Jacking for a flat tire?

[Jerry_B]

I made a heavy duty ramp to lift a flat tire high enough to remove the wheel. Turns out, the ramp will not fit between the rear wheel and rear stabilizing jacks. My bottle jack is too tall fit under the axle of the flat tire. How do you jack your RV to change a flat? Thanks

[Veebyes]

It is quite simple to use a bottle jack under the bottom leaf of the spring pack to lift the wheel. A sizable chunk of lumber might be needed for the jack but not having the right tools when you have to take care of yourself when things go wrong in the middle of nowhere is not an option.

[fj12ryder]

popeyemth wrote:
Can't understand the fascination here with using a jack when we already carry levelers and the unique geometry of tandem axles lets them raise themselves when pulled or pushed one tire at a time up a ramp.
Zero worries about frame damage,axle tube damage,where the jack and handle is(and what's on top of it)or semis rocking you off the little saddle on the jack.
I try to keep things simple.
Good Luck, Mike

Maybe you're just not thinking hard enough. Lots of triple axles trailers rolling down the road and I don't think your idea will work too well for them. Or do those count as exceptions too?

[popeyemth]

One can always find exceptions.

[JIMNLIN]

popeyemth wrote:
Can't understand the fascination here with using a jack when we already carry levelers and the unique geometry of tandem axles lets them raise themselves when pulled or pushed one tire at a time up a ramp.
Zero worries about frame damage,axle tube damage,where the jack and handle is(and what's on top of it)or semis rocking you off the little saddle on the jack.
I try to keep things simple.
Good Luck, Mike

I'm just the opposite.
Having split a tread belt a 16.5" load F bias ply tire tire on a flatdeck trailer by ramping the good tire I don't/wont use that method anymore.
I keep it simple and safe by simply jacking one end of the axle from the tube or U bolt. I've jacked more trailers on the road this way than several RV owners.
There are some multi axle leaf spring suspension trailers that a ramp under one tire will not raise the other due mostly to a long equalizer bar setup.
Also a ramp under one tire won't raise a multi axle torsion setup.

Choose the method you like but make a dry run at home.

[popeyemth]

Can't understand the fascination here with using a jack when we already carry levelers and the unique geometry of tandem axles lets them raise themselves when pulled or pushed one tire at a time up a ramp.
Zero worries about frame damage,axle tube damage,where the jack and handle is(and what's on top of it)or semis rocking you off the little saddle on the jack.
I try to keep things simple.
Good Luck, Mike

[bpounds]

For those who use bottle jacks, make sure your jack will fit under the spring plate WHEN THE TIRE IS FLAT! Don't ask me how I learned this.

I use the jack that came with my truck.

[jevanb]

wandering1 wrote:
Read your owners manual. You should place the jack under the frame, not the axle. Using the axle could cause damage and those who recommended using thee axle wont pay for damage to your axle or will the manufacturer pay on the warranty.

I tried that with a 6 ton floor jack, as I don't carry the Jack in the truck when we camp,and the bottom of the frame is 2 feet from the ground,plus the side of trailer is almost off the ground . I will stick to a bottle jack under the u bolts

[PUCampin]

Just delt with this last week. I used the scissor jack that came with my Expedition placed under the axle tube between the u-bolts. That way I just had to lift that one wheel, and only an inch or so. Took me 20 minutes start to finish.

Every trailer is different. My TT is a spring over axle, and the frame is 16" off the ground. In order to jack from the frame, I would have to first reach it, then unload the suspension, then lift the tire off the ground. I don't think so. The axle tube is plenty strong enough where the u bolts are to take the weight off the one tire.

[Jerry_B]

fj12ryder wrote:
Just wondering Wandering1, have you ever changed a tire on the side of the road? Do you actually realize how much work it would be to jack the frame up, and how far you'd have to jack it to get the tire off the ground? I can't imagine it with my triple axle toyhauler.

No way would I ever be able to jack on the frame, and I would never feel comfortable jacking in only one spot on the frame.

This is my feeling also on jacking the frame. I guess I need to redesign my home made ramp and make it shorter. I made it long to have a more gentle grade.I bought one of the plastic drive up ramps and the trailer weight smashed it. Thanks everyone for your input.

[fj12ryder]

Just wondering Wandering1, have you ever changed a tire on the side of the road? Do you actually realize how much work it would be to jack the frame up, and how far you'd have to jack it to get the tire off the ground? I can't imagine it with my triple axle toyhauler.

No way would I ever be able to jack on the frame, and I would never feel comfortable jacking in only one spot on the frame.

[TubaPete]

Stack up blocks to make a steeper "ramp". I generally can get the trailer high enough in two steps. Each step only needs to be about 12" in length.

[wandering1]

Read your owners manual. You should place the jack under the frame, not the axle. Using the axle could cause damage and those who recommended using thee axle wont pay for damage to your axle or will the manufacturer pay on the warranty.

[MdKamper]

popeyemth wrote:
I stack my leveling blocks on my trailer not a 5th wheel but tandem axles are pretty similar.

+1

Only had to do it once in over 15 years of RVing thankfully, and now we have GSRA so they can do it next time if it happens 🙂

I just used the Lego blocks pulling the good wheel up on them lifting the flat to change it ... Just make sure you are high enough to mount the spare

[austinjenna]

I use the trailer aid TrailerAid