kilbrider wrote: Thanks for the replies. I too am worried about overloading the one axle. I've emailed the manufacturer to see what they have to say about it. I'll let everybody know what they say.
From a legal perspective, they will say their product works and creates no harm to the other axle. Ethically and legally, they will say it will work. They have to. Would you imagine how potential customers would react if they put in writing "don't do this at home...." type statements??? Let's see how much skating (if you know what I mean) they do on your questions....
Seriously... Simply use the appropriate height bottle jack and don't work about bending the good hub, creating hairline cracks in the good hub and forcing 100% of the trailer's side weight on its single hub.
We use Leveler Blocks, as we have a dual axle. Just build a ramp. Note try yours at home, as we needed over 10 blocks to change front tire, and they usually come in sets of ten. We did need to get a lug wrench. We carry a spare (it was an option on TT).
Chuck
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Spike99: How do you figure lifting one side of a #7000 trailer puts #7000 on the one wheel? Your math just does not work. Think about it for a minute. #7000 trailer with tandem axles. Tongue weight is probably #1000 leaving #6000 divided over the 4 tires equals #1500 per wheel. Even if you lifted one wheel high enough to raise the other one off the ground, that is only #3000 supported by the one wheel not #7000. To have #7000 supported by one wheel, you would have to lift the entire trailer by the one wheel. Something I'd rather not see.
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flybaby_3 wrote: Spike99: How do you figure lifting one side of a #7000 trailer puts #7000 on the one wheel? Your math just does not work. Think about it for a minute. #7000 trailer with tandem axles. Tongue weight is probably #1000 leaving #6000 divided over the 4 tires equals #1500 per wheel. Even if you lifted one wheel high enough to raise the other one off the ground, that is only #3000 supported by the one wheel not #7000. To have #7000 supported by one wheel, you would have to lift the entire trailer by the one wheel. Something I'd rather not see.
Of course the math doesn't work (in your example). In reality, one would take 7,000 lbs and divide by 5. There's 4 tires touching the ground and one hitch. The 7,000 lbs is distributed across all points. That's now 1,400 lbs on each point. If one "connect point" is raised and expected to carry its other tire, that's 1,400 lbs x 2. (could even be more lbs - depending on how much tonque weight on the TT). Keep in mind this isn't direct lifted weight (like using simple vertical lift bottle jack). It's now being lifted under "twisted" stress condition.
One can back their trailer onto a ramp to twist its plastic bushings, twist its shackle bolts, and over stress its yoke if they want. Its your trailer. But from a stress perspective, `purposely forcing` that much wieght on a single axle is too much. Why purposely make something over stress - when it doesn't need to be. Thus, why this same technique isn't used on transport trailers either. Its too high risk.
Ask your trailer company (Jayco, Forrest River, etc.) if its OK to "jack up" a trailer this way. Do you think they will say its ok??? Or if Dexter axles, ask them if jacking up a trailer by "over twisting" its axle is ok as well?
You can do it - if you want. Its your trailer. But from a safe trailering perspective, I will recommend using a veritical lift bottle jack every time. Vertical lift, no stress (over stress on the other parts) and it doesn't over pressure the trailer's leaf spring and related parts...
From a safe perspective, what do you recommend to others???
Hey Spike non the less how do you get 7000#'s again on one wheel.and also you do not divide the weight be 5 load points evenly,you do not suddenly transfer extra weight to the hitch by lifting one side,in fact you do not transfer any extra weight to the hitch.I do think the least stressful way is to jack up the affected wheel.Do you ever drive up on leveling boards,planks ,etc, how about that momentary stress when the lifting wheel has to bear all the twisting,yoke stress,frame bending situation.How about sharp axle wheel bending spring twisting turns.There certainly must be enough engineering,manufacturing safe guards for all that.I don't believe for one minute that driving up on a ramp or what have you to change a tire compromises safety.
* This post was
edited 04/24/08 07:38pm by Anyoltime *
spike
you are absolutely correct, and the numbers don't even matter...
on any tandem axle TT made today... no one tire, wheel, hub, bearing, axle stub, axle, or spring is designed to support twice the weight being carried on it, even for short durations... to bad it isn't though...
the easy way is seldom the best, the right way is seldom the easiest... and marketers could care less if it sells their product...
you will never convince someone that has already made up their mind, no matter what...
the question then becomes the degree of risk and damage... to me any added risk for potential damage is to much if it is avoidable... that may not be true for others...
you put the info out there it is the correct info and readers will use it or not... if not, they have accepted the risk and any consequence that goes with it...
makes me wonder about the post I have read where the story line is...
I had a blow out and after repairing it I had a second tire failure only 100 miles later... those rotten bad brand tires, never buy them... HUMMMM....
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
Forget about the jacks and all the problems with them that could happen. Go to campingworld.com and search for the Trailer Aide. I've used it and it is a great piece of equipment.
Mr. Camper wrote: Forget about the jacks and all the problems with them that could happen. Go to campingworld.com and search for the Trailer Aide. I've used it and it is a great piece of equipment.
You guys are worrying and concerned about the wrong thing. Having recently experienced a blow out and being on the side of 95 my opinion about changing a trailer tire has changed drastically. Your concerns about axle stress etc. is unfounded. Bottle jacks are a good idea But terrain and traffic can make the jack cumbersome. I was able to pull my trailer up onto a ramp I made with boards. Even this was problematic. Being on the shoulder is a nightmare. The ground is not level etc. I purchased a Trailer aide and will be more prepared if I do have another flat. The roadside is hazardous. Getting going in a timely matter is important. Trailer Aide is a very worthwhile gadget. I did not feel this way until I actually had a flat on the interstate.
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