How to Remove the Spare Tire of a Land Cruiser?
4 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.
I'm quite familiar with removing the Land Cruiser's spare tire. I've helped people do it three times on National Highway 318. The key is to locate the metal cover with a lock hole in the center of the chassis, positioned below the rear bumper. Use the L-shaped hex wrench from the vehicle toolkit to insert and turn counterclockwise with force to unlock it. Your hand will get particularly sore because you're releasing the tension of the spare tire rack's spring. I recommend switching hands every half turn to avoid wrist strain. When you hear a 'click' sound, it means the steel cable has loosened, and the spare tire should be hanging low. Be careful when pulling it out to avoid burning your hands on the exhaust pipe—it's best to wear work gloves. Lastly, don't carelessly discard the spare tire cover; that plastic cover alone costs over a thousand yuan to replace.
There's actually a trick to removing the Land Cruiser's spare tire. First, open the trunk and take out the dedicated hex wrench, then locate the winch port on the rear chassis. Kneeling is easier on your back than bending over – you'll clearly feel spring resistance when turning the wrench counterclockwise. After about 15 turns, the spare tire will mostly lower, then continue turning 5 more times to fully release the steel cable. Key point: Many beginners get stuck trying to remove the spare because the anti-theft bracket is engaged. Use the wrench's tail end to push the left clasp of the bracket for release. The spare weighs about 35kg – bracing your knee against the tire while pulling makes it easier. Remember to secure with rocks if the ground is uneven.
