Jacking up fifthwheel

That's how I jack up mine.

You will certainly get different opinions on this subject, I have always jacked up trailer axles in this manner , but I like to be right under the U-bolts. IMO he is just a little farther down then I like, but he does have the weight spread out a bit with the wood.

Should be under the "U" bolts!

Preferably under spring hanger/u-bolt but looks like he was right next to it from photo.

I think it is fine. If it was under the U-Bolts all the pressure/weight would be on the 2 tiny "U"s that are the u-bolts. That would total about 1/4" width by about 2"s length of total surface area holding all of it. The way he did it the weight is spread over what looks like a good 6 inches of the axle.

The manufacturer says to jack the frame. But I use a bottle jack between the U bolts. With the board spreading the load over several inches I would not have a problem with that arrangement either.

Stress is dissipated with wood, what's wrong with that?

Sandia Man wrote:
Preferably under spring hanger/u-bolt but looks like he was right next to it from photo.

That would be my preference, too; under the u-bolts. The wood will crush down and carry part of the weight from the tube. Jacking just next to them is next-best, IMO. I've never understood the warning not to jack on the tube, except as a total idiot and lawyers' CYA statement. Hell, if the axle tube's not stout enough to hold the FW up by jacking at the spring mounts, then it's not stout enough to hold the WHOLE TRAILER up! :-)

Lyle

laknox wrote:
That would be my preference, too; under the u-bolts. The wood will crush down and carry part of the weight from the tube. Jacking just next to them is next-best, IMO. I've never understood the warning not to jack on the tube, except as a total idiot and lawyers' CYA statement. Hell, if the axle tube's not stout enough to hold the FW up by jacking at the spring mounts, then it's not stout enough to hold the WHOLE TRAILER up! :-)

Lyle

I have seen tire shops jack under the CENTER of the axle to get both sides off the ground at the same time.:E
THAT is when axles get bent.
Jacking at (or very close to) the U-bolts is perfectly OK.

I go right under the U-bolts with a similar block of wood. I routed the wood block a little, to just cup the U-bolts.

If people would see how some of these tire shops raise their trailer, it would look much worse than the picture from OP.

Jerry