Im thinking about doing this because my spare tire winch broke and I am getting sick of my spare tire getting in the way in the bed. Anybody else do this? Im not gonna buy another winch because the design is just crap in my opinion. The only good idea about it is the tire being under the bed and out of the way so I just need another way to secure it and thinking a ratchet strap or two would do the trick.

 

What's the problem, it's a great design. Haven't heard of any problems. Strapping is a bad idea IMO. Plus it would be more of a PITA than it's worth.

I'd just get a new or used winch.

I haven't heard of anyone strapping them under myself.

 

No more of a pain in the *** than trying to get the piece of crap winch to work.

 

That's my thought as well. Everything in the undercarriage of my '97 is covered in thick rust due to 14 years of Wisconsin winters, but somehow my my tire winch never gave me any problems. I went to lower it last year and was expecting problems since I hadn't touched it in years, and it came right down.

 

@wrongdave-but after it came down did it go back up? Did it go back down? Were you able to use it again or did you have to get a new one every time you had to use your spare tire? This is my point

 

Yea, mines covered in rust as well. Always worked, never a problem. Pretty fast to.

 

It's not crap, nor is it a pain. You screwed yours up some how. Try to come up with a better way to mount that spare. Post pics, I want to see this lol.

 

I probably did screw mine up somehow. Maybe its because I winched it back up without the spare tire on it. I'll take pics when I get the spare tire back on it with the bungee cord. Im sure that would be real secure

 

Mine rusted solid. I had to cut the cable to remove my spare. I looked around for something that would work better and had the spare in the bed for months (I hated that) but in the end I bought a new unit from Ford and put it right back where it came from.

 

I take mine down once in a while and slime wheel bearing grease all over it..

 

^^ Exactly! A lil' annual maintenance on something like this goes a long way!

OP, I'd go get you a replacement. Just remember to lower it and raise it once a year, grease er' up some.

 

It's a terrible design. You ever try to get one of those out when its minus 40 and froze solid up there in the middle of no where at night. NOT FUN. Mine has been in the box for 4 years now.

 

I don't know of to many things that move well @ -40 Gotts. I know I don't lol.

 

once you get snow and ice freezing that POS up all bets are off. Every vehicle I've owned and will own that has the spare tire underneath will end up in the trunk/hatch/box. I'll deal with moving it around once in awhile. If I ever have to load it right up I will take it out for the day. If I lived in a nice warm climate I would probably leave it under.