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falconbrother's avatar
falconbrother
Explorer II
May 16, 2018

Jacking the travel trailer..

We bought a new travel trailer last year. I was adjusting the brakes last weekend. I know that you're supposed to jack up a trailer by the frame rails immediately in front of and behind the spring mounts. But, on one side of my camper the LP gas line runs along that rail and there's no place to put the jack. I suppose I could use one jack and jack it from the back side and lift the whole business off of the ground. The owners manual says jack it on the rails but, doesn't take into account that they also ran a gas line on one of the 4 spots they are talking about.

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  • Camper_G's avatar
    Camper_G
    Explorer
    May 17, 2018
    Wild Card wrote:
    Jackfate wrote:
    I made a perch for my bottle jack just like the one below the spring pack. Then jack between the U bolts. Or use my home made trailer aid. Glad to see some others do the same. Jacking the frame is much more dangerous & my owners manual doesn’t have a section on jacking.


    jacking the frame is dangerous. figure its 2ft from grade, think of all that leverage on the jack, blocking etc.

    Always lift the axel/axels, support by the frame at those loacations by jack stands or wood blocking (cribbing) etc, remove tires then allow suspension to relax if need be. never remove both tires on 1 side and not have a stand or blocking of some sort. Do not rely on the jack to save your life.


    I have always jacked under the center equalizer betwwen the axles and then put wood cribbing under the frame once it's up. Never had an issue doing it that way.

    I also keep it hitched to my truck when I'm doing this so the front is anchored.

    More than once when i was jacking one side with out it hitched to my truck the tongue jack came off the block. I didn't care for that. LOL
  • Wild_Card's avatar
    Wild_Card
    Explorer
    May 17, 2018
    Jackfate wrote:
    I made a perch for my bottle jack just like the one below the spring pack. Then jack between the U bolts. Or use my home made trailer aid. Glad to see some others do the same. Jacking the frame is much more dangerous & my owners manual doesn’t have a section on jacking.


    jacking the frame is dangerous. figure its 2ft from grade, think of all that leverage on the jack, blocking etc.

    Always lift the axel/axels, support by the frame at those loacations by jack stands or wood blocking (cribbing) etc, remove tires then allow suspension to relax if need be. never remove both tires on 1 side and not have a stand or blocking of some sort. Do not rely on the jack to save your life.
  • Jackfate's avatar
    Jackfate
    Explorer
    May 17, 2018
    I made a perch for my bottle jack just like the one below the spring pack. Then jack between the U bolts. Or use my home made trailer aid. Glad to see some others do the same. Jacking the frame is much more dangerous & my owners manual doesn’t have a section on jacking.
  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    May 17, 2018
    When I question the TT dealer about where to jack up the TT, he said there are a few ways to safety lift the TT but they usually suggest the frame because it is the easiest to remember and requires little expertise to do.

    The center shackle is used by the local tire dealer.
  • wrgrs50s's avatar
    wrgrs50s
    Explorer
    May 17, 2018
    If you need to lift the whole trailer you should maybe Jack the frame. If you have a flat or are adjusting the brakes there is absolutely no harm in Jacking under the plate where the u-bolts connect the axle to the spring. Done it for years with no problems on utility trailers, TT's, and 5th wheels. The only caution is to never jack on the round part of the axle tube as it can bend.
  • bobndot's avatar
    bobndot
    Explorer III
    May 16, 2018
    The owners manual says jack it on the rails but, doesn't take into account that they also ran a gas line on one of the 4 spots they are talking about.


    The frame makes the better sense to me. There might be a good reason why the TT mfg says to use the frame . If it were my TT and it stated that, I would have asked the dealer change the gas line location under warranty. Seems like someone goofed with that gas line. I would be careful where you place the jack, think about the ramp method.
  • goducks10's avatar
    goducks10
    Explorer
    May 16, 2018
    Stick the jack under the axle where the U-bolts are. Been doing it like that for years. It's no different that when the tire goes over a small bump like a drive entrance. You'll only need to lift it about 1.5" as compared to 3-4" using the frame rails. Much safer too.

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