Outfitting new 5th wheel

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.

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.

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.