ol Bombero-JC
USA
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Joined: 06/24/2004
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Check your owner's manual as well as the axle mfgr recommendations
for jacking . . .frame vs underneath axle. [Most say frame].
My preference is -
Use blocks to raise good wheel/tire a few inches.
Set Tow Vehicle parking brake. Chock other (good) side.
Use bottle jack to raise flat tire/wheel off the ground,
by jacking under frame*. [*as per dexter & (my) trlr mfgr].
Chocking good idea - but not essential if still "hitched-up".
Very essential if un-hitched.
Time of day/night, traffic situation (driver's side?)- none/light/heavy? -
might require road service.
Excellent tires and Pressure Pro -may- help to eliminate the need . . .
but never say "never".
JC
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teton guy
San Pedro, CA
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Joined: 10/10/2003
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IMHO Good Sam ERS is far superior than AAA with a towed vehicle. But I do have a question....factory told me NOT to life the trailer under the axle, rather lift the frame. Is this because the axle's are hollow? I have a 12Ton Bottle Jack so not a problem with the lifting ability; it would be a lot easier to use the axle as it is closer to the ground. Any thoughts?
PeterB, San Pedro, California
2007 Teton Experience Sunrise 33
2008 Ford F450 (Job 2) Lariat 2WD, 4.88
PressurePro Tire Monitoring System
TrailAir Pin Box
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rusty_poth
Airdrie Alberta
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Joined: 01/20/2005
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Don't take this as a flame, but the way you have the wood under the front axle is just wrong imho, it really looks rickety.
Retired 22 years Regular Force (Army/Air Force), 3 years Army Reserves.
2004 Dodge 1 Ton 5.9 Cummins, 2004 Thor Jazz 3100XL 5th Wheel.
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rusty_poth
Airdrie Alberta
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Joined: 01/20/2005
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Lego NFO wrote:Everyone is talking about these bottle jacks. do they have enough lift height to effectively lift the axel up? obviously the answer is yes if a few of you use them, but from what I have been able to measure, it sure doesn't seem to lift high enough. What am I screwing up in my measurements???
thanks.
No pun intended here but you have to unscrew the top of the jack, the pad at the top of the shaft is screwed into the shaft of the jack, just unscrew it to the length that is required.
That is why a lot of manufacturers use them as they actually extend up at least 2 to 3 times the height of the jack itself and they are relatively safe to use, they also can lift a lot of weight.
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Ray,IN
IN, USA
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Joined: 03/22/2001
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That's the reason we buy Good Sam ER'S! Our 5er weighs 15.K and has MorRyde suspension. When a tire goes flat the axle is only 4-5" off the pavement, when off pavement the axle is even lower. This prevents using any jack under the spring perch, frame jacking is a must. Anyone who has attempted to jack under the frame knows this requires a lot of shoring and a long reach jack.
When the ER'S road service wrecker arrived (a HDT wrecker) it took them an hour to change that one wheel. MorRyde suspension is great, but it requires a different approach to changing a wheel. They raised my 5er by jacking under the frame enough to support the load, then used a low-profile floor jack under the spring perch to raise the axle enough to change the wheel.
Change one myself? Nope, that $99/yr(raising by $10 next yr) is a cheap policy!
tetonguy, if you are careful to place the bottle jack directly under the spring perch you will not bend the axle.
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BlackMax
California
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Joined: 10/03/2005
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I use a Harbor Freight 12 ton bottle jack (jack comes with a nice carry case) under the spring plate of the axle. I have a breaker bar to loosen the lug nuts, a torque wrench to tighten and a Harbor Freight 18v. battery powered impact gun for in between. Usual safety concerns about blocking the rig and warning triangles ect. Piece of cake. Remember to check the air in your spare too. You can practice when you routinely adjust your brakes. You do adjust your brakes don't you?
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tgr2975
NJ
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Joined: 09/28/2003
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mferris72 wrote:You might want to consider Good Sams road service. I've heard AAA RV Plus will only tow the effected vehicle. If you truck breaks down they will not tow the 5'r. They are a car company and don't really understand the RV world. Good Sams tows both. I used them for a blown tire and got great service, and was back on the road within an hour. Best way to change a tire?...a cell phone
You heard wrong about AAA Plus RV. I have this version of AAA, and they will tow my TV and 5er up to 100 miles if I am broken down. With AAA I don't have to be towed to the closest repair shop or the towing company's shop. They will tow me where I want to go.
I have used AAA a few times to tow my truck or change a few tires without the RV, and have been pleased at the service.
2002 F-250 CC, PSD, SB
2008 Brookside 298 FWBHS
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ktpul
Appleton, WI
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Joined: 07/26/2004
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rusty_poth,
I agree, at that angle, it doesn't look very safe. It's probably not a good picture to use as an example. I assure you, it was a safe situation or I would have went a different route. Thank you for pointing that out.
Kevin and Tami
2 sons ~ Appleton, WI
'04 Dodge 4WD 3500 DRW Quad HO Cummins 6sp 3.73 Laramie Prodigy B&W Auto Meter EGT & Boost Gauges
'06 Forest River Wildcat 29BHBP 5th wheel Wildcat Forum
2 Honda EU2000
My pictures
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jmramiller
Dallas
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Joined: 01/24/2006
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I have never had to change a tire on the side of the road. I have a Trailer-Aide but am leary about putting so much trailer weight on one tire. I also carry a 6 ton bottle jack and some wood.
I am leary about changing a tire on the side of the road after seeing a big rig hit and kill a man a number of years ago on I-10 just outside New Orleans. It's an image that I have never been able to shake out of my mind.
One second the guy is standing there looking at the tire he just changed, the next second he is a half mile down the road.
2006 2500HD CC SB 4X4 Duramax/Allison
Prodigy/16K Reese/265E Tires/Bilstein Shocks
RM Active Suspension/RDS 60gal Toolbox combo
2008 Big Country 3490BHS by Heartland
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Rick Torrez
Greeley Co
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Joined: 05/10/2005
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No fun
2006 38L Fleetwood Expedtion
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