I did a search, can't find what I need. Dumb question- How do we go about jacking my trailer up to remove the wheels so we can get new tires?
I've read somewhere on here that the trailer could be racked (sp?) pretty badly if I put the jack in the wrong place. I think I also read I could put just one wheel up on blocks leaving the other "hanging"?
Owner's manual doesn't say. It a 32ft '73 Holiday Rambler.
thanks for you help.
Martha
If you have tandem axles and blocks of wood, you can block up and drive front tire on blocks to get rear tire off of ground then vise versa. One side at a time. I used this method last weekend to adjust brakes. Make sure you have all 3 other wheels chocked and TV emergency brake on.
If you do use jacks, do not jack under axle or you may damage it. Use frame of trailer for support and use jack stands.
Steve Rinker
Rochester, NY
2013 Keystone Sydney 340FBH 5'er
2012 Silverado 3500HD, SRW,LTZ,4x4, Z71, Crew, 6.0 Gasser, 4:10 Gears, Standard bed
"These days, I have problems in areas that I used to not have areas", so life is good.
Officially you must jack on the frame. I use a 2 ton 2 stage hydraulic bottle jack under the axle resting on the U-bolt. One at a time, use the spare or a jack stand to take two at a time.
therink wrote: ..........
If you do use jacks, do not jack under axle or you may damage it. Use frame of trailer for support and use jack stands.
This statement needs to be clarified!
Do not jack under the CENTER of your axles as this may bend them.
It is perfectly OK to jack each wheel at the U-bolt as this is where the load is carried anyway.
DO NOT jack one side or the other if it's a fiver on the landing gear as this WILL rack the frame for sure.
I jack mine when hitched up. I also know for sure the trailer is not going to roll anywhere this way.
Same goes for a TT, hitched up leaves the frame free to rotate as much as necessary when one side is jacked up.
Keith J.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver.
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD CC/SB/DA 2WD, LBZ air cleaner, 52 gal Titan tank, Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax cover, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors, TST TPMS.
For what it's worth this is from the Dexter axle website:
MISCELLANEOUS - Is it okay to jack up my trailer?
Dexter recommends that you do not jack up the trailer on the suspension components because there is always the potential for damage. Bent hangers, leaf springs, or axle tubes can cause bad axle alignment with bad tire wear resulting. Also, many trailer builders do not use Dexter hangers and we have no idea how strong these hangers may or may not be. Therefore, we take the conservative approach and recommend jacking up only on the trailer frame.
Jerry9n
2009 23' Cikira Escape EXP
2006 Ford Expedition
Reese Pro Series SC
Tekonsha Primus IQ HTT Mods
My posts shouldn't be taken for factual data. They are purely fictional, for entertainment purposes and should not be constituted as actually related to scientific, technical, engineering, legal, spiritual or practical advice. Amen.
I prefer not to use jacks to lift my trailer as other RVers have said "you need to know where you are placing your jack or you could cause some damage".
Personally I use a Camping World device called "trailer Aid", item # 10867 from Camping World. Cost is $52. You lay this trailer aid in front or behind the good tire, drive forward or backward depending on which tire you want to lift off the ground. Once you drive up the Tire Aid ramp, your flat tire will be raised off the ground. Your good tire will sit in a cradle and will not move while you change the tire that is flat. Once you change the tire you just drive down the Tire Aid ramp. Job done
Not sure how a jack under the u-bolt connection area would hurt anything according to Dexter. Sounds more like Dexter wanting to relieve themselves of liability. Jacking up the axle where the u-bolts are is no different than driving up on a driveway enterance somewhere. The tire only needs to be lifted about 1-1/2 to 2" to get it off the ground. I'm pretty cetain I have driven over things that are 1-1/2 to 2" high before. But back to the OP's question I would take it to the tire store and let them do it if you can. Saves extra driving around and waiting.