I have a 2006 Ranger XLT 4x4 that the under side spare tire metal is rusted and basically shot. Has anyone here tried to make some sort of replacement device with the little winch that's used to hold the tire?
The reason of asking this is I've been online and I couldn't find any type of replacement due to most used ones are also rusted beyond use or they're not available.
I'm thinking of using 2 inch by 1/8 inch steel bars and making my own carrier.
Now this will depend on whether the one cross member(that holds the charcoal canister) is any good. I'll take 2 steel bars, heat and bend them close to the shape of the original carrier, run them parallel from the front cross member to the rear one (which is in good shape), add a plate to mount the little winch on, and see if that will work.
But I'm open to other ideas.

 

My Ideas you probably will not like but here they are anyways.

Ditch the spare tire, that will likely be flat when you need it anyways

Join AAA

https://autoclubsouth.aaa.com/Member...embership.aspx

Keep an assortment of tire repair products on your truck for when you cannot wait for AAA

https://www.fixaflat.com/us/products.php?id=1

https://www.slime.com/us/products/auto/inflators/

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.jbtoolsales.com/safety-s...SABEgLkWPD_BwE

Or if you just need the security of having a spare tire and do not want to deal with the unavailable parts or have to reinvent the wheel, here is another option which would put the spare up in your face making it less likely to be forgotten about when checking the air in your tires.

https://www.wilcooffroad.com/shop/hitchgate/

 

personally I'd take the bed off and replace it with one from the junkyard painted up in POR15