Thread: Extension socket for spare wheel mechanism

HTH

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment...covery-006.jpg

Cheers.

I think this is the one you were looking for.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...d3-tdv6-s.html

When searching on D3 specific stuff I usually start in the D3 section and then click on search this forum (top right of threads)

edit - pipped at the post by Pete.

Thanks Trobbo,
Thats where i got the photo from, accidentally pasted the link from the photo....

This is the first I'd heard about this idea and have now looked at the other threads. Does this mean that the 3rd row seats must be removed for this to happen? I have a D4 and can't see how this works without removing seats? The seat back needs to be flipped up before you can see the winch?

In the D3, there is a sufficient gap between the seats in the stowed lay down postion to get a socket extension down there. In other words, with the D3 there is no need to flip up the seats; with the D4, I do not know. It sounds as if the width of the seats is a bit more if there is no gap, or the winch nut has moved off the centre line?

Re the 3, you must have to have a 22mm socket already in place over the winch nut; you then just shove a suitable socket extension down thru the gap between the seat backs or have a suitable length socket extension already in place.

I will check out the D4 this weekend and see if the gap is big enough. Cheers!

I have a home built storage section on my D3 and I arranged the boxes to be just clear of the centre, and there is a hole in the plywood sheet that makes up the floor i.e. access is available between the folded down third row seats. Then I permanently placed a 22 mm socket on the winder. I then have a 1/2 inch square rod (extension) that comes to the top of my boxes. This is smoothed out to round (with a grinder) for the section above the bottom socket so that it goes between the folded seats. There are some plastic covers on the seats at the place where the rod needs to go through and I also removed them to make a slightly wider gap. They are only cosmetic and no one has noticed they are missing. The top of the 1/2 inch rod I shaped to fit another socket. It has to be less than 1/2 inch. Then I use a 1/2 inch ratchet drive to operate the spare wheel winch.

Mal

I have often thought that as the gap is a bit tight, that one could purchase a half inch drive to say 3/8" adapter, or perhaps even to 1/4"

The reduced diameter of the drive extension would fit more easily between the gap. It is not as if a lot of force is needed re operation of the mechanism. A quarter inch drive might however feel a bit weak when bringing the spare back up into place.