Well, I feel dumb...

[RANGER/HOBB]

Had to do something today that I haven't done in 25+ years.
And the first time on the new Ranger Lariat. Change a flat tire.

The 18 years I owned my 2004 Ford Explorer and the 7 years I owned the 2017 Edge, I never had a flat tire.

Finding and setting up the Jack and the 3 piece handle was not a problem. Getting the flat tire off was not a problem

The problem was getting the spare tire down from under the bed.

It was easy getting the plastic cap off from the bumper to expose the opening for lowering mechanism.
Took a minute to figure out the opening was offset to the right from mechanism under the bed. It took me a couple of tries to figure out the "T" end of the crank mechanism was not going to work. So I tried next to use the small square end and that seemed to fit better. But turning the the handle did nothing to lower the tire.

After several failed attempts (trying multiple times over and over same thing but failing (definition of insanity).
In desperation, I disconnected one section of the 3 piece handle and inserted the open (socket ) end. Low and behold it worked.

So for anyone else that needs to change a flat on their Ranger, hopefully you can learn from my mistakes...

Happens to most glad you figured it out and thanks for posting it. I also carry a plug kit, you never know.

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[Blue Ridge Raptor]

Don’t feel dumb! I test fit my chains this spring so I didn’t have to learn mid-winter, on the road side, in the dark, with snow/sleet/freezing rain coming down.

 

[gmpetrie]

Don’t feel dumb! I took delivery of my Lariat a week ago, and it took me at least 10 min and a visit to the owners manual just to figure out how to turn on the FM Radio!

 

[gmpetrie]

Don’t feel dumb! I took delivery of my Lariat a week ago, and it took me at least 10 min and a visit to the owners manual just to figure out how to turn on the FM Radio!

 

[bluemarlin25]

I can top that…..

took me a year (All the while cussing GM) that the steering wheel controls for stereo volume and track advance…on my 2021 ZR2

were on the backside of the steering wheel and designed like paddle shifters

and in hindsight, I like them better than the little buttons my raptor has…with all the buttons the raptor has on the steering wheel….sometime I have to take my eyes off the road to find the right one

whereas, I could “feel” for the ZR2 ones

 

[snowman3]

Dry run is a must... unless you want to learn at night in a rainstorm on an interstate!

... specifically, while driving through Buffalo on I-90.

 

[gmpetrie]

I actually like the layout of the wheel controls. The biggest issue I have is leaving the Ranger with my phone on the charging pad!!

 

[RichD]

Problem solved

 

[White willy]

Had to do something today that I haven't done in 25+ years.
And the first time on the new Ranger Lariat. Change a flat tire.

The 18 years I owned my 2004 Ford Explorer and the 7 years I owned the 2017 Edge, I never had a flat tire.

Finding and setting up the Jack and the 3 piece handle was not a problem. Getting the flat tire off was not a problem

The problem was getting the spare tire down from under the bed.

It was easy getting the plastic cap off from the bumper to expose the opening for lowering mechanism.
Took a minute to figure out the opening was offset to the right from mechanism under the bed. It took me a couple of tries to figure out the "T" end of the crank mechanism was not going to work. So I tried next to use the small square end and that seemed to fit better. But turning the the handle did nothing to lower the tire.

After several failed attempts (trying multiple times over and over same thing but failing (definition of insanity).
In desperation, I disconnected one section of the 3 piece handle and inserted the open (socket ) end. Low and behold it worked.

So for anyone else that needs to change a flat on their Ranger, hopefully you can learn from my mistakes...

That totally caught me off as well,was dropping the spare to put a set of BDS 1 inch shackles on mine.
I was puzzled as to why the t wouldn’t do the job,but like yours kept trying different ends until I figured out how to wind the spare down…..
I guess better in the garage,than out in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Bushmechanic]

Nothing wrong with a bit of confusion.

It occurred to me the other day that I've never lowered a tire like that, before. Plenty of plugs, tubes, tire irons, and all manner of things, but no matter where I was or what I was driving, either I never got a flat, repaired it on the vehicle, or just didn't have a spare under the bed of whatever pickup I was driving.

I've swapped plenty of spares. I've just never had to operate a winch to do it. LOL

I bought a printed version of the manual. I'd have figured out how to lower the tire in a reasonable amount of time by myself, given the obvious hole in the rear, but the manual makes it abundantly clear how to do it.

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