Spare tire crank

[Gomez]

We picked up a used 2007 Octane ZX T21X last week, and between asking the members here and the search function I think I have about everything figured out; except this one. The crank rod for the spare tire carrier is behind the skirt on the right rear. Am I missing something or is this just a design that was not thought out?

[RVhiker]

My fifth wheel has a hole in the skirt to provide access to the tire storage crank. Sounds to me that when you trailer was assembled someone wanted to leave for lunch before they got around to drilling a hole.

Did your trailer come with the crank to lower the tire? Could you just drill a hole in the skirt? Alternatively, could you use a ratcheting wrench to lower the tire if you don't want to drill a hole?

[Gomez]

Originally Posted by RVhiker

My fifth wheel has a hole in the skirt to provide access to the tire storage crank. Sounds to me that when you trailer was assembled someone wanted to leave for lunch before they got around to drilling a hole.

That is a possibility, just saying it's a 8 year old trailer and no one has noticed (or fixed it), but maybe it has never had a spare tire installed.

Did your trailer come with the crank to lower the tire? Could you just drill a hole in the skirt? Alternatively, could you use a ratcheting wrench to lower the tire if you don't want to drill a hole?

It did have the crank, a hole will be the easiest fix, or just throw the spare in the back of the truck. It's that half moon thing so will have to go with the crank handle.
After spending most of the weekend getting little things fixed and figured out it just baffled me that it was that way.