Outfitting new 5th wheel

I carry a 5 ton bottle jack and my tool collection has a 1/2" breaker bar with appropriate socket and extension. If I do get a flat I'll place the bottle jack under the flat tires spring perch. Raise it 2" and replace the tire.

Phydeauxman wrote:
We just bought our first RV and are in the process of outfitting it with all the things we need. Want to make sure I have what I need to change a flat tire on the trailer. Wanted to get some feedback from the experienced RV'ers out there on the best things to carry along to handle a flat.

Chances are good that whatever jack your truck is equipped with will also lift one axle on the trailer. It is recommended that you actually try that in your driveway before hand.

You will need a lug wrench. The one in your truck probably will NOT work. A socket that fits the lugs and a good sized 1/2" drive breaker bar will be cheap to purchase. Again, test it in your driveway. In my case none of my sockets would fit the counterbore in the wheels. Socket OD was too large. Found what I needed at Harbor Freight, and not much money. Those sockets have been handy for all my vehicles.

As for a jack, many here just pull the good trailer tire up on leveling blocks, which lifts the flat tire enough for changing. So that's an option too. Test it in your driveway.

Some of the OCD types around here also carry a torque wrench. I don't, but it can't hurt to do so.

A 5 or 6 Ton bottle jack. Some short pieces of 2x4 to go under the jack to get it up to frame height (NEVER jack under the axle tube). the correct socket and a breaker bar.

Set wheel chocks on the opposite side and leave it connected to the truck, if possible.

You should jack it up and remove&replace one wheel in the driveway just to be sure you know how high to lift, etc. Also, when you check the air pressure in your tires (before every trip, then at least every other day) be sure to check the spare. Nothing ruins your afternoon faster than putting the spare on and then finding it has no air.

//Advanced Theory:// You can jack under the plates where the spring pack is attached to the axle tube with "U" bolts, but if anything slips you have just bent an axle and that is an expensive fix.

The jack from the truck "might" lift it, but some truck jacks are so specialized that it is a******shoot. You can always try.

I carry a battery powered impact wrench. An expensive toy, but a leftover from a previous occupation.

Proper breaker bar and socket.

TrailerAid Plus is a must. Amazon for $42. Much safer than a bottle jack. I have used mine on our 19k Mobile Suites for maintenance and a road side repair.

I have a six ton bottle jack and a six ton floor jack. Appropriate impact sockets to fit my electric impact wrench (I have an onboard generator) and also a torque wrench. Plus numerous blocks of various sizes.

I'm pulling a 40' toyhauler and wouldn't have less than a 12 ton bottle jack for changing a tire. The 5 ton ones are a lot of work.

Trailer Aid won't work with a triple axle, and make sure whatever jack you buy that it will fit under your spring perches with a flat tire. Nothing worse that sliding that jack under there only to find it won't fit under the axle with the tire flat.

I carry a 24" breaker bar and a click-type torque wrench. They're not that big so why not. Like several people have suggested, try everything for fit before you really need it.

You should consider some roadside service like AAA or good sam, it's all very well to handle your own flats but changing a tire on I-75 at rush hour can be (pardon the pun)flat out dangerous and sometimes there's collateral damage that needs more tools and know-how.

Red Green;
Remember, If it moves and it shouldn't, duck-tape,
if doesn't move and it should,WD40!!

I carry a 4 ton bottle jack. You're not trying to lift the trailer, just half of the axel. Gross weight on my Montana is 16000# and the 4 ton jack does perfectly. I use it every year when I inspect the brakes and repack the wheel bearings. Place jack directly under the spring shackle and no problems. I also have an 1/2" breakage bar and an 1/2" torque wrench with appropriate deep well socket. Tim

Allworth wrote:
A 5 or 6 Ton bottle jack. Some short pieces of 2x4 to go under the jack to get it up to frame height (NEVER jack under the axle tube). the correct socket and a breaker bar............

Well Allworth I am going to respectfully disagree with this statement.

#1. It is FAR safer to jack under the axle than the frame, under the frame you need to jack up the ENTIRE SIDE (both wheels off the ground) of the 5er to change one tire! This requires lifting the frame about 8" to 10", placed squarely under the axle tube or spring plate directly under the spring you only need to lift the tire enough so that that one tire clears the ground by a fraction of an inch.

#2. If your axle tube is so weak that the pressure of the jack collapses it, you would have bent it the 1st pot hole you hit.

#3. If just changing a flat, leave it hooked to the TV. If working on it at home, no need to hook to TV, just be sure the other three tires are chocked correctly.

PS: I carry a 12 ton bottle jack to do the job that a 2 to 4 ton could do, but the 12 ton just makes it much easier. I also carry a 1/2" x 24" breaker bar, correct sized sockets, and a Harbor Freight Tool torque wrench (Craftsman at home).