Abstract: A spare wheel carrier for a motor vehicle, especially a truck, comprises a rotatable spindle 1 carrying a cable 6 the free end of which passes through the center of the wheel 8 and is attached to a cross-bar 7 bolted to the wheel 8 and a supporting beam 9 which is in turn normally bolted to the underside of the vehicle. The wheel is lowered with the beam 9 and cross-bar 7 by unwinding the cable 6 from the spindle 1. Unwinding is controlled by an escapement comprising a ratchet wheel 12 and an anchor plate 19 which is reciprocated by a jack handle inserted in an aperture 23 in the anchor plate.