[hatzie]

The belt tensioner almost hitting the frame sounds like something is out of whack. Belt too long? Motor mounts?

Sounds like your fuel pump is on the way out. Time to pull the bed or the tank and deal with it. Delphi or AC Delco OEM grade.

I still have the 2004 factory spare under the bed on my truck so it's well nigh unto useless. Guaranteed the cable etc is bound up tight and the only way I'm getting it off is the oxy/Mapp torch. Twenty years is well well past its' "use before this date" too. LOL

I've seen inside the bedrail, front bumper mount, and trailer hitch spare tire carriers. It seems to me they would get in my way in any of those locations.

I would be just fine with a stamped steel and J-bolt under the bed spare tire carrier like the squarebodies and a lot of other older trucks had. I've pulled several of them out with no problems after setting more than 15 years. The cables seem to be more trouble than a high maintenance woman even if you fluid film them on a regular basis.