How to lift each tire off the ground for service?

[AMG1978]

I have been using one of those yellow "Trailer Aid" devices to drive forward on (front axle) or reverse on (rear axle). It works, but I got to thinking, isn't there an easier way to get the job done safely? Does anyone know if it's save to jack up one side somehow? my floor jacks are only 2.5 ton, but if I had a many ton bottle jack or something, can you safely jack it up in place? Thanks.

If i did service unloaded (no toys or water) i'd still probably be at about 9500lbs.

[AMG1978]

I am OP and I will say that using my 3ton floor jack on the right "I" beam of the trailer, I was able to lift the right side of the trailer off the ground, i just went about 1/2" higher than needed and it worked great.

Thanks you all.

[lincster]

fj12ryder wrote:

lincster wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:

lincster wrote:
Never lift by the axle tubes.

I also have a 6 ton floor jack, so plenty of jack.

You wanna work on big boy stuff, you gotta have big boy equipment.

Pish tosh, I've jacked under the axle tube at the spring perches with no issues whatsoever. Changed tires, added suspension improvements, checked brakes/bearings, all without jacking the frame.

And a 6 ton jack is not "big boy stuff". I have a couple 12 tons, and a 20 ton. A 6 ton is what you use to jack up the axle.

Then welcome to the big boy club.

Do we need to compare other stuff now???

Is this where the "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" starts? :B

I'm not starting anything.
I was ending it.
Sorry to the OP.
Back on track.

[IdaD]

Bottle jack on the spring perches. I did an axle flip so I have the older perches on the underside of the axle that make nice jacking points.

[fj12ryder]

lincster wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:

lincster wrote:
Never lift by the axle tubes.

I also have a 6 ton floor jack, so plenty of jack.

You wanna work on big boy stuff, you gotta have big boy equipment.

Pish tosh, I've jacked under the axle tube at the spring perches with no issues whatsoever. Changed tires, added suspension improvements, checked brakes/bearings, all without jacking the frame.

And a 6 ton jack is not "big boy stuff". I have a couple 12 tons, and a 20 ton. A 6 ton is what you use to jack up the axle.

Then welcome to the big boy club.

Do we need to compare other stuff now???

Is this where the "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" starts? :B

[N-Trouble]

2112 wrote:
I lift one wheel at a time at the perch with a 2 ton floor jack. It's only lifting 25% of total weight minus hitch weight. For my setup that's ~2080lbs per wheel on my double axle.

A triple axle would be 16.66% of total weight minus hitch weight.

Wouldn’t it be 50% of total - tongue? When you lift one wheel to raise the other off the ground your carrying the weight of both axles on that side.

[Ralph_Cramden]

How to lift each tire off the ground for service?

With a Jack.

[racebug1098]

:B

[lincster]

fj12ryder wrote:

lincster wrote:
Never lift by the axle tubes.

I also have a 6 ton floor jack, so plenty of jack.

You wanna work on big boy stuff, you gotta have big boy equipment.

Pish tosh, I've jacked under the axle tube at the spring perches with no issues whatsoever. Changed tires, added suspension improvements, checked brakes/bearings, all without jacking the frame.

And a 6 ton jack is not "big boy stuff". I have a couple 12 tons, and a 20 ton. A 6 ton is what you use to jack up the axle.

Then welcome to the big boy club.

Do we need to compare other stuff now???

[lincster]

1jeep wrote:

lincster wrote:
Never lift by the axle tubes.

Why, please explain? I have jacked many up by putting the jack under the axle at the point where the ubolts meet the springs. I can understand not jacking mid point of the axle as this could cause the arch to be damaged.

Then u didn’t truly lift by the axle tube did you?

If I need to explain more, let me know.

[AMG1978]

Just lifted it fine by using the I beam and my floor jack with 2 spare 2x12x4’

[TAS1]

I jack under the U-bolt on the axle. If I can't get under the U-bolt, I'll use wood next to the U-bolt to spread out the contact patch.

[fj12ryder]

lincster wrote:
Never lift by the axle tubes.

I also have a 6 ton floor jack, so plenty of jack.

You wanna work on big boy stuff, you gotta have big boy equipment.

Pish tosh, I've jacked under the axle tube at the spring perches with no issues whatsoever. Changed tires, added suspension improvements, checked brakes/bearings, all without jacking the frame.

And a 6 ton jack is not "big boy stuff". I have a couple 12 tons, and a 20 ton. A 6 ton is what you use to jack up the axle.

[Old-Biscuit]

1jeep wrote:

lincster wrote:
Never lift by the axle tubes.

Why, please explain? I have jacked many up by putting the jack under the axle at the point where the ubolts meet the springs. I can understand not jacking mid point of the axle as this could cause the arch to be damaged.

Exactly...

RV MFG place warnings ---- lawyerese ---so that owners don't jack under axle bending it and then make claims etc

Trailer is attached to axles AT the suspension.
Lifting a wheel at spring perch on axle is no different then trailer going down road and BOUNCING UP/DOWN

Common sense but that is reason for the 'lawyerese'

[1jeep]

lincster wrote:
Never lift by the axle tubes.

Why, please explain? I have jacked many up by putting the jack under the axle at the point where the ubolts meet the springs. I can understand not jacking mid point of the axle as this could cause the arch to be damaged.

[lincster]

Never lift by the axle tubes.

I have huge tie blocks that my Dad gave me years ago, like as thick as railroad ties.
They get me the height I need to go up to the frame.
Then I have 6 ton jack stands to set the trailer one.
They go up high enough to keep the tires off the ground.
I also have a 6 ton floor jack, so plenty of jack.

You wanna work on big boy stuff, you gotta have big boy equipment.