How to Remove the Spare Tire of a Land Cruiser?
2 Answers
Open the rear door and lift the horizontal floor panel. The spare tire bolt is located slightly to the right, covered by a plastic cap about the size of a ping pong ball—remove this cap. Fit the bolt socket onto the bolt head and turn the handle counterclockwise; the spare tire will lower to the ground. At the center of the spare tire, rotate the hook sideways and remove it. Then, take off the plastic cover of the spare tire.
Last time I helped a friend remove the spare tire from his Land Cruiser, and the experience was quite practical. The spare tire is mounted under the rear chassis, so you first need to lie down to find the square winch cover plate. Use the key to open the cover plate, then insert the dedicated hex wrench and turn it counterclockwise. Be aware that turning will be particularly strenuous because the spare tire is suspended by a steel cable. After about 20-30 turns, you'll feel the spare tire touch the ground—don’t let go at this point! Keep turning until the steel cable is completely slack, or the latch will snap back. Once the spare tire is on the ground, you can drag it out sideways. A reminder: always engage the parking brake and shift into P before changing a tire. For off-road models, remember to turn off the chassis lift function to avoid accidents. The most challenging part of the process is the winch operation—those with less strength can bring a breaker bar for extra leverage.
