lots2seeinmyrv wrote:
Does anyone have a picture they can post of a trailer frame indicating where you are supposed to jack up the trailer?
We are shopping for tires and I want to make sure they jack it up correctly.
Thank you,
Beth
Beth, that subject usually turns into an argument around here. Hard to believe, I know, but...
I think I have a photo at home of where I lift. Will look later.
Meanwhile, the reason for the argument is that the owners manuals usually say to lift under the trailer frame, and warn against lifting from the axles. In my opinion, those who will argue that you have to do that, are those who blindly follow owners manuals and have little real world experience. How's that for getting an argument off to a good start? :) By the way, lifting under the frame is a good way to pinch brake wires, because the wires are often installed between the corroplast undercover and the frame. Put your jack there and you crush the wires. But the main reason to not do that is that it takes too much jack travel to unload the springs before the wheel can begin to lift.
Lifting under the axle is the correct way to do it, BUT it is important that the jack be as far outboard as possible. Under the axle directly below the spring U-bolts is ideal. You can't kink the axle tubing or bend the axle at that point. Lift too far inward and those things can happen. All of that is true of a solid axle under your car or truck too.
Tire shops know how to do it. Some folks here worry too much. Sure it never hurts to keep an eye on what they are doing, but refusing to let any tire shop install tires is a little over the top. They can just as easily damage your car or truck by lifting wrong, so at some point you have to think they know what they are doing.