Forum Discussion

AMG1978's avatar
AMG1978
Explorer
Oct 23, 2017

How to lift each tire off the ground for service?

I have been using one of those yellow "Trailer Aid" devices to drive forward on (front axle) or reverse on (rear axle). It works, but I got to thinking, isn't there an easier way to get the job done safely? Does anyone know if it's save to jack up one side somehow? my floor jacks are only 2.5 ton, but if I had a many ton bottle jack or something, can you safely jack it up in place? Thanks.

If i did service unloaded (no toys or water) i'd still probably be at about 9500lbs.

34 Replies

  • 2112's avatar
    2112
    Explorer II
    I lift one wheel at a time at the perch with a 2 ton floor jack. It's only lifting 25% of total weight minus hitch weight. For my setup that's ~2080lbs per wheel on my double axle.

    A triple axle would be 16.66% of total weight minus hitch weight.
  • lincster wrote:
    I jack up my 41' 5th wheel, one complete side.
    I always lift by the frame.
    Then put jack stands under the frame to set it on.
    I leave it hooked up to my truck.


    A video I saw on youtube, the guy did the same. He had a bottle jack and he just raised it with leveling pads. I would imagine you could do the same with some extra 2x6's or whatever you had lying around and simply lift it by the frame.

    My concern was lifting from the axle, I'd think you could easily damage it. Perhaps from the leaf pack is OK, but I was thinking the frame too. It's pretty high up, so I could see the concern with raising your jack up high enough to reach it.
  • I jack up my 41' 5th wheel, one complete side.
    I always lift by the frame.
    Then put jack stands under the frame to set it on.
    I leave it hooked up to my truck.
  • Floor jack under leaf spring perch....one wheel at a time with jack stand under axle 'just in case'

    You are only lifting one position just high enough to remove tire/wheel


    Bottle jacks work but need 'flat spot'.....still need jack stand for safety