2006 E-250

What does the spare tire winch tool look like?

I don't have one.


What does the part that directly contacts the wheel look like? Once I get the proper wrench, I will have to see about getting that part, as now I just have a bit of wire rope hanging down. There is a bunch of rope on the spool.

 

Mostly it looks like this from '92 up -



The smaller bit has wings that catch the hub opening in the wheel. The OE winch uses metal cable, not rope.

IIRC pre-92 vans have the main fuel tank just ahead of the bumper so there's no room for a winched spare.

Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 190K miles

 

The "tool" for the winch is the same tool used on the jack. Insert rod in hole and crank on it.

 

It's the end of your lug wrench, the prybar end, looks like a flat screwdriver.

 

Really ? That'd be a nice trick to see done. The lug wrench is a "mite" too short to reach the spare tire winch under the van.

 

It's what I've been using on my 99, there is a drive shaft that is at the rear of the van, just over the bumper, you insert the tool in it and turn, I've done it several times, can get the tire without having to get out of my wheelchair.

 

Must be a newer model thing then, all the ones I've owned didn't have that feature. Including my 99 SD F250. Or maybe a handicapped van add-on.

 

Nope, the only thing different with wheelchair conversions is they relocate the fuel tank to the rear, you lose the spare tire location, my van is stock, was a passenger van, that is the factory spare tire carrier nothing more. I believe my friends 95 is the same, I know one does not have it because the wheelchair conversion shop decided to relocate the tank there when they dropped the floor, not necessary since his other drop floor van still utilizes the factory placed tank. When the rear doors are open, you sometimes see what appears to be a removable plastic piece off center over the bumper, when removed, you should see the shaft for cranking down the spare, as I said, mine looks like you could use a big screwdriver to turn it.

 

I'm guessing your '99 had a different mechanism than later models. Here's my tool for lowering and raising the spare, as well as jacking up/down for 2006-2014:




That's a little bit of a modification from the factory tool which is a three piece folded hand-crank deal. I cut the third piece off the hand crank and fitted it to my drill. Yes, it lifts E-350s off the ground in low gear. The lug wrench is separate and not involved in jacking up or lowering the tire. I might add that it's a piece of junk and I've completely replaced the lug wrench with a 7/8" six point deep well fitted to a 30" breaker bar.

 

Guess I've been doing it wrong, been working for over 10 years tho.

 

Absolute piece of crap----I have several of those used only to pry or hammer with when nothing else is handy to grab in a hurry. Over 4 different E250's I can't recall ever even fitting one of those on a lug nut.

I use a 3/4" drive deep impact socket, short extension and long breaker bar too---all in the 3/4" drive. Should I need to change a flat out on the road I'm pretty well equipped.

 

Thanks to the overzealous tire shops, I use a breaker bar and 4' pipe to change mine, which says alot since I have more upper body strength than most people, ever seen a 4 way lug wrench twist, yeah, that tight, I use the factory wrench for lowering the tire, thats it.

 

Thanks for the photo, tabijan. IIRC, my winch looks more flat than tall, but of generally the same idea. I'm happy to see the parts that hold onto the tire rim. I need to get all of those, or make something similar. What I'm not sure of is what kind of thing gets squeezed onto the end of the cable to hold it all up.

I hadn't thought about putting a spring on it; but thinking about it now, that seems like a good idea to reduce stress on the whole device when the truck is bouncing down the road.

Does anybody know where to get that part, and what tool is required to squeeze it onto the cable?

The other thing I might do is see if any junk yards are selling the whole mechanism complete for a price that makes sense.


Ahh, now I see, said the blind man. Thanks for the info.

 

Neither my old 95 nor my current 96 E150's had a drive shaft attached to the winch. Both used the jack tool to raise and lower the spare. Ditto for both a 92 and 95 F150 I bought a couple years back to flip. The spring on the end of the cable ? Never seen that either. When the tire is raised fully, it's jambed against the frame crossmembers above it. Should be no movement at all going down the road

 

Get a lead sleeve and crimp it over the end of the cable. Here's some ideas - Cable Fittings - Sleeve, Crimp and Clip Fittings

Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 190K miles