I finally gathered all the parts to convert the really hard to use (for an overweight 79 year old) spare tire mechanism of my '52 GMC 3/4 flatbed.
Years ago I had mounted a trailer hitch receiver which bolted to the rear crossmember of the truck. A neighbor welded a piece of 1/4" flat plate on top of the receiver mount after I had drilled 4 mounting holes for the hoist, which was from a 1998-2004 F150. The reason I used this hoist is that it mounts on a horizontal surface with the cable coming out of the bottom. I mounted the hoist with the joint for the handle turned about 15 degrees counter clockwise from straight back so the handle would not hit the backup light I have on the back of my flatbed.
I bought a spare tire tool kit for a 2004-18 F150 that consisted of the tools necessary to raise my jack and my new hoist. I had to flatten (used a BFH) the male end of one of the pieces from square to slightly rectangular to fit the hoist.
Once everything was installed I found that the handle wanted to flop around when operated, so I drilled a hole in the bottom rear of the flatbed and mounted a 1/2" eye bolt to support the hoist handle while cranking up/down.
When hoisted, the spare tire pulls up against 2 small crossmembers that the original spare mechanism pushed the spare up against.
The hoist and the tool kit were under $50 total from Amazon.
Pictures below.
Last edited by Bill Hanlon; 02/26/20265:20 PM.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
Nice work Bill. I'd be a little concerned about your truck getting a case of hives with those Ferd parts onboard.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
I'd be a little concerned about your truck getting a case of hives with those Ferd parts onboard.
I couldn't find a GM hoist that mounted on top of a horizontal surface, so I put a bottle of anti-Ferd vaccine in the gas tank and am hoping for the best.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
I like it and have a doner 1981 F-150 that may have that same hoist?
Thanks for the tip! Don
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck "The Flag Pole" In the Stovebolt Gallery 1946 2-Ton grain truck 1946 3/4-ton pickup, 1953 1-ton pickup 1957 1-ton flatbed dually, 1954 Pontiac Straight Eight Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most!
