I went and had the factory spare swapped out for the matching 255/70/18 (32.1x10x18) Nitto Ridge Grappler that we've been running on the truck since day one. I've been hearing for a while now that this size tire wouldn't fit in the factory spare location so I was certain that my only option was going to be to run it nearly or completely deflated in order for it to fit if it would even fit at all. I have onboard air so that wasn't much of a concern but not ideal. The guys at Discount told me that if I ran it deflated it would trip the TPMS and throw a code and the dash light would come on creating an annoyance and a possible fail at inspection (I had planned to put it in the cargo area and inflate it for that once a year inspection should it have been an issue) . Well I dropped it off before lunch for them to work on it and then took off for lunch 15 miles away and the TPMS low pressure light never come on, I am assuming that they are wrong and the system can only monitor four tires at a time.
I went back to pick it up fully expecting it not to fit but much to my surprise it did, the only issue was that it was catching on the edge of the hitch so we removed it and it buttoned up with no issues. Upon getting back home I mocked up the hitch with the spare in place and looked to see what it would take in order for the hitch to clear the spare and it looked like the rear most washers and the back edges of the rear most corners needed some trimming. I cut the corners off of two of the four washers and did some light grinding on the rear most corners of the hitch and bam, it fit with no issues. The spare can now be lowered and raised without issue and it sits higher than the bottom of the rear differential as well so no added hangup issues. The only kicker here is that I am running the simple direct bolt-on Class III hitch instead of a factory full wrap Class IV. The Class III is rated for 5,000lbs and I doubt I'll ever surpass that seeing how all it will likely ever do is hold a hitch carrier for the dirt bikes. I towed approximately 4,200lbs with it once a few months back with no issues.
Needless to say, I am very happy to have both a matching full size spare and the hitch back on the GX. This setup will do just fine until we decide whether or not to move up to 285's after the lift goes on later this year.
Mock up pics showing it touching the spare. You've gotta love the warning sticker clearing stating not to modify the hitch in any way lol.
After cutting the corners off of the two rear most washers and grinding the back edge corners of the hitch ever so slightly. It's really tight, but it clears.
I went back to pick it up fully expecting it not to fit but much to my surprise it did, the only issue was that it was catching on the edge of the hitch so we removed it and it buttoned up with no issues. Upon getting back home I mocked up the hitch with the spare in place and looked to see what it would take in order for the hitch to clear the spare and it looked like the rear most washers and the back edges of the rear most corners needed some trimming. I cut the corners off of two of the four washers and did some light grinding on the rear most corners of the hitch and bam, it fit with no issues. The spare can now be lowered and raised without issue and it sits higher than the bottom of the rear differential as well so no added hangup issues. The only kicker here is that I am running the simple direct bolt-on Class III hitch instead of a factory full wrap Class IV. The Class III is rated for 5,000lbs and I doubt I'll ever surpass that seeing how all it will likely ever do is hold a hitch carrier for the dirt bikes. I towed approximately 4,200lbs with it once a few months back with no issues.
Needless to say, I am very happy to have both a matching full size spare and the hitch back on the GX. This setup will do just fine until we decide whether or not to move up to 285's after the lift goes on later this year.
Mock up pics showing it touching the spare. You've gotta love the warning sticker clearing stating not to modify the hitch in any way lol.
After cutting the corners off of the two rear most washers and grinding the back edge corners of the hitch ever so slightly. It's really tight, but it clears.
