JIMNLIN
Oklahoma
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Joined: 09/14/2003
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Quote:Seems there is a lot of controversy over where to place a jack on a 2-axle travel trailer to change a single tire or service wheel bearings.
All rv forums are like that mainly because many rv owners are pulling their first trailer or haven't been introduced to a easier or safer way to change a flat tire.
Then you have some that may make a living by jacking trailers/vehicle for some type of R&R or maintenance daily.
Then other who may have made a living pulling all type of trailers with years of jacking a stupid trailer that gave the driver some thing to do and caught a flat tire.
I have a old 2 speed 4500 lb scissor jack with a 56" handle that I started with in the late '60s. It has a 4" wide X 6" long saddle that works great under the axle tube next to the U bolts. It cranks down to maybe 4" tall and my go to all purpose jack around the place.
Later in the early '70s the company I sub'd with came out with 12 ton stubby hyd jacks. The jack came with a round axle adapter that cradles 1750 lb up to 12000 lb axle tubes.
Slide either jack under the end of the axle next to the U bolt and raise one end of the axle high enough to get the spare back on the wheel. Both have a 10" X 10" wide base for soft side of the road conditions.
One problem lifting the whole side of the trailer with the suspension hanging or let one axle hang is side links can flip causing several problems. BTDT and not fun on the side of the road getting the link to flip back in the right position.
Everyone has their way of raising the trailer to change a flat or R&R. There is no correct way as trailers (rv and non RV) vary in weight from 2000 lbs up to 25000 lbs. Make a different in what works.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides
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JRscooby
Indepmo
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Joined: 06/10/2019
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Lwiddis wrote:"Ramp under other tire might work, but will need to be pretty steep with some trailers. Now the most risky time is when you get wheel off, discover you need up just little more to get the other on..."
Horror stories that I have never experienced or seen. It works every time and doesn't need to be that steep.
Many trailer suspensions have a lot of travel. If the ramp is not steep or tall enough the flat will start up ramp before it is high enough to get tire on.
The risk I'm referring to is using a jack. If the vehicle is going to fall it is unlikely to do it when just setting on the jack. Going down maybe, but up is much more likely. Many jacks carried to lift trailer must be pumped from under the trailer. If you don't notice the slip or lean when it starts, the trailer falls, it will fill your shorts but if there was room when started lifting, there will be room when stops bouncing. BUT if you have taken the wheel off that room ain't there.
If you start with the flat on a block, with axle at normal height it takes little lift to get off, and you know you won't need to jack up without tire on.
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B-n-B
Colorado
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Joined: 12/02/2006
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time2roll wrote:Will 11" get under the axle with a flat tire?
This exact jack would not get under a flat tire on my trailer, at least not under the spring perch. I carry a small floor jack with a 1x6 if needed.
2019 Chevy 3500HD LTZ DRW
2021 Lance 975
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JRscooby
Indepmo
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B-n-B wrote:
This exact jack would not get under a flat tire on my trailer, at least not under the spring perch. I carry a small floor jack with a 1x6 if needed.
Do you also carry the important part needed to safely use that jack? By that I mean a floor.
With no load on it, run the jack up. Notice the lift pad goes up in a arc? Normal lifting, the pad stays in contact with lifting point be cause the jack rolls under the load. If the wheels are setting on soft or rough surface the pad must slide on you lift point. At least you're not under when it drops.
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Tvov
CT
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Joined: 07/19/2003
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So... 4 pages so far. Same as every other "jack" thread. Have we solved anything?
Whichever method you use, practice it at home first.
One thing (just to extend this thread... lol) I don't get is when people say to use the "frame" of the travel trailer. I would not trust putting a jack anywhere under the frame of my TT... it is so lightweight. I think the axles will hold up against bending long after my TT's frame might get damaged.
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2021 F150 2.7
2004 21' Forest River Surveyor
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pbeverly
South Carolina
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Joined: 09/04/2018
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Trailer Aide alone may not get the bad tire off the ground so you have to be prepared for that. I had to put aide on 2 boards once to get the bad tire high enough to change.
Ridgeway, SC
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ford truck guy
Pennsylvania
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Just get a 6 point leveling system, problem solved! !![[emoticon]](https://forums.motorhome.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
I did, along with a Milwaukee 18V impact gun makes the job easy and safe..
Heck, the hardest part is once I lower the spare, getting it from the center of the RV to the side....
Me-Her-the kids
2020 Ford F350 SD 6.7
2020 Redwood 3991RD Garnet
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B-n-B
Colorado
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JRscooby wrote:B-n-B wrote:
This exact jack would not get under a flat tire on my trailer, at least not under the spring perch. I carry a small floor jack with a 1x6 if needed.
Do you also carry the important part needed to safely use that jack? By that I mean a floor.
With no load on it, run the jack up. Notice the lift pad goes up in a arc? Normal lifting, the pad stays in contact with lifting point be cause the jack rolls under the load. If the wheels are setting on soft or rough surface the pad must slide on you lift point. At least you're not under when it drops.
Actually it has a swivel saddle with a "scissored" lift arm and doesn't roll. Or, if it did I didn't notice enough to matter. I have actually used this jack twice without issue, so I'm not speaking hypothetically about its effectiveness. Once in a parking lot (on my car hauler) and once in sand (on my camper) at the CG. The 1x6 worked like a charm with the jack in the sand.
I don't know how I lived to tell about it.
* This post was
edited 08/05/22 07:49am by B-n-B *
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Joined: 05/06/2013
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@jimlin, good mention about being careful to not flip the equalizer link when getting one wheel jacked up on a leaf sprung multi axle trailer.
That always s ucks to bar those back over center!
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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JRscooby wrote:B-n-B wrote:
This exact jack would not get under a flat tire on my trailer, at least not under the spring perch. I carry a small floor jack with a 1x6 if needed.
Do you also carry the important part needed to safely use that jack? By that I mean a floor.
With no load on it, run the jack up. Notice the lift pad goes up in a arc? Normal lifting, the pad stays in contact with lifting point be cause the jack rolls under the load. If the wheels are setting on soft or rough surface the pad must slide on you lift point. At least you're not under when it drops.
Thin board UNDER the floor or trolley jack just like you SHOULD use under ANY jack solves your objection.
Was taught many yrs ago to never use any jack directly on ground as that ground can give way unevenly resulting in the jack tipping over.
Something else to consider, with a floor or trolley jack, the arc is small, maybe 1/4" inch in total travel for the entire lift. The vehicle also moves with that arc, your assuming the vehicle stays put and never moves which is not true. Trailers and vehicles are on wheels, the brakes, drive line have slop in them which allows the vehicle to move back and forth.
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