Can somebody tell me what size socket this tool is? Seems to be missing from my tire changing tool kit.

 

It's keyed on one end. It may be in your glovebox if you just acquired the truck. You can easily pop the end off with a flat head where the key mates up above the spare tire location and just lower the spare tire without the key.

 

I'm sorry, pop the end of what off?

 

The security lug...




There's a few videos on youtube how to remove it.

 

There is a VERY deep rooted hatred for Ford for installing that f%$king spare tire lock. How many Super Duty owners have stood roadside with thumbs in butt because a previous owner lost that key and now they can't get the spare down. Once you knock that SOB out of there the jack rods can get it to turn and hopefully come down. Lube the snot out of the cable and the gear assembly while its out. NEVER even think of putting that POS back in the spare tire winch

 

While I was replacing a broken leaf spring on my 2016 F250 I noticed my spare tire was low on air. Made note to air it up after I was finished.
Went to fill it and discovered the spare was installed with the fill valve facing up towards the truck bed. I got out my jack tools to lower the tire. When I couldn't get the tool to engage the lowering winch I googled how to do it and learned that there is an anti theft key that should be in the glove box.
I bought the truck used in 2022. There was no key in the glove box.
Then began the Google searches on how to lower the spare without a key. Most said to drive a socket using a long extension over the round anti theft device. Some said a 14 mm socket, others said 17 mm. For me the 14 was too small and the 17 was too large.
Also recommended was to find a Ford dealer that has a master key set. I found a local dealer who had one and said I could use it! Went down to do that and was happy to find that they indeed had the kit. But when I went to the parking lot to use it I found that the cup on the key was too small to fit over my anti theft device. This explained why some said 14 and some said 17 mm socket.
Ultimately I used a one piece 2' socket extension and a 16 mm socket. It was still a bit small and wouldn't drive on as it was. I could see on the socket indentations where it was contacting the key device and I used a pointed grinder on my Dremel tool to ramp back the inside of the socket to drive it on farther. After a couple tries and adjusting the ramping it finally grabbed on and I was able to lower the tire!
When I pulled the socket off the anti theft key came with it. Without the key the jack tools fits right into the lowering winch and the tire can now be raised and lowered with no key!
I drove the truck for 2 years with no clue that if I got a flat I would be stuck with no way of getting the spare off.
As a side note there are many posts about removing the key device in order to utilize the jack tool while the spare is still on. I spent many wasted hours trying different methods. My truck has the full tow package that includes a receiver hitch bolted to the frame. The hitch brackets cover about 3/4 of the sides of the spare tire on both sides. This makes it pretty much impossible to access the device to "just pop it out."
I hope this long-winded post can help somebody who needs it.

 

If I remember correctly, my 2001 that I bought new had a thick plastic see through ziploc type bag attached to the jack that is located behind the rear seat.

I first wanted to lower the spare about 20 years in, and could not find the key for a while.