Flat

jaycocreek wrote:

specta wrote:

Hemi Joel wrote:
I carry an 8 ton bottle jack and some wood blocks. I've changed tires a few times on the road. I just leave the camper on the truck, I don't lower the camper jacks, chock the other wheels, put the bottle jack under the axle tube as far outboard as possible, change the tire, lower the truck. Never had an issue with that method, never saw a need to do it any different.

Best answer so far.

This^^^^^...I've changed way more than my share of the inside dually of a loaded logging truck in some tuff places this way...It just works..

The issue is most bottle jack (IMHO, best idea) is you must be under the vehicle to work the jack. With the wheels off, this is a real safety issue. That is why I say pull the flat up on block first. Gives more room to work jack, less work for jack to do, and if the jack slips you have more room after the fall. Once the weight is off the block, remove it and the flat. You know you can put the spare on without more jacking.

mkirsch wrote:
In my case I used the tongue jack of the trailer I was towing in conjunction with the 2-1/2 ton floor jack I keep in said trailer to change the flat I had a few years back.

A floor jack can be great; Don't need to be under to operate, and lots of travel to lift high enough to easily change. The issue is most times you need to change a flat you are missing a major part needed, the floor. Look at the way the lift platform goes up. It travels in a arc. Not a issue on a smooth floor, because the base rolls under the lift point as it goes up. But on even something as hard of asphalt, or rough surface concrete, there is a very real chance the lift pad will slide on load instead of the base rolling.

This discussion is good, might point out problems you don't know you have. IMHO, everybody that drives should pick a nice day to learn. With what you have in the vehicle, can you loosen the lugs? Can you chock a wheel to jack another up? Know where to put the jack? Can you lower the spare to ground, move the pickup, or do you need to drag it out? My point is know what you need to do to change the tire so you don't need to learn in the dark, cold, rain with traffic going by.