What jack do you use in case of a flat?

2012Coleman wrote:
I would love to see a picture on the jack placement.

X2, especially on a tandem axle

2012Coleman wrote:
I would love to see a picture on the jack placement.

Check with your trailer manufacture on jack placement. It is common they state to jack close to the spring hanger on leaf spring suspension. Some even have a max distance from the spring hanger not to exceed.

I myself carry 2 methods as the one size fits all does not always fit...

I carry 2, 20 ton bottle jacks, the shorter ones. Why 20 ton, This driven by the stability of the jack base and the screw in the piston. I would say a 10 ton is as small as I would go on a trailer. They are at least big enough. It is not about the force, but stability. Why 2 of them? I happen to have them as I use them for other things so they live in the camper cargo hole. And I have used both.

You asked to see


I use wood to get the jack base up and stable, then the jack on top.




If there is risk due to location, I do use the drive up method. I have enough wood leveling blocks to create most what ever I need. Dual purpose. I am doing a fender clearance check here however you can see how I can create the drive up. On real long trip I throw 2 short chucks of rail ties in the truck bed. And sadly I had to use them...



Hope this helps

John

I suspect my trailer may be one of those the trailer aid/block method might not work for since the wheels are spread pretty far apart.

I checked out the jack my pickup came with today. It is a scissor type jack and lowers plenty far. I took it over to the trailer to see if it would work. I set it under the axle right next to the springs and it cranked it up fine.

If I'd tried that in the first place, I could have saved some of you a lot of typing. But, maybe others have the same question, so all is not wasted. Thanks to all of you for taking time to respond.

I suggest a dry run should be tried before you need to perform the "Indy 500 tire change" along the interstate.

I've had a trailer aid and found it doesn't lift high enough, as said earlier on some trailers. A practice run ahead of time will be useful. I've used the honeycomb blocks with success though it took all I had. That got the flat tire high enough to take off, but it wasn't high enough to get the fully inflated spare on. For that a bottle jack was placed under the axle of the flat tire hub and lifted the axle and hub high enough for the fully inflated tire to be installed.

Also found the impact wrenches the mechanics or tire guys use can make the lug nuts be on pretty good. Using the traditional four socket tire wrench, you can stick the handle for the bottle jack into one of the unused sockets for that extra leverage that may be needed.

Racefan1 wrote:
I use a jack called Good Sam Roadside Assistance. It has worked very well for me and is very easy to store, needs no lubrication, and takes up very little space. Trailer Aide works very well, but takes a lot of space.

I can have my tire changed, and be on down the road before Good Sam can call the tire truck.

That being said. Trailer Aid, or blocks will NOT work with ALL trailer axles. Some have enough travel in them that once you get the good tire up in the air. The other one is still firmly planted on the ground, a jack under is the only way.

Double_Haul wrote:
I was going to buy one of the trailer aide things but found my leveling blocks work just as well. No need to buy or carry anything additional.

Only trouble with those leveling blocks especially the honey comb ones I found out 'real' quick they don't work on sand down here in Florida. They crack all up the minute you drive up on them. So I guess if you are on solid real ground you'd be ok!

Drew_K wrote:
A Trailer Aid or blocks rely on having a good tire on that side with the flat. For that reason, I carry a bottle jack in addition to a Trailer Aid in case both tires blow out on the same side. Fortunately (knock on wood), that's never happened to me.

I do the same for the same reason.

Bruce

A Trailer Aid or blocks rely on having a good tire on that side with the flat. For that reason, I carry a bottle jack in addition to a Trailer Aid in case both tires blow out on the same side. Fortunately (knock on wood), that's never happened to me.

Double_Haul wrote:
I was going to buy one of the trailer aide things but found my leveling blocks work just as well. No need to buy or carry anything additional.

X2

I've had two blow outs on our TT. I just loosen the lugs, pull the good wheel up on 2,2x8 boards, set the emergency brakes on my truck and change the tire.
Why pay for a trailer aid when you more than likely have the boards with you already?