I've got a 2004 Edge with the stepside bed. I have a toolbox in the bed that takes up a bit of space and I'm looking to keep as much room as I can. I would like to get a relatively close matching spare tire for my 33" tires and would like to put it under the truck to save room in the bed and not worry about theives. I do have a body lift for the truck, and there is a hole in the bumper behind the liscence plate that I can get to with the stock removal tool, so getting to it is no big deal.

So here are my questions:
Will a 31" or 32" tire work alright as a spare for my 33" tires?
What is the maximum size tire I could fit underneath my truck in the stock location?
Can I use the rim from the stock spare tire for a 31" or 32" spare?

 

It will work fine if you don't have a limited slip, or most (if not all) automatic lockers. Those devices will cause problems in the rear with tires of different sizes.

The worst case is in continuous driving where the heat will burn up your differential lubricant and wear out your differential -- no fun.

I kept a 31" under my truck but it didn't tuck completely between the frame rail curves -- it sat on top of them.

If you have a rear exit dual exhaust that often constrains you to factory size spare only.

 

Ok, that helps alittle John. I do have LS, but I was thinking I could just roatate the tires to have the 31 in the front of the truck and have the full size 33's in the rear. Would that work out alright for strictly spare tire use only?
I have the exhaust comming out before the rear tire now, so there is no problem whatsoever with exhaust.
Now about the 31 sitting on your frame rails, does that mean that it sat a few inches lower than the stock spare tire sat? One of my concerns is having it sit right up there where the old one was for asthetics and other issues.

 

Yea, i would keep the same size in the rear no matter what. Can screw stuff up badly. Running two different size tires. Especially 2" diff.

 

Yeah, that's why I was hoping a 32 will fit in there

 

The Level II's have 31" nominal service tires but the OEM spare is 29" to fit between the frame rails. I have read posts from people who claim to have stuffed 32's or even 33's up there but I don't see how it's possible.

 

bjv11 had a 33x12.5 stuffed under there back in the day. Looked kinda funny because it was so much wider and hung down farther. It was worn down nearly to a slick though, so that might have given him the clearance he needed.

 

i wouldnt want to run a tire that is a different size then all the rest of them. im buying one that is the same size. i know it kinda stinks to spend that much on a spare but i figure i spent that much lifting it and on tires i should have known i would need a new spare.

im just going to put mine in the bed for long trips and then it will be in the garage if i am going to stay aorund home, i figure if i get a flat somone can just drive the spare sitting in the garage to me. with better tools and a better jack

 

my truck has a 16" rim for the spare, i had a used 31 i wanted on there but it cant be put on

 

Just lock the spare in the bed. Thats what i did.

 

Speaking of which, has anyone tried their stock jack with 33's? I was wondering if it has enough travel to lift the tire to clear the ground at all 4 corners.

 

put the little tire up front and keep it out of 4WD until you get the full size tire back on
if Buck brings his spare rim to the wedding I will likely get another 31" AT and try to stuff one of the older tires up there
and Bob - the high lift and rock sliders were installed before the 33" MT so I will never have to find out

 

I have some "jack plates" made of two pieces of 3/4" plywood, 1'x1', screwed together to make a 1.5" thick plate. It takes two of them, or at least 1 and a half, to use the stock jack with my 35's. I would think a single one would do with the 33's.

Such bases are good to have offroad for the hilift jack in the mud, as well as providing a "lift" for your stock jack.

 

I can't imagine having much problem w/ running a much smaller tire up front if you are only doing it for a short time (ie to get home, or to a shop to have a patch done).. as long as you keep it out of 4x4!! I mean the different rate of rotation shouldn't hurt the front drive train too much.. should it. Then again, w/ the live axles you are going to be working the diff even in 2Hi, aren't you..

Or is there a loading problem w/ the wheel bearings or something. Like having your truck permanantly flexing?!

 

I think the diff would be more problematical. Still, for a short haul to get out of trouble, how bad can it be?

I would maybe get a another wheel and tire with a full sized spare you can toss in the bed for offroading, even if it's a used tire. You'll want to be able to run "full traction" in that situation.

 

spares in the bed are no fun and worse with a flareside, If I had a tool box in my bed I would have no bed.

I really like Doc's mount.

 

I checked out Doc's mount online... it runs upwards of $300. Too rich for my blood.

 

You found docs mount for 300$??? Where?? I want a mount like docs but Duff want 600$ for it! some day :)

Josh

 

I think it was on the James Duff website, I just searched for it on yahoo... don't remember the price, thats why i said upwards of 300

 

Here they show it for $585 or $699, depending on finish..

 

i feel your pain, with my tool box i could hardly even take 4 30" tires back home with me, one had to ride in the cab.

 

^^hey, my old tires...lol