My apologies if this question has been asked and answered. I need to replace my spare tire winch and the adapter. I can't locate, in the service manual, the removal and replacement procedure. The winch is easy, but I haven't been under the truck to check out the adapter. Can anyone help?

Have a look. As I recall, it all just bolts on. I think finding parts 'new' is gonna be a problem though. Have to go to the yard most likely.

Rockauto sells new winches. Thought about getting one for my truck as it never had one. But what is that adapter? Winch bolts to a crossmember, and tool kit (which I have) has the needed tools to turn the winch.

Maybe the tube that goes from the which, to up by the rear bumper, that you crank and such plug into? I don't really know. Never had a spare tire to worry about.

Tool kit has the tube and the ratchet to operate the winch, (bottom part and fourth from bottom at the pic):



But, the adapter. I was looking the pictures at the Rockauto catalog, and noticed that winch has a round axle, whereas tube has hex end. So I think there should be the adapter that OP is talking about. And that adapter is either bolted to the winch axle, or there's a roll pin.

I don't think I ever dropped the spare out of my '94, '97 or '01 Rams. My '03 used the same set up as my Escalade and C2500. In the photo, you see the hexagonal tool with a lug socket on one end. The handle slides over the shaft of it and flips to either raise or lower the spare. It has UP and DOWN stamped on it.

There is a tube that connects to the winch with a cotter pin that goes to the hole on the bed

Took me a while to find the correct picture (though this is for a later model truck, but the principle is the same), but this shows the parts and how the tube is connected. With the cotter pin like MoparFanatic21 said. And that tube is easy enough to make myself that I won't bother to look it from ebay, gets rather expensive after shipping and taxes and stuff.

Indeed! Number 7 in the diagram is what I'm looking for. How can I make one? A piece of lead pipe with a small socket welded on the tailgate end, so I can just plug a ratchet into it, and a smell hole drilled on the other end for a cutter pin? Alternatively, where can i buy a new one?

Yes, sir! That's the tube that I'm looking for.