Hello, my camper, which is actually a toy hauler ( if that makes a difference) has been sitting in the same spot for about 2 years now.Its starting to lean to one side.. Can I jack up one side, by the frame, just enough to slide a 4ft 12x2 board under the tires ? to level it out.How much risk, is there of bending the frame ?

Happy.Camper wrote:Hello, my camper, which is actually a toy hauler ( if that makes a difference) has been sitting in the same spot for about 2 years now.Its starting to lean to one side.. Can I jack up one side, by the frame, just enough to slide a 4ft 12x2 board under the tires ? to level it out.How much risk, is there of bending the frame ? Is there a reason not to just hook up your trailer move it 5' forward to backward and then put you 12x2 boards down and then just pull the trailer up on the the 2x12. Job done:):) Looking at your picture, I might have some concern about the ground under your trailer, dosent look too hard or level as far as trying to jacking up trailer by frame.

I guess I can, but would prefer to jack it up. By the way, I haven't moved it in two years, are the tires still good ? or do they need to be replaced before I take it on the road ? I was hoping to take it to a few campgrounds this year. Do I just check for cracks, and if I don't have any, I"m good ?

How old are the tires? Were they 5 years old before you parked it or brand new?EDIT The tires should be stamped with a manufacture datecode.

I have always jacked up my RV by placing a bottle jack under the spring mount on the axle. However some axles are not as strong as others, and trailer frames can be particularly weak due to manufactures who spec really thin metal to keep the weight (well cost) down to a minimum. I have heard of frame damage on some frames. You have to be careful not to put to much weight on a single point of the frame while lifting it. That said, I would consider it safer to have more than lifting point. So you might jack up the unit by the frame a bit, and support that with jack stands or perhaps a stack of 4X4.While supporting the frame, then jack up a axles one at a time, and then put the tires on blocks, then put the boards in that you wanted to. I was also camped on sand, and that area was subject to flooding (it was like a creek running under my RV at times) and my tires sunk into the sand, as well as the 6" diameter bigfoot jacks. I had to raise the jacks, then put more dirt under the jacks and 30" long 2X10"s. Then I could lift the whole RV (with the jacks) and then put more dirt under the tires. I was lucky that my Ford frame is strong enough to not bend at all! Good luck,Fred.

Water-Bug wrote:How old are the tires? Were they 5 years old before you parked it or brand new?EDIT The tires should be stamped with a manufacture datecode.There are 4 numbers on the side of the trailer. The first 2 numbers are the week the tire was mfg. and the last 2 numbers represent the year the tire was mfg. Any tire over 5 yrs. old, I throw away regardless of how the tire looks.

Can I lift my Camper with a jack ? (pictures inside)

wbwood
Explorer
Apr 23, 2015
dee74 wrote:
I would just hook it up and pull it forward.

Ditto....you could of already done it by the time you came on here and asked the question. Don't make it any harder...
MrWizard
Moderator
Apr 23, 2015
If you lift from under the axle...Yes

I would Not lift the camper from any where on the side rail frame
It's Not built for it
It will bend under the stress of trying to lift the weight at one point, especially if the tires are sinking and stuck
tegu69
Explorer
Apr 23, 2015
Yep. Be careful where you put the jack.
bpounds
Nomad
Apr 23, 2015
You only have to move it about 1 foot to get it up on boards. Cut two boards, each about 18" long. Pull trailer forward 1 foot. Place board behind rear tire, another board behind front tire. Back up 1' to same spot as before.

I don't know why folks insist on using a 5' long board for leveling. It's a lot more practical to use short lengths.

You can also just dig some shallow holes on the other side, since it looks like soft packed soil. Same thing. Pull forward 1 foot. Dig holes. Back up into holes.
K3WE
Explorer
Apr 23, 2015
Kafn8td wrote:
If you can't jack it up, how would you change a flat tire?

Yes, but there are some wrong spots to jack on some trailers where things can get bent.
Mich_F
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
Since it hasn't moved in 2 years and you want to take it to camp grounds, it seems to me that the smartest (and easiest) thing to do is hook it up, and pull it onto your boards. For all you know it might not even move. The brakes could be locked up, bearings frozen.
Kafn8td
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
If you can't jack it up, how would you change a flat tire?
Wadcutter
Nomad
Apr 22, 2015
Jacking up a trailer isn't going to hurt it. If you had a flat while on the road you'd have to jack it up to replace the flat. Place the jack under the axle where the spring hanger is located. If you put the jack on the frame you'll have to extend your jack more because as you jack up the frame the axles will drop down until they limit their bottom movement. By placing the jack on the spring perch the axle will rise as you jack and you won't have to jack as much. To get both axles up jack up one, block it up, then jack up the other. Place your board under both tires and then repeat the process to lower.
tegu69
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
K Charles wrote:
If you jack where the spring hooks to the axle what can it hurt? that's where the weight is when your driving down the road and where it's been for the last 2 years

If you are reluctant to move it right now, you could do this, but instead of putting one board under both tires, you could do one at a time. Or, wait until it dries out back there to do anything.
Community Alumni
Apr 22, 2015
I jack mine up using a floor jack under the spring hangers block to re-level it if it settles in one spot. Quick to do and don't need to re-hitch and disconnect everything.