9 Best Truck Spare Tire | Mounts That Outlast the Road

Check Price on Amazon

A plug-and-play hoist that rescues a seized spare winch under your GM heavy-duty truck.

This is the fix for the classic GM headache where the spare tire will not drop because the factory hoist seized up. It is a direct-fit replacement for Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD and GMC Sierra 2500 HD from 2003 through 2010, plus the big 3500 variants, and it needs no modification. One owner had his swapped in just 10 minutes after removing the rusted original, and he confirms it “works perfectly.”

It skips the secondary latch that causes GM failures, and the corrosion-resistant cable and gear survive salt and grime. It weighs just 1.46 pounds — dramatically lighter than the 8.5-pound Stromberg bumper carrier above — because it hangs the spare flat under the frame instead of bolting a wheel to the outside. Owners also report it holds big tires tight, including a 285/R75/16, which is reassuring if you run oversize rubber on a diesel.

The main caveat is the locking mechanism. While installation and performance earn steady praise, the locking hardware draws mixed feedback — a handful of owners found it less than perfect. Make sure to match one of the cross-referenced part numbers (924-502, 19259450, 25912261, 25792480, 25974844) on your original hoist before ordering.

Check Price on Amazon

A galvanized side mount that bolts to your trailer frame with zero drilling.

For boat and utility trailers, this carrier is the dependable way to park your spare vertically against the frame rails. The heavy-duty welded steel is galvanized with a 3/16″ coating that shrugs off boat ramp moisture. The offset design pushes the tire 5 inches up and 4.5 inches out from the frame, which boosts ground clearance so the spare is not dragging through dips.

Install means clamping U-bolts around the frame — no drilling required — and it fits frames up to 4″ high and 1″ to 3.5″ wide. Owners mention it slipped onto 5 x 4.5″ hole spacing 15″ boat trailer rims without a fuss. The compact 11.2 x 5 x 4.6-inch package is roughly 70% smaller than the Stromberg bumper unit above, so it tucks neatly along the frame instead of adding a big silhouette to the rear.

Fit is the honest variable here — opinions split, since frame dimensions vary trailer to trailer. The recurring gripe is that the included bolts and nuts are not galvanized like the carrier itself, so they are the first thing to show surface rust. Swapping in stainless hardware from the start is an easy insurance policy.

Check Price on Amazon

The angled mount that angles your spare away from the boat hull.

Jetboat and ski boat owners swear by this one, because its high-mount offset design tilts the tire away from the hull — no more spare rubbing fiberglass when you launch. It fits 3″ and 4″ trailer frames from the start, and 5″ frames just need an add-on hardware package sold separately. The nickel plate finish and heavy-duty steel resist the saltwater environment better than an ordinary painted bracket.

The carrier accepts tires up to 16 inches with 4, 5, or 6-hole bolt patterns, which is why it fits so many Yamaha jetboat trailers right out of the gate. Customers note about 2 inches of clearance from the boat hull on popular setups, and the honest note is that the angled design is essential — a cheaper non-tilted mount simply fails to clear the bow. Quality is the runaway most-praised aspect at 90 mentions, with durability second at 60, so the confidence here is broad and deep.

It is heavier than the CE Smith above at 10.8 pounds, reflecting the beefier steel and larger bracket. The two-year full replacement warranty adds a layer of protection most competitors skip. A few owners found the welds not the heaviest they have seen, though nobody reported a failure — it is simply a note for those who drive long distances on rough roads.

Check Price on Amazon

Drops into a stake pocket to carry a spare high and out of the way.

Stake-bed trucks and landscape trailers get a clean solution here — the carrier slides into a standard stake pocket and holds the spare 6.5 inches out and 7.5 inches up, keeping it clear of side rails and load space. The 10-pound unit is built from durable steel with a black powder-coated finish that resists rust on a work truck that lives outside. It fits most 3.5″ and 3.75″ stake pockets and installs with the included hardware.

Versatility is the selling point: it accepts 5 on 4.5″, 5 on 5″, 6 on 5.5″, and 8 on 6.5″ bolt patterns, covering most 13-inch and larger wheels you would run on a work trailer. The kit even includes both 1/2″ and 9/16″ wheel studs and nuts so you can match your rim. Owners repeatedly describe the welds and finish as quality, and installation as painless.

Fit is where this one divides opinion — and it is the most-mentioned aspect at 56 for a reason. The 5 x 4.5″ lug pattern does not always line up cleanly, and some find the lug nuts will not tighten properly against the rim. The base plate can also run wider than the stake shaft, which blocks it from sliding into a pocket that is not a perfect rectangle. Measure your pocket carefully and expect possible modification.

Check Price on Amazon

A replacement hoist that cranks smoother than the factory part it replaces.

When the spare hoist under your Silverado starts grinding or the cable seizes, Dorman’s 924-510 is the direct-fit answer. It is precisely engineered to replace the stock hoist on specific Chevy models, and the installation is a simple remove-and-bolt-on job. The alloy steel build gets a special corrosion-resistant coating so it does not rot like the original did. Owners consistently describe it as easier to crank than the noisey third-party unit it replaced, and it lifts the tire tight to the frame as you turn.

At 4.8 pounds, this is a mid-weight hoist that sits firmly in the middle of the lineup. The most-praised aspect is quality at 115 mentions — the strongest single positive figure across any product here — with functionality second at 80. One satisfied buyer confirms it was an exact fit on a 2002 Chevy Silverado and came in at “over half the price less than my local auto parts store.”

Durability is the one flag. A rare but real complaint is the gears stripping out, with one frustrated owner describing cheap aluminum rivets meant to fail. Also note this is built for the 6-lug half-ton Silverado — an owner confirms it does not fit the 8-lug 3/4-ton. The Limited Lifetime Warranty is your backstop if you do hit an issue.

Check Price on Amazon

A bolt-on hitch carrier with a near-22-inch rise for clearance on rough ground.

If you want the spare out of the bed and off the bumper, this hitch-mounted carrier slides into any standard 2-inch receiver on a truck, SUV, van, or RV. The vertical bar stands nearly 22 inches tall, lifting the wheel high for plenty of ground clearance on rough terrain — a key difference from low-slung frame mounts. The 16-pound carbon steel build is finished in black powder coat, and heavy-duty U-bolts come with anti-vibration stabilizers to cut down rattling noise.

Installation is a bolt-on job with zero cutting or drilling, and all the hardware is in the box. The universal plate fits 4, 5, and 6-lug wheels, and the hitch lock is solid steel rated to carry up to 30 — twice the strength of common pin locks. One owner ran a 33-inch tire on it for months, including the punishing King of Hammers off-road race, though he added a strap to stop rocking.

The catch is consistency. This is the most divisive pick in the lineup: some call it sturdy while others describe it as flimsy, and a hard-use owner reported a failure at the top flange after a month and 7,500 miles with a heavy LT225/75R16E tire. It also does not fit Honda Pioneer models, and the wheel bolts are not standard 1/2″-20 threads. This is a capable short-term solution rather than a heavy-duty permanent fixture.

Check Price on Amazon

A genuine Toyota part that bolts on like the factory original, because it is one.

When thieves cut the cable on a Tacoma owner’s spare, this is the exact factory assembly that replaces it. It is a genuine Toyota part number 51900-04041, built from iron to the same spec as the unit that came on the truck — which is why owners call the fit “just like OEM” for a 2011 Tacoma. At 3.35 pounds, it is the lightest carrier in this lineup, reflecting the simple under-bed design that does not need heavy bracing.

The value pitch is strong for a branded part. Buyers repeatedly describe it as good value for money and praise the quality, and the fit on the intended Tacoma models is exact and easy. For a stolen or damaged spare carrier, this is the no-guesswork route — no cross-referencing, no part number matching, no wondering if it will bolt up.

The limitation is that it is vehicle-specific. It does not fit a 2000 4Runner, as one owner discovered when the square mounting bolt holes did not line up with the 4Runner’s offset pattern, and a returned unit arrived in a plastic bag with minor scratches. Confirm your make and model before ordering, since this is not a universal mount.

Check Price on Amazon

A rock-solid 24-inch hitch carrier that shrugs off big spares and hard miles.

For trucks, vans, and RVs that want a spare right at the rear, CURT’s 31006 is the premium way to do it. The 24-inch height and slotted wheel-mount holes swallow a wide range of tire sizes, and reviewers point out hanging a 35-inch spare on it with a 5 x 5.5 lug pattern using just three bolts — no spacer needed. The 16-pound alloy steel build is finished with a rust-resistant A-coat and durable black powder coat, so it takes rain, road salt, and dirt without corroding.

The 2″ x 2″ shank fits any standard front or rear receiver, and multiple shank holes give you positioning options for clearance around bumpers, hatches, and exhaust. Owners call the build quality the best they have seen, noting zero wobble, and one impressive report survived a three-car pileup with the carrier taking a hard rear-end hit and coming away without a scratch. The Limited Lifetime Warranty backs the whole thing.

Two honest gaps: the hitch pin and clip are sold separately, and the tire mounting bolts and lug nuts are not included either — one buyer had to drive into town for the right nuts and bolts. Fit in the receiver itself is mostly praised, though a minority report it not seating cleanly in some hitches. Measure your bolt pattern before ordering and budget for the missing hardware.