Fifth wheel jack points

The axles are a rather thin wall tube, and a single point stress like the narrow top of a bottle jack could put a crimped spot on the axle, ruining it.

ALWAYS jack on the frame with the stress distributed with a stiff chunk of wood if possible.

They probably recommend the frame because it's flat vs. the axle being round. However, with the axle or the spring hanger being lower, you don't have to jack up the jack as far or put a bunch on dunnage under it. If you use the axle, do it next to the spring and preferably your jack has a groove in the top of it to help prevent it from slipping off of the axle.

Bill

Jerry B wrote:
My Mobile Suites owners manual sez to jack the trailer up at the frame. Why the frame? Why not at the axle spring shackle?

Dunno, but if the manufacturer wrote that, that would settle it for me.

My little ol' Jayco ultra lite has the same jacking instructions as your Suites. To change a tire, my owners' manual instructs to jack on the frame with a board between the jack and frame, and the jack adequately "cribbed", just forward of, or just to the rear of the tire you wish to change. They specifically warn against jacking on any portion of the axle tube or trailer suspension. I tried it "their" way, it works fine, but with roadside assistance, I hope I never need to do it. Worried more about my "frame" on the side of the road than the trailer's..........:B