Spare tire skid plate / protection

[firemedic2714]

With the kind of money you're talking for a manufactured skid plate of any kind, you'd just be better off putting the spare in the bed and using a cargo strap to hold it down.

First thing I learned when I started wheeling pickups (a 94 Ranger long bed) is that the first mod is to pull the spare tire out from under the bed. Its a bad day when your spare is stuck under the bed because you're in a rut and there's no space between the ground and your frame to slide it out.

It's not just about the spare. I've moved the spare before. It's more about preventing the receiver from getting hung up on obstacles because the skid slides over them, gives you a step, a safe recovery point (that's not a hitch ball), and a wheel chock.

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[Alpine Warthog]

It's not just about the spare. I've moved the spare before. It's more about preventing the receiver from getting hung up on obstacles because the skid slides over them, gives you a step, a safe recovery point (that's not a hitch ball), and a wheel chock.

I'm on the same page as you for the hitch sliders. I'm referring to putting a skid plate over your spare tire as the OP is requesting info for. Putting your spare under the bed is for people that never take the truck off the pavement. Just not the smartest move to even drive a double track fire road with a tire under the bed. Murphy's Law says you will have a flat in the middle of the 8 inch rut.

 

[tom.mary.glad]

I'm on the same page as you for the hitch sliders. I'm referring to putting a skid plate over your spare tire as the OP is requesting info for. Putting your spare under the bed is for people that never take the truck off the pavement. Just not the smartest move to even drive a double track fire road with a tire under the bed. Murphy's Law says you will have a flat in the middle of the 8 inch rut.

I do take my Gladiator off-road, but I'll admit I'm a newbie and didn't consider the issue of the spare being trapped in case of a trail flat.

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