Patent ID: 7954679

Claim:
A retention system for a spare tire, the retention system comprising: a compartment including a chamber, the chamber having a bottom wall, a left wall, a right wall, and a rear wall; a tray comprising a spare tire support surface and a back portion having an upper surface, the tray being movable in a first direction relative to and in sliding engagement with the bottom wall of the chamber between an extended position and a stored position, in which extended position the spare tire support surface is at least substantially disposed within the compartment while providing removal and stowage access for a spare tire with respect to the compartment, wherein the bottom wall extends from the left wall to the right wall and beneath the entirety of the spare tire support surface when the tray is in the stored position; at least one removable interconnecting member configured to selectively interface with both the tray and the chamber for substantially preventing movement of the tray in the first direction; and at least one guide member attached to the rear wall and having a lower surface configured, when the tray is in the stored position, to contact the upper surface for urging the back portion of the tray into contact with the bottom wall of the chamber to substantially prevent movement of the back portion of the tray in a second direction relative to the bottom wall of the chamber, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction.