I'm sick of my spare taking room in the bed and would really like to mount it under the bed. 79 crew long bed f250, my back tank is removed so that won't be a problem. I can't find a kit for our trucks, will a 80's mount work? I'm ok with a some drilling. I'd make my own but I don't currently have a steel saw and the welder is in storage. Anybody know hat my options are?

The spare is already on a ugly wheel, I'm using 32 inch tire and stuff doesn't rust too much here in central Oklahoma. I don't really want a "in bed" mount but will if I have to.

 

Can't say I ever seen an under bed on a dentside, haven't ever looked either though.
Mine came with a 6in wide plate mounted on the pass side bed rail to floor, with a carriage bolt half way up for a stand up mount. I'll never use it but I'll leave it there for character.
It will minimize space, but looks like an old man and would have interfered with my toolbox I used to have.

 

From the factory, there were both in-bed and under-bed options. I found an under-bed carrier in a junkyard a few years back; not sure what your luck would be these days. Maybe place a WTB add in the classified sections here? I couldn't say what years would fit from earlier/later trucks.

 

I would be ok with what you described, Davis. But if much rather have it under the bed out of the way, even though in reality it wouldn't make any real difference in bed size.

What if I found info stating that hitches for dentsides and bull nosed trucks were the same? Would that also mean that the spare carrier would be similar enough to work? I've checked every yard I know around me and can't find 1 single dentside in them. Have seen several setting in fields but they are all being "restored".

 

Could be. Take some frame measurements before you go to the yard, and then see what the mounting dimensions are on the bull-nose trucks you find there.

 

One off an 80's ish truck should be able to be made to work, maybe even the cable drop style like on newer trucks?

Its basically just a piece of all thread thru the bottom of the frame rail and a eyelet type set up on the other end.

 

I've seen lots of dents with the under bed spare. Having said that, the frame width is the same for a very long time. It would require very minimal fabrication to make something from a junkyard work. Just being something to deal with rivets....

 

I've got an under the bed mount, but I've got it off right now because the one bolt rusted through. Like everyone else says, I would just find a type that has the crossbar and two places for bolts. I think that it sounds like an easy hourlong project.

If you need pictures, let me know and I can snap some tomorrow before work. Obviously you can't see what its supposed to look like on the truck though

 

Hey that cable idea sounds awesome. You could find that on almost any truck, not sure how/where they mount but that should be easy enough. . but where do you store the jack handle that won't work with your stock jack, lol

 

I think the cable reel mounts to a cross member that is mounted to or on top the frame. The crank handle should fit behind the seat or in the bed mounted tool box.

And most handles are hinged to fold down in length. "Stock Jack" who carries and uses that accident waiting to happen? I carry a 2 ton roller style floor jack and a 4 way in every rig.

 

The most common spare tire carrier for dentsides is the underframe carrier. It mounts the spare tire below the aft axle fuel tank.


Channel, spare tire carrier
D7TZ-1443-A
McDonald Obsolete Parts, Rockport, IN has 2 (812) 359-4965


Bolt, 1/2"-13 X 10 1/2" "I" type bolt
Parts International, Farmers Branch, TX has 2 (972) 241-8730


Nut and retainer assy., bolt to frame
384580-S2
Fred Grande Ford, Casco, MI has 3 (586) 749-3141


You'll need the channel, one I bolt and two of the nut and retainer assy's. You'll also need one regular 1/2"-13 bolt about 10" long. I'll look and see if I can get the actual length.

 

The stock jack is a screw type mechanical jack. With periodic oiling, it will ALWAYS work. I have found them in the bottom of mud puddles at a junkyard, or laying in a bed where they sat for ten years, and a shot of wd40 and they are in action. Hydraulic jacks, on the other hand, don't like to sit for long periods of inactivity. Cheap bottle jacks don't work as often as they do. A little off topic but I always keep a screw jack with me because I know it will always function.

 

Correct on all, and a stock jack will work great for a stock truck, but not one with 33's or 35's on it.

The way I avoid cheap bottle jacks or roller floor jacks, is to not buy them in the 1st place. lol

 

I was having trouble removing this tire carrier nut and bolt with a pentagon head and frame clip from my '78 F-250. So I sawed it off. Are there any of these bolts with a clip and nut available?

 

Unless you’re going for complete originality to include the underside of your truck, I’d just hit your local hardware and get a bolt and u-clip nut.