Would have been nice if Ford had designed the Aerostar with a spare tire well under the rear floor. My wifes Aerostar ('92) has never used the spare. We have about 75000 miles and it looked rusted on. Rather than look in the book at how this thing comes off I just cut the cable with a hack saw and it dropped off (I would rather keep it inside anyway and have made a bolt down that hooks over the rear seat mount which we don't use). Then I saw the neat winch for lowering the spare and thought, "you idiot, now you wrecked the spare tire holder." Then I inspected the cable where it attaches to the holder and found about 80% of its strands readily broke upon bending and twisting. The rest pulled off with a jerk of the pliers. I suspect in due time the spare would have dropped off the back on a good bump and perhaps would do a job on somebodys grill. You Aero owners may want to inspect the cable.

 

mine fell off a while back... fortunately in a parking lot going over a speed bump

 

Such a flimsy cable. The winch is a nice idea but for rust.

 

I have a 94 shortie AWD, and the spare is mounted under the rear seat,it still looks new. There is a rod that loops into the body under the carpet. You might check and see if your van has this and just get the rod from Ford or the junkyard.

 

I lost my spare tire on a 93 aerostar while traveling about 85 mph(no speed limit in Montana at the time). It bounced up and landed in a dodge truck's windshield on the passenger side behind me. Fortunately, there wasn't a passenger in the truck. When the police arrived, all they could say is "You did what?". This is a definite hazard. I now carry my spare behind the rear seat and I don't tailgate other aerostars.

 

I now went ahead and secured the spare with a chain. Should the wire break, the wheel still can't go anywhere.

Tom
1993 Aerostar XL Ext. 3.0L
Munich, Germany

 

what did you mount the chain to? put any brackets under the van? i was thinking of the same thing, just with canvas straps, couldn't see any easy (no drilling) way of installing a strap or chain. rick

 

The winch for the spare is on a large bracket that is open to the sides. When pulled up, the wheel is resting against this bracket.
I lowered the wheel and put a chain around this bracket and through 2 lug holes of the wheel. Pulled the wheel up, shortened the chain to avoid loose ends and connected the ends with a carbine (sp?). Although the chain is thin (has to to fit thru the lug holes) it is strong enough to bear the weight of the wheel in case the wire comes apart.

Tom
1993 Aerostar XL Ext. 3.0
Munich, Germany

 

great idea!,sounds easy enough. having been caught flat once too often ( far from home and late at night) with just a donut tire i switched out the donut tire for a full size spare a years or so ago.i think i'll use your idea and chain it up as well. a nut and bolt through the chain ought to hold it,just getting it undone with miles of crud on it might be too much fun...thanks rick
















91 aerostar ext. aka "the green bean"
4.o liter 157 tho. miles and going

 

I didn't know a full size spare would fit under there!! I'll have to get a rim now and put one on there. the chain sounds like a great idea, though I agree with rick getting it loose with a lot of crud on it may be fun... It beats putting it inside, b/c I have sub woofers under my 3rd row seat! and it being the shortie I need all the cargo room I can get...

Mike D.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 16-Apr-02 AT 12:35 PM (EST)]I've got an 89 shortie. Tried putting a full size spare up underneath and it would not fit. Don't remember exactly what was in the way, but it seemed insurmountable at the time. If anyone has figured out a way, pass it along. Still have the full size spare in the garage.

Bill

 

Here in Canada, we got a recall. You should check if there is one for the US veh. As you all know we get LOTSSSSS of snow. So Ford put a recall to replace all from 86 and up.

Cdn Soldier

94 Aerostar XLT Sport 4LT loaded
98 Explorer XLT 4DR 5LT Loaded not mine the wifes.

God bless Our 4 Yng Lads.