My first flat tire as a truck owner and I can't figure out how to get the spare unhooked from the under bed hanger. I looked at an online manual at Auto Zone.but my hanger doesn't look at all like the one they show for the Ram, it has no visible braces or brackets under tire, just one center post and a bracket that appears to be holding up the whole shootin match. The bracket appears attached to the post witha washer-looking thing and a weird thin clip that seems to be grabbing the post. I see nonut or wing nut, so I don't know what to turn. It's rusty as hell so I want to make sure I'm not wailing on the wrong thing before I attempt to get it off. Any help would be appreciated. It's a 96, 4WD extra cab.

 

My '96 2500 has a rod with a hex end sticking out through the back bumper, next to the lic plate. Just unscrew that rod and the tire will lower to the ground.

 

Hey thanks! I found a hole above the plate but there's nothing in it. I think the rod may have been removed when they welded on the bar for the trailer hitch. It seems to be right in back of that hole, and there's no other nut or anything. I'm going to bring it in to the tire place, see if they have a clue about how to release it if the rod is gone.

 

That would be it. I don't know what type of connection is at the inner end, so I can't suggest what you'll need to jam in there to twist it. Nice of them to remove it, huh?
It's a winch setup, that lowers the tire on a cable.