I purchased a new Jayco Jay Flight 28BHS last autumn and it came with a spare tire mounted on the rear bumper. I luckily haven't needed it yet, but I know the day will come when I get a flat tire on the side of the highway. What my travel trailer didn't come with was a tire iron or jack. I need to know what size of tire iron I need for my lug nuts, which are 1/2-20. Is that a 13/16" tire iron?On a side note I'm thinking of purchasing a "trailer-aid plus" instead of a jack. Does anyone have experience with it and have any thoughts? http://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Aid-Plus-Tandem-Changing/dp/B001V8UKBYThank you for your input!

Save your money just make a ramp of your leveling blocks to change tires/adjust brakes.Safe simple free.Good Luck, Mike

I have a scissors jack and a set of HF lug nut sockets and a torque wrench (you should be checking tension anyway).

On a side note I'm thinking of purchasing a "trailer-aid plus" instead of a jack. http://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Aid-Plus-Tandem-Changing/dp/B001V8UKBYMy vote is for the Trailer-Aid-Plus:) Much quicker and easier to jack up your RV.

I too just use a socket set with breaker bar and have a clicker type torque wrench...Roy Ken

I just use my tow vehicle's jack for changing the tire(s) on my TT. I tried it at home to make sure it fit and works. I bought a socket and socket wrench that fits the lugs on my TT wheels - I prefer using a socket wrench rather than a tire iron when I can. You do need a larger, heavy duty socket wrench. Just make sure that whatever you do, practice at home! So that if (hopefully only if!) you need to change a trailer tire while on a trip, it won't be the first time you use all the equipment.

What size tire iron do I need & other questions...

24 Replies

Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jun 29, 2014
RoyB wrote:
I too just use a socket set with breaker bar and have a clicker type torque wrench...

Roy Ken

That's what I do too, but I also have one of those "4-way" star wrenches in the trailer also, but rarely use it; picked it up at WalMart years ago. I normally just use my 1/2 drive torque wrench with the proper size socket.
BadBeans
Explorer
Jun 29, 2014
Thanks everyone!
MitchF150
Explorer III
Jun 29, 2014
This is how I jack mine up.

The jack easily fits between the tires.

And I just got one of those X lug wrenches with 4 different size sockets on each end, so it works for just about anything.. :)

What works for me.. I jack it up this way when repacking the bearings, so I've done it a lot in the last 12 years..

Mitch
Passin_Thru
Explorer
Jun 29, 2014
2X4s and a star wrench with 1 in pipe and a Snapon Torque Wrench. 90 ftlb.
tatest
Explorer II
Jun 28, 2014
zigzagguzzi wrote:
I thought a tire iron was something used to take the tire off the rim. You can go to an auto parts store and ask if you can try one of their lug nut wrenches on your wheel to see which size you need. Even if you have to buy it and take it home, if you just use it to measure and do not booger it up, you can return it. Or just buy one of the four way wrenches that have different sizes on it. Jim

It is. But we knew he meant something different from what he said and answered accordingly.
lushy
Explorer
Jun 28, 2014
Has anyone used the Trailer-Aid-Plus ramp on a TT/5er with a MOR/ryde Suspension System or a similar suspension system? I'm wondering if it will work because of how this suspension system works. I used the Trail-Aid-Plus on my previous TT and it worked great BUT my previous TT did not have that type of suspension system.

I am leaving for a 2 week trip soon and I plan to do a dry run with the the Trailer-Aid- Plus at home to verify that it will work but just wanted to see if anyone has any info on this. Thanks!
SprinklerMan
Explorer
Jun 28, 2014
I carry a jack stand , just for added safety , just in case while its jacked up something shifts . I am not as fast as I use to be
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2014
Or just buy one of the four way wrenches that have different sizes on it

There not all the same, that's what got me into trouble.
zigzagguzzi
Explorer
Jun 27, 2014
I thought a tire iron was something used to take the tire off the rim. You can go to an auto parts store and ask if you can try one of their lug nut wrenches on your wheel to see which size you need. Even if you have to buy it and take it home, if you just use it to measure and do not booger it up, you can return it. Or just buy one of the four way wrenches that have different sizes on it. Jim
Tvov
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2014
Boband4 wrote:
... They were really rusted in place. It took an hour to change the tire simply because of the rust ....

Another important thing to remember! I try to take off and put on my TT's wheels once a year to keep the lug nuts and threads clean. Seems to me that the TT lug nuts rust much easier and quicker than a truck's...