I can't say that I've ever had to lower the spare on a super duty, but when my sister called me with a flat in her Ranger and didn't have the tool to lower her spare I just used vice grips to turn the tube going into the cable hoist from under the truck. Worked fine. Does the outer tube on the SD not turn as you lower the tire?

 

there are some pictures earlier in this thread. the part that turns is about 18inches from the license plate and is fully covered by the spare tire.

 

Gotcha... most pictures won't show up on my desk computer at work.

 

This is an awesome trick, going to try it this weekend.

 

I just bought a 2013 f-250 crew cab short box with 6.2 gas engine, wouldn't you know, missing spare tire key. I read all the the posts here on this subject and kept my fingers crossed that it would be as easy as pounding on a 9/16 socket like a lot of posts said. This was not to be. Tried many different sizes and brands of sockets but nothing would grab. Even tried the 15mm or #9 bolt extractor. No go. Tried several keys from other super-duty pickups just for kicks...no luck. Then I remembered a previous posts that said he was going to try a GATOR GRIP socket. Bingo...that's the ticket!. It took a few turns of the socket slipping before it grabbed but once it set the tire came down smoothly. When I pulled the extension out, the GAToR GRIP stayed on the insert, which turned out to be OK because it gave me something to hold on to, to wiggle the insert out of the crank. I then had to use a small punch to get the socket off of the insert by pounding on several of the small pins in the socket. Come to find out, this insert was quite I bit bigger than the 9/16 socket many guys used. This insert barely fit in a six point 11/16 socket, to give you an idea. Maybe a bigger bolt extractor would have worked but nobody in our small town had one. One more thing...when removing the black guide tube, I turned it about 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn clockwise while pulling down and towards back of pickup. It sounded like it broke once it came out, but it had not. Hope this info helps someone...its what worked for my pickup,...But there is more than one way to skin a cat!

 

yes...the gator grip or the sears grip-tite will work.

 

CPSUMMITX thanks for letting everyone know your findings. Nice to know that Ford has changed in the newer model.

 

I pounded a socket over the end in my old Ford Truck. No sizes would work, but it was the difference between a 12-point and a 6-point socket, only one worked (sorry, don't remember which is was now). After hammering it on at the end of a long 1/2 - 3/8 extension, I zapped the spare down. After removing the keyed end, the 3/8 square drive of my long extension was the new tool to use for spare accessibility, as the original poster stated.

 

I too had no key for my truck but tapped a 9/16 socket on it and lowered it with my rachet, then broke off the lock. Now it just takes my rod to lower it. Thank God! Dealer wanted $100 to get it lowered.

 

Another 9/16 socket win here:

 

There's another thread that explains how to get the key lock off without any sockets, adapters, etc. I did that method and it took like 10 minutes tops. You pull the tub off then reach over the top of the spare on the passenger side and pull the key adapter off with a vice grips. Super simple and quick. Probably only works if you have skinny forearms like me though, there's not a ton of space.

 

Ok, I give up. has anyone been successful with a 2011 F250?

I tried hammering a 6 point craftsman 9/16" - no luck
I tried a 12 point
I went and got the craftsman bolt extractors - no luck. I tried hammering it on and softly trying to turn with a hand socket and I tried putting it on the end of my impact wrench.
I also got my hand up there and could get two fingers on the key but could not pull it out.
Many words were uttered.

two questions -
1) how hard is it to pull the key out?? I tried pulling but could not get a lot of grip on it.
2) for those who lowered their tire with sockets, how did you get enough grip to turn? I can see in my socket's and in the extractor that there is contact. I think the key actually damaged the extractor teeth. not turning.
open to suggestions

 

Sears and autozone sells grip-rite sockets. I bought both the metric and SAE and was able to find one that worked.

Before you do that, try a gas pipe with a cotterpin clip to one end...bang it in with a hammer...lower the wheel.

 

ripe-rite socket

 

at sears and autozone