I couldn't find a good post anywhere on the web that described in any detail what to do if you don't have the tool to lower the spare tire from the underside of the bed (suggestions were anything from go to a dealership, junkyard, or use vise grips).

When I purchased my truck all the stock tools were missing. I ended up buying a bottle jack and looked around for a good solution on how to get the spare down. This is what I came up with.

I purchased a breaker bar and a socket set for taking the lug nuts off. In doing so I found out that if I put an extension on the breaker bar so it can reach the winch lug, a 9/16" 6 point deep socket will bite right onto it (pretty snugly too, not much wiggle) and allow you to turn it down to the ground, and back up to storage position again. When tightening it in the up position I found that the socket will torque-lock to the lug, but a little back and forth rotation will free it right up.

Since it's a 6 sided socket on a 4 sided lug, I wouldn't recommend using this if you have the factory tools, but if you're like me and don't have them, this could save your butt on the side of the freeway someday.

This video will visualize what I did.
Also, I don't know if this works for other Gen 3 trucks, so as always, your mileage may vary.

 

Good post and uTube vid. Being you are putting your tire-change kit together, don't forget to include a couple of 1 inch thick plywood pieces approx 1 foot squares for jacking pad just in case a road change is needed.

This is what I did to lift my Grand Cherokees with a bottle-jack. Welded a 3" long half pipe to the screw-in bottle-jack pad threaded adjustable stem. The half pipe would cradle the axle tube's end near the wheel I needed in the air. My bottle jack is approx 3" diameter, rated 8 tons I believe. Why so large was because it had the extension needed.
With the plywood squares, take one and modify it so it will keep the bottle in center. Cut another (3rd) plywood square to be the same size as first two mentioned, 1 foot square and place the bottle on the center of the plywood square. Outline the bottle base w/marker, cut out the marked outline, check to see if the bottle base will go thru the newly cut hole. Glue and screw the two plywood squares face to face. This modified plywood square will reduce the slip and slide chance for the bottle to jump off the pad when in use..

Keep having fun w/that goat.