2026 Ford F-150: Find, Lower and Securely Restow the Spare Tire

The spare on the Canadian 2026 Ford F-150 is underneath the truck, just ahead of the rear bumper. The original handle extensions lower it through a bumper access hole. Finding those tools before you need them is worthwhile—but securely restowing the tire is just as important as getting it down.

This guide covers spare access and restow for the non-Raptor 2026 F-150 with the original illustrated carrier and tool kit. It does not cover Lightning, Raptor, aftermarket carriers, jacking or replacing a road wheel. It follows Ford’s Canada/US owner’s manual, printed pages 593–599, checked October 31, 2026.

Start somewhere safe—not beside moving traffic

For a familiarization check, use a safe, level parking area with room behind the truck. Set the parking brake, select Park, switch the engine off and use the hazard flashers as appropriate. Leave the truck on its road wheels. Never crawl beneath a vehicle supported by a jack, and do not raise it just to follow this guide.

If you are stranded where traffic, a slope or unstable ground makes access unsafe, call roadside assistance instead. The wheel-and-tire assembly is heavy: get help if you cannot slide and position it safely. Keep hands and feet away from moving running boards. Missing tools, a damaged cable or a carrier that will not move normally are reasons to stop—not improvise a release.

Find and unpack the original tools

Ford locates the jack and tool bag on the rear passenger side, behind the passenger seat. Compare your setup with the actual tool-kit and handle illustrations on printed page 594. If the arrangement or carrier differs, obtain the instructions for the equipment actually installed.

1. Turn the jack-bracket wing bolt counterclockwise, then remove the jack and tool bag from the bracket.
2. Release the bag straps and slide the bag through the jack’s load rest. Remove the tools.
3. Assemble the supplied handle sections as shown in the manual. Remove the hook end for the spare-tire lowering operation; the illustration specifically excludes that piece.

Use the supplied handle manually. Do not use an impact tool or try to free a jam with a powered driver. Ford warns that impact tools or power tools above 200 rpm can damage the carrier and prevent secure stowage. The carrier is for the tire-and-wheel combination provided with the truck, not an assumed fit for an oversized replacement.

Lower the spare and release the retainer

1. Fully insert the assembled handle through the rear bumper access hole and into the guide tube. Match the location shown in Ford’s printed-page-595 illustration.
2. Turn counterclockwise until the tire rests on the ground and the cable is slightly slack. Slide the tire rearward from beneath the truck.
3. Remove the retainer from the centre of the spare wheel. If it cannot be removed normally with the tire grounded and cable slack, stop and seek help rather than prying or dismantling the carrier.

This is the end of the access procedure—not permission to drive on a flat tire or begin an improvised wheel change. A wheel change requires the separate manual procedure, correct jacking points, wheel chocks and tightening instructions. Use roadside assistance if you cannot perform that work safely.

Put the tire back securely before driving

For the original wheel-and-tire combination, follow the stowage instructions on printed pages 597–598:

1. Lay the tire on the ground with its valve stem facing up.
2. Slide it partly under the truck and install the retainer through the wheel centre. Pull on the cable to align the components at its end.
3. Turn the handle clockwise to raise the tire into its stowed position. As it tightens, the effort increases and the carrier ratchets or slips. Continue until this occurs at least 3 times, with an audible click each time.
4. Confirm the tire lies flat against the frame. Push or pull, then try to turn it: it should not move. Loosen and retighten if necessary. If you cannot secure it, do not drive with it loose; arrange assistance.

A carrier that ratchets or slips with little effort needs inspection as soon as possible. Do not treat early clicking as proof that the tire is tight. Ford warns that incorrect stowage can cause cable failure and loss of the tire.

Repeat the tightness check when servicing spare-tire pressure, every 6 months as specified in the maintenance guidance, and whenever other service disturbs the spare. Use the spare’s applicable pressure specification—not a guessed pressure or the road tires’ value.

Secure the tools too

Adjust the jack’s lead-screw eyelet until its upper and lower stowage markings align, as shown in the printed-page-598 diagram. Put the tools in the bag, slide it through the load rest and secure the straps around the jack. Return the assembly to its bracket and turn the wing bolt clockwise until the jack and tools are secured. Do not leave them loose in the cabin.

Finish with two checks: the spare cannot move in its carrier, and the tool kit is firmly secured. If either check fails, fix that problem before driving rather than assuming the tire or tools will stay put.