OK on two wheels out of four?

Artum Snowbird wrote:
I thought of that too Jerry, but in our case our rig is very empty of everything right now, so I figured I might be 200 pounds over on each tire, with the truck supporting the hitch.

Also, looking into the manual, it does not recommend that you jack on the axles, but instead jack on the frame.

Not to change your mind on this, but 95% of the reason this is in the manual is lawyers.

Unless jacked right at the spring mount there is the possibility of damaging the axle.

FYI: If you have not purchased your tires, the Duravis R250 ribbed tires are actually better for a fifth wheel trailer. They pull slightly easier, and cost virtually the same. Either tire mounted on a 1 ton truck might get you 150K miles before wearing out.

I recently bought the R250's at Costco for about $197 each, and they had them in stock in 3 days.

Artum Snowbird wrote:


Also, looking into the manual, it does not recommend that you jack on the axles, but instead jack on the frame.

The frame!

Check the axle mfgr's recommendations also.

No big deal to leave it attached to the TV -and/or- use *two* bottle jacks.
One in front - one in the rear of the wheels (under the *frame* on the same side).

You (the OP) obviously asked - as there is some doubt involved in your plan..:h
The ramp and/or shackle proponents aren't going to donate bucks for any repairs you may incur for damage using their methods..:R

You can look at mfgr "recommendations" as CYA (for the mfgr), common sense, or whatever.

The ramp/s or "jack under the shackles" option/s are your dice to roll.
Whatever rings your chimes!..;)

.

Artum Snowbird wrote:
I thought of that too Jerry, but in our case our rig is very empty of everything right now, so I figured I might be 200 pounds over on each tire, with the truck supporting the hitch.

Also, looking into the manual, it does not recommend that you jack on the axles, but instead jack on the frame.

As others have mentioned, driving up on ramps, similar to your plan, has worked just fine for them. I think if you would call the FW manufacturer, to ask them about this, they would just say to lift by the frame only.

I would never say to ignore your owners manual, to lift by the axle. I will say that most manuals, including mine, says to never lift by the axle, but to use frame. You would not believe, what part of the axle, I have seen people use. This is the reason for the manual warning.

I have a Trailer-Aid, that I received as a gift, and have used it. I carry it for an emergency, but much prefer to jack by the U-bolt if I can.

I also use an actual 2"x4" eight inch long piece of oak wood, that I routed out, to just cup the U-bolt. I use a bottle jack under this piece of wood, before placing a U-shaped jack stand.

I hope your method works well for you, just saying that my way, one side at a time, is more comfortable for me.

Jerry

SkiSmuggs wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:

Okay... I'll be the third group... drove up on a trailer aid and changed a flat, no problem... the next flat, I had to back the trailer up on the aid... the leaf spring bent about 2 inches from the rear hanger. I now jack under the axle between the u-bolts..

Yeah I've yet to run into a experienced tire dealer that ramps one tire to raise the other for service work.
My truck tire dealer and my equipment trailer mfg warned me not to ramp one tire.
I was young and smarter than they were back then so I ramped one wheel to raise the other on a loaded GN trailer with 7k axles. As I was tightening the lugs up I heard the tire on the ramp pop like it was hit with my tire thumper. I rolled a few miles at 40 mph to the next small town that luckily had a Goodyear truck tire store. They jacked the wheel that had popped and sure enough the tread belt had split in the center in one spot.
I didn't listen so I paid the price.

I think that tire was a goner anyway. You would have been moving down the road when it blew.

How do you know that ?? :R
The set had less than 15k miles and were about 6-7 months old.

JIMNLIN wrote:

Okay... I'll be the third group... drove up on a trailer aid and changed a flat, no problem... the next flat, I had to back the trailer up on the aid... the leaf spring bent about 2 inches from the rear hanger. I now jack under the axle between the u-bolts..

Yeah I've yet to run into a experienced tire dealer that ramps one tire to raise the other for service work.
My truck tire dealer and my equipment trailer mfg warned me not to ramp one tire.
I was young and smarter than they were back then so I ramped one wheel to raise the other on a loaded GN trailer with 7k axles. As I was tightening the lugs up I heard the tire on the ramp pop like it was hit with my tire thumper. I rolled a few miles at 40 mph to the next small town that luckily had a Goodyear truck tire store. They jacked the wheel that had popped and sure enough the tread belt had split in the center in one spot.
I didn't listen so I paid the price.

I think that tire was a goner anyway. You would have been moving down the road when it blew.

Okay... I'll be the third group... drove up on a trailer aid and changed a flat, no problem... the next flat, I had to back the trailer up on the aid... the leaf spring bent about 2 inches from the rear hanger. I now jack under the axle between the u-bolts..

Yeah I've yet to run into a experienced tire dealer that ramps one tire to raise the other for service work.
My truck tire dealer and my equipment trailer mfg warned me not to ramp one tire.
I was young and smarter than they were back then so I ramped one wheel to raise the other on a loaded GN trailer with 7k axles. As I was tightening the lugs up I heard the tire on the ramp pop like it was hit with my tire thumper. I rolled a few miles at 40 mph to the next small town that luckily had a Goodyear truck tire store. They jacked the wheel that had popped and sure enough the tread belt had split in the center in one spot.
I didn't listen so I paid the price.

Great tire choice with the R500. I always jack our 5ver up under the u bolts and use jack stands to hold the axles up.I prefer a 20 ton hyd bottle jack for easy lifting. I pulled all 4 at one time for replacement over 2 years ago.

When I replaced my axles (and added wet bolts) I used cribbing made of 4x4 fence posts cut in 12" & 18" pieces. I used the landing gear (with the trailer not on the truck) to do as much of the work as possible. Let the front end down as far as possible; put cribs behind the rear spring hangers. Raise the front end; crib just behind the landing gear. Use a hydraulic to get the last couple of inches on the front to get the wheels just touching.

By the way, if you have a compressor at home (all RVers should) you can jack it to where it is still touching, then air-down to about 20 or 25 psi and pull the wheel off without breaking the bead. Reinstall at 25 then air-up to 65 or 80 depending on the trailer.

We used to air-down a stock trailer to get it into a shed. It was about an inch and a half too tall at full pressure. Pumping tires up and down was easier than rebuilding a door.

Stefonius wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
This is our old King of the road totally supported by 2X4 cribbing and the landing gear. I did this to "Flip the Axles" it was solid as a rock! I will be doing this shortly with the current 5er to install the correct Track system.

You must have cool neighbors. I had my fiver in the driveway in pretty much the exact same position. I got a politely worded letter from the township telling me that I'm not allowed to have the overhang hanging over the sidewalk. My next sticks n' bricks is going to have to have more driveway!

LOL!

Better yet, we needed to rebuild the rear floor as we bought as a cheap way to see if we still liked camping. Paid like $1,600 for it with the bad floor, and bad tires.

So I placed it on the other side of the driveway, to replace the floor, we left the landing light on at night so it was easy to see. It was about two weeks into the project, well on the way to being back together. I was working inside and got a knock on the door, it was the county sheriff informing me that I could not block the sidewalk! :S Said I had about a week to get it moved. I finished that weekend and moved it to the storage yard.

It got to be too small, but I still miss the beauty of the rig.