Adjusting brakes

IF you are only jacking one wheel position at a time then resting on the tongue jack and wheel chocks on opposite side is safe.

You only need to jack wheel just off ground so you can spin it.

Under the spring perch is fine.
Mfg. place cautions about jacking on axle tubes because some dim-wit placed a jack under middle of axle tube, bent it, wore our tires/bearings and then blamed MFG.

Jack up wheel
Adjust star wheel to tighten brake shoes while spinning tire until you can not move wheel
Back off adjustment on star wheel (loosen) until you can just spin wheel and hear a slight drag of brake shoes (wheel should turn at least 1/2 revolution then stop)

You will then need to readjust brake controller due to brake shoes engaging drums sooner than before

Hitch it up to the truck and set the trucks parking brake to prevent the possibility of the trailer coming off the jacks. I would not depend on the tongue jack and wheel chocks to accomplish this.
Barney

I used I-beam frame.

js6343js6343 wrote:
Thanks for the replies. I already plan to use a bottle jack. My question is whether it is safer to hitch the trailer to my truck or leave the front end standing on the ground. Seems safer hitched to the truck. Manual does not say. It may seem trivial. But my trailer is heavy and I am wondering whether twisting action could cause an accident if my front jack fails.

On level ground with the trailer jacked and connected to the ball, seems like it might be OK as long as there is no extreme twisting force exerted on the trailer tongue.

I understand the concern about the tongue jack, but i've adjusted my brakes twice with the trailer on the tongue jack with no problem.

Mine is a 25 footer, and I just jack one axel on one side at a time.
Make sure the opposite side is chalked

jack L

Thanks for the replies. I already plan to use a bottle jack. My question is whether it is safer to hitch the trailer to my truck or leave the front end standing on the ground. Seems safer hitched to the truck. Manual does not say. It may seem trivial. But my trailer is heavy and I am wondering whether twisting action could cause an accident if my front jack fails.

js6343js6343 wrote:
I am preparing to adjust the brakes on my travel trailer for the first time. My question is about how to go about jacking up the trailer. Of course I will chock the other side and use stands. But, is it best to have the trailer hitched to a vehicle or resting on the tongue jack? Somehow I envision having the trailer resting on the tounge as being less safe. My TT is long and heavy, so I have to admit, I want to be extra careful.

Have you consulted your trailer's owners' manual for jacking instructions? Some manufacturers provide the info, some don't. With our Jayco Whitehawk, the manual explicitly states where to jack up the trailer (on the frame just forward of the lead axle or just behind the trailing axle, but NEVER on the axle or any part of the suspension).

If the info is not there, a call to Keystone customer service might get you the answer.

donn0128 wrote:
Use an appropriate bottle jack placing it under the spring perch. Adjust one wheel at a time. Maybe 30 minutes total.

X2

When I adjust my trailer brakes using the brake adjust tool I just jack up the one wheel enough to clear the ground so I can spin the wheel.

If you are referring to the electric brakes those have to be done while in motion. My built-in brake controller doesn't respond to the brake pedal unless I am going at least 10MPH. I adjust my electric brakes going at least 25MPH and adjust to the point of sliding the trailer wheels than back off a tad. I am around a number 6 setting on my electric brake setup for my trailer.

Roy Ken

Use an appropriate bottle jack placing it under the spring perch. Adjust one wheel at a time. Maybe 30 minutes total.