhere. Taking the whole bed off seems like a lot of extra work to me.

 

a cutting torch works to a lot less work

 

Finally got to look at it this weekend. Ended up pulling off the tailgate and taking out the four T50 bed bolts at the back and lifted up the rear of the bed just high enough to block it, about 8". Pulled the valve stem from the spare tire and let the air out, then floor jacked up the spare to get it as high as possible towards the bed. Once I removed the plastic guide that the jack handle slides thurough the bumper to the winch, I immediately saw the problem. The aluminum "key" that actually turns the winch was broke in half. So sticking the handle in there and turning would just slip out one side once you put some torque to it. I put a monkey wrench on it, allowing me to turn it while pulling downward on the tire and it finally came loose enough to get the carrier on the end of tha cable back through the rim.
I was going to pull all 6 of the T50's but I snapped one of my T50 bits on the bolt by the drivers side cab. The spare tire is now residing in the back of the bed until I find a replacement winch.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

I was having a very similar problem as everyone else. My tire wouldn't come down and the winding apparatus felt like it secured into the hole, but spun freely. I saw the picture of the winch in Patman's post with the bed removed and decided the little horn looking thing could probably come off. Let the air out of the tire so you can have some working room. (I did it without removing the air, but I have skinny arms, so if you find yourself not able to get your arm in there remove the air) From the drivers side toward the cab, stick your arm over the tire until you can feel the horn guide thingy. Trace it back to the winch and then apply pressure to the other end of the horn with your other arm and it should pop right off. Now feel around the hole the horn came from with your finger and clear any of the cheap metal that broke inside of it out. Replace the guide horn and you will need a 3/8" Drive socket and 18" to 24" of extensions. Slide the extensions down the guide horn thingamajig until you feel it stop. Wiggle it around until it pops into the slot. (You might have to rotate the extensions until you find the right groove, so don't despair) Once its seated you can use your socket wrench to lower the tire down. If for some reason you can't use the guide horn thingy to get the socket in remove it and put the extensions in. I had replaced the horn guide thingy after I did the lowering so I actually did it both ways, so whatever you find works best for you. Remember I have skinny arms and scratches all over my elbow from not letting the air out so it's up to you but it was easier than removing the bed or wrenching a cable til it snaps and dropping a tire on myself. Good Luck.