Alternative method to access spare tire hoist

[h2100]

understood

 

[tooleyondeck]

ya know, I’ve had my 03 Yukon for almost 2 years now and I didn’t realize that I don’t have a spare tire until just now ….. the cable looks cut and I’m pretty sure my exhaust now negates me installing a replacement

 

[Tom Harlos]

So since purchasing the my 02 Tahoe over a year ago, I haven't been able to gain access to my spare tire. Luckily (and knocking on a huge chunk of wood right now!!) I haven't needed to as of yet. But in saying that I cannot let much more time go by without being prepared for the day when I may actually need to get my tire down. I have tried all the ways I've read about, watched videos on, etc... Problem is that my spare tire is lifted up to the highest possible position it can be but it will not lower down a millimeter whatsoever. If I could get it at least a few inches down then I could possibly work with that and figure out how to manage it out. But it won't budge. So I'm thinking of removing the tow hitch assembly and bumper to hopefully be able to get to the hoist to replace? I'm just wondering if doin that will actually get me the ability to remove the hoist or not? Would hate to do all that to realize it's not possible. Or I was thinking if somehow I could cut the cable the tire is lifted with but again getting to the cable with the necessary tools seems highly unlikely. Anyone have any experience with this or have any good advice to help me get this resolved? Thanks in advance

Hi there. I have a 2002 Yukon XL and after a while the cheap tubing that came with the truck in the tool kit wore out. The end that is supposed to be inserted so you can crank the tire down bulged until it just twisted. I looked at the end that was bulged out , kind of squeezed it back to its square shape and took a measurement of the inside dimension. i then found a socket that was just a bit smaller across that flats than the dimension of the old tube across its flats. Now mind you I have the tools and you may not but i used a small carbide burr to make a square hole and kept grinding until it fit. Also I used two Or is it three long extensions to insert it into the crank hole. I attached a ratchet to the end and it worked for me. It has never failed me since and that has bee at least ten years ago. i now keep those extensions and the ratchet where the tool kit was stored. This might not be the best method but it was the only one I could use at the time. I hope this helps in some way.

 

[S33k3r]

I used a socket on the end to which you are supposed to connect the "T". Then I dropped my spare in no time.