tire assembly 13 when in the stored up position 17 the apparatus 11 includes an electric motor means 59 having a reversible motor drive shaft 61 that can be selectively rotated clockwise and counterclockwise see fig4 and 6 the electric motor means 59 may be of any typical construction now apparent to those skilled in the art preferably the electric motor means 59 is a typical 12 volt direct current electric motor for being operated by way of the electrical system of the vehicle 15 in a manner hereinafter to be explained the electric motor means 61 may be attached to the housing 45 of the winch means 35 by a bracket 62 see fig4 and 5 the apparatus 11 includes a coupling means 63 for coupling the motor drive shaft 61 to the winch means 35 see in general fig4 and 6 and for allowing rotation of the motor drive shaft 61 to cause the winch means 35 to lift and lower the attachment means 21 and the spare tire assembly 13 the coupling means 63 preferably includes a first coupling member 65 for being attached to the winch drive shaft 37 a second coupling member 67 for being operatively coupled to the motor drive shaft 61 and a joining means 69 operatively joining the first and second coupling.