Abstract: A tire carrier assembly for storing a spare tire of a motor vehicle includes a tire carrier adapted for supporting the spare tire, a winch assembly operably connected to the tire carrier to raise and lower the tire carrier between a stowed position wherein the tire is inaccessible and a deployed position wherein the tire is accessible, and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes at least one latch member and an actuator adapted to selectively move the latch member between a locking position wherein the latch member prevents movement of the tire carrier from the stowed position to the deployed position and an unlocking position wherein the latch member permits movement of the tire carrier from the stowed position to the deployed position. The actuator includes a push-pull cable and a pull handle such that the operator manually pulls the cable to move the latch member from the locking position to the unlocking position.

Abstract: A tire carrier assembly for storing a spare tire of a motor vehicle includes a tire carrier for supporting the spare tire and having a swivel with a shank portion and a head portion along the shank portion, a winch assembly operably connected to the tire carrier with a cable or rope to raise and lower the tire carrier between upper and lower positions, a housing assembly forming a horizontal support surface, and a secondary latch assembly secured to the housing assembly and adapted to selectively confine the tire carrier in the upper position. The secondary latch assembly includes a sliding latch member supported by the horizontal support surface and an actuator adapted to selectively move the latch member along a linear path between a locking position and an unlocking position.