Raising a 5th wheel without a jack
I'm thinking about using a "Trailer Aid" type device to raise my 5th wheel when I repack the bearings this spring but I want to make sure it's safe for the trailer and axle to do so. Does anyone kn...
Forum Discussion
Well I figured out a way that worked well for me to repack the bearings on my 5th wheel. I took a combination of advice from several posters and this is what I did.
I used my Anderson Rapid Jack (trailer-aid type device) and drove one wheel up on it about 1/4 of the way. I loosened the lugs on the other wheel and took my bottle jack and placed it on the axle between the u-bolt just inside the hub and raised the wheel just enough to take the tire off the ground.
Doing it this way distributed the weight to both axles rather than putting all the weight on one wheel.
If I had a flat tire I would do it the same way.....it was easy and I didn't have to worry about the trailer falling.
I also want to share my experience with repacking the bearings.
I found that all four wheels had grease get past the seals.
This was alarming to me because my trailer is brand new with less than 1000 miles on it. We only used it last summer for a few short camping trips.
The point here is to say......DO NOT assume everything is all good because it's new.
My trailer has easy-lube axles but I have never pumped grease into them and NEVER will.
I don't know what happened but I expect the manufacturer or local dealer decided to use the easy-lube and pumped too much grease and blew the seals.
This is why I will always do my own maintenance if at all possible and when I can't I will be watching them closely.
It's really disturbing that a lot people have the I don't give a******attitude when it comes to working on someone else's equipment.
My next project will be raising the pin box a notch. Thanks to the great advice I received on this forum.
Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions.
Tony
I used my Anderson Rapid Jack (trailer-aid type device) and drove one wheel up on it about 1/4 of the way. I loosened the lugs on the other wheel and took my bottle jack and placed it on the axle between the u-bolt just inside the hub and raised the wheel just enough to take the tire off the ground.
Doing it this way distributed the weight to both axles rather than putting all the weight on one wheel.
If I had a flat tire I would do it the same way.....it was easy and I didn't have to worry about the trailer falling.
I also want to share my experience with repacking the bearings.
I found that all four wheels had grease get past the seals.
This was alarming to me because my trailer is brand new with less than 1000 miles on it. We only used it last summer for a few short camping trips.
The point here is to say......DO NOT assume everything is all good because it's new.
My trailer has easy-lube axles but I have never pumped grease into them and NEVER will.
I don't know what happened but I expect the manufacturer or local dealer decided to use the easy-lube and pumped too much grease and blew the seals.
This is why I will always do my own maintenance if at all possible and when I can't I will be watching them closely.
It's really disturbing that a lot people have the I don't give a******attitude when it comes to working on someone else's equipment.
My next project will be raising the pin box a notch. Thanks to the great advice I received on this forum.
Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions.
Tony
