JACKING UP YOUR T/T

rbpru wrote:
During our walk through I asked the technician where to set the jack. He said on the frame. The axle tube might bend or deform.

I have had two flats on my TT, both were nail like punctures. Having the proper cribbing wood blocks for the jack and having practiced before hand was the difference between a twenty minute delay and waiting for road service to find you on some back road.

As already mentioned, some folk jack on the center shackle but the tech said he told folk to use the frame, because it was the least complicated for most folks.

We now have a Tire-Aid but it too has drawbacks. On the sandlot I call a yard, I place it on a 2x8 board to keep if from being pushed into the ground. Also, some TTs have wider spacing between the wheels. I do not know how well it would work with a triple axle TT either.

I can say it is really handy when you want to adjust the brakes. Just lift one wheel and adjust the other.

Another thing to note is, just because you torqued your lug nuts to the specified ft./lbs. Does not mean they will be the same at your next stop. I find mine need to be tweaked twice before they all maintained the recommended torque poundage.

Good Luck

Frame is always 'recommended'....CYA Lawyerese

Jacking on the 'axle' could cause it to bend IF one where to do so towards the middle of axle
Jacking on axle UNDER the leaf springs is no different then trailer bouncing up/down while being towed. Trailer weight on axles is supported/controlled by those leaf springs

I would have to stack 'cribbing' over a foot tall in order to even begin to reach frame with a jack
Way too much wood needed.
On side of hwy I want to et it DONE safely but as quickly as possible
Jacking UNDER the springs gets that done.

During our walk through I asked the technician where to set the jack. He said on the frame. The axle tube might bend or deform.

I have had two flats on my TT, both were nail like punctures. Having the proper cribbing wood blocks for the jack and having practiced before hand was the difference between a twenty minute delay and waiting for road service to find you on some back road.

As already mentioned, some folk jack on the center shackle but the tech said he told folk to use the frame, because it was the least complicated for most folks.

We now have a Tire-Aid but it too has drawbacks. On the sandlot I call a yard, I place it on a 2x8 board to keep if from being pushed into the ground. Also, some TTs have wider spacing between the wheels. I do not know how well it would work with a triple axle TT either.

I can say it is really handy when you want to adjust the brakes. Just lift one wheel and adjust the other.

Another thing to note is, just because you torqued your lug nuts to the specified ft./lbs. Does not mean they will be the same at your next stop. I find mine need to be tweaked twice before they all maintained the recommended torque poundage.

Good Luck

My solution was a Torin TF0202 double ram bottle jack. Very compact and extends from 5 1/4" high to 14" high and has 4K lb capacity. Doesn't seem to be available anymore but there are other similar brands. Fits under a U-bolt with a block of 2x4 on top of the jack (even with a flat). Easy to store in our under-bed storage. Better than jacking under an I-beam or using the Trailer Aid I think because the trailer won't get tilted to one side, but you must be very very careful if ever jacking up an axle and must have a block of wood under the U-bolts (never under the axle tube). Besides using a jack for a flat, they're also good for inspecting brakes and bearings.

When I get a flat on my trailer, I call Good Sam Emergency Road side Service, open a cool drink, open up my news paper and relax:):)

Terryallan wrote:

badsix wrote:
THANKS everyone, I'll be getting a Trailer Aid soon. I didn't know anything like that was available. I need to get out a little more.
Jay D.

Before you do. Check out your TT suspension. Raising the good tire does not always work. Many TT have floating axles, My first one did. You could not raise one tire with the other, unless you raised it 2 feet or so. not practical. Especially if you have the spread axles.

I used a jack on the spring mount at the wheel. Never use a jack out on the axle. You could bend it,

good point, that was my thoughts when I asked the question. my T/T looks like the same set up as my car trailer. but the only time I used the block on my car trailer was empty, so there wasn't much weight. the T/T is a little different in the weight dept.
thanks Jay D.

My axles are spread so far apart that even if I put a tire on a 6x6 the other stays on the ground. I keep a bottle jack in the trailer. If I need to lift a tire I just place the jack under the axles at the U bolts are and lift. Bottle jacks are nice because they're small, easy to use, and have multiple uses beyond changing tires.

badsix wrote:
THANKS everyone, I'll be getting a Trailer Aid soon. I didn't know anything like that was available. I need to get out a little more.
Jay D.

Before you do. Check out your TT suspension. Raising the good tire does not always work. Many TT have floating axles, My first one did. You could not raise one tire with the other, unless you raised it 2 feet or so. not practical. Especially if you have the spread axles.

I used a jack on the spring mount at the wheel. Never use a jack out on the axle. You could bend it,

THANKS everyone, I'll be getting a Trailer Aid soon. I didn't know anything like that was available. I need to get out a little more.
Jay D.

I had a blow out one year and the pavement was so hot the jack sank into the pavement. so I just drove the good wheel up on a block of wood and changed out the tire. so much easier that way

badsix wrote:
kind of a dumb question, but how do you all jack up your tandem axel T/T if you have a flat or something. I have a duel axel car trailer and have used a wedged block on the good wheel and pulled it up onto it. this would lift the other wheel. then there's the truck jack but usually a pain to get to.
Jay D.

Buy a "trailer Aide" ramp like device from camping World for about $40. Buy 2 and you will never need to use a truck jack to raise up your trailer to change a flat