I really appreciate the video that was posted above. Being able to see how the mechanism works made all the difference. I did as shown in the video and removed the one bolt, which actually came out fairly easy, then knocked the whole assembly off the vehicle.

There is no way I would put that poorly engineered piece of crap back on without modifying it to eliminate the secondary latch. If I ever have a flat I'd like to be able to get the spare tire down. Here's what I did.

See that nub sticking up there? That's what causes all the trouble. It's supposed to retract but I'm sure most of these vehicles on the road today have one that's too corroded to ever do that. If it doesn't retract there is no way to get the tire down more than a couple inches.




So I got out my trusty porta-band saw and removed the trouble maker.




Here's a look at the entire secondary latch assembly so you can see what I mean.




The cable was in real good shape so I don't feel there's any danger in eliminating that secondary latch. I then did a trial run of changing a tire to see how well the supplied tool kit works. I about busted a nut getting the lugs loose with the too short wrench that comes in the tool kit so I stashed a three ft length of pipe that I can slip over the factory wrench for additional leverage.

Now I feel I'm ready if I ever need to change a tire by the side of the road.