Tacoma Tailgate Troubles: No Manual Lever?

choyero 23 · 2025-07-06T18:41:38+00:00

So my first ever post on the forum, was an issue I was having with my Tacoma’s spare tire winch. It was super stiff and really hard to lower the tire when I needed it. After some trial and error, I got it working smoothly again. Here’s what I did, step by step, in case anyone else is dealing with the same headache. Step-by-Step Fix for a Stiff Spare Tire Winch 1. Relieve Tension with a Floor Jack I used my floor jack, stacked a couple of pieces of wood on it, and positioned it under the spare tire. Then I gently lifted it just enough to take the weight off the winch. 2. Lubricate the Winch After that, I sprayed a good amount of WD-40 (any penetrating lubricant works) on the winch, focusing on the crank and cable. Which I then let sit for a few minutes to loosen up any rust or gunk. Tip: If you’ve got a helper, have them spray more lube while you turn the winch—it can speed things up. Keeping it lubricated regularly prevents this from happening again. 3. Turn the Winch I made use of the rod that came with the truck, used it to turn the winch counterclockwise. It was a bit stubborn at first, so I went slow and didn’t force it. After a few turns, it started moving like butter. Tip: If yours is really stuck, some folks use a large socket, washers, and an impact wrench on the crank. I didn’t need that, but it’s worth a shot for bad cases. 4. Check for Damage If the winch still won’t budge or looks trashed (like a rusted-out cable), you might need to replace it. You can grab a new one from Toyota or go aftermarket. I’ve heard some people switch to a chain system for better durability. Just to point out a few things, with a floor jack, some WD-40, and a bit of patience, you can easily get your spare tire winch working again no problem. If yours is too far gone, replacement’s an option, but this trick did it for me. It was a fix I got from fellow Tacoma owners and it was super easy too. Has anyone else tried this fix? Got a different solution that worked for you? Let me know what you think or if you’ve got questions, I’d love to hear from you.

TrdMarkey

New member

Friday at 2:50 PM

#1

It's neat having five ways to open your tailgate, but then you find out there's no manual lever, haha.

I'll try disconnecting the battery tomorrow; first oil change is due soon anyway. Still, it's a pretty silly issue.

Anyone else dealing with tailgate troubles? It's really bumming out my weekend vibes.

You must log in or register to reply here.