If the spare wheel is there, it does complicate things. It depends on the type of wheel and the position of the openings in the wheel. I have opened hood latches with the spare in place, but it usually takes a solid bar that I have put some bends in to be able to fish it through the openings. There can be times where depending on the wheel or the way it's positioned that it's almost impossible to do.
What if the spare wheel is in place? Can you access it through one of the fender bolt holes?
If the spare wheel is there, it does complicate things. It depends on the type of wheel and the position of the openings in the wheel. I have opened hood latches with the spare in place, but it usually takes a solid bar that I have put some bends in to be able to fish it through the openings. There can be times where depending on the wheel or the way it's positioned that it's almost impossible to do.