Spare tire is being difficult.

[AceTrainerAndy]

I drive a 2002 Explorer Sport. I recently lost one of the hubcaps on my Explorer. I don't like the way it looks so I went to check the spare to see if it has a hubcap. I can't seem to get the spare tire down. I tried many videos. I read the Owner's manual. What I do is I get the handle and connect it to one of the extenders (the one that looks like a bent screwdriver) and I stick it in the hole below the lift gate. I stick it in all the way and turn counter clockwise. I get some resistance, but nothing is happening underneath the truck. I tried turning the handle to the right where there shouldn't be any resistance, and it feels the same as if I was turning left.

The car does have 228K miles so the under body is a little rusty. In all the videos I saw it seems to go down so easily. I did this on an RV one time and it was not difficult at all. What do you think I am doing wrong, or is it mechanical?

 

[429CJ-3X2]

It's probably either mechanical, or you haven't got the extender all the way in and it isn't actually engaged where it should be. Try turning it slowly as you push it in.

Your spare doesn't have a hubcap on it. The cable holding it up under the body runs through the center of the wheel. Plus the spare is probably a plain steel wheel, and different from the other wheels.

 

[AceTrainerAndy]

It's probably either mechanical, or you haven't got the extender all the way in and it isn't actually engaged where it should be. Try turning it slowly as you push it in.

Your spare doesn't have a hubcap on it. The cable holding it up under the body runs through the center of the wheel. Plus the spare is probably a plain steel wheel, and different from the other wheels.

I think you're right about the hubcap. I can't believe I thought there would be a hubcap even for a second. I will test your spinning theory later when it warms up. Thanks for the reply!