Jacking up 5th wheel

[rtaylor0830]

Some people say it is ok to jack a camper up under spring perch what is that. I have done it by the frame with 6x6"s but my question is when you jack up one side by the frame I have noticed that the landing gear on that side comes off the ground is that normal and is it putting to much stress on the other side.

[oilslick]

The problem lies in the Lippert axle tubes, they are made from thinner material than other axle manufacturers. If the axle manufacturer says not to jack on them they know they are too weak.

[Veebyes]

Never had a need for them but short vesions of these must be avaialble somewhere.



They are not for lifting but transfering weight onto them after doing the lifting with something else. So far for the trailer I have used jack stands found in Tractor Supply or someplace similar. Put them on a solid based to spread the weight & lift with a bottle jack.

[fj12ryder]

And sometimes it is. 🙂

[ol_Bombero-JC]

rtaylor0830 wrote:
Some people say it is ok to jack a camper up under spring perch what is that. I have done it by the frame with 6x6"s but my question is when you jack up one side by the frame I have noticed that the landing gear on that side comes off the ground is that normal and is it putting to much stress on the other side.

No offense, but your first sentence (what is the spring perch) seems to be ignored by others.

*They* won't be paying for repairs to *your* trailer if you bend an axle or do other damage!

Follow the directions supplied in your owner's manual, and the axle manufacturers recommendations.
If you don't have those, call their tech lines.

Most (if not all) mfgrs will recommend jacking under the frame!

Is that a "CYA"?..:? You bet! - Theirs AND yours..:W

It's a good plan to leave your trailer hitched to your truck.
Use two bottle jacks, one on either side of the wheels (same side of the trailer) for added support.
Don't forget a jack stand if you are going to have it raised for any length of time.

Yes, "cribbing" may be necessary under the bottle jack/s for the correct height before jacking.

Sure there are other quicker methods - but they may also be quicker to do damage if done incorrectly.

Sometimes the *easy* way is not the *best* way..:W

~

[ependydad]

I would love to see pictures of the cribbing needed to jack on the frame. From ground to frame, I have a good 25" or so. On top of that, even if I'm doing the work on the road in front of my house- there is significant slope to the road for water run off that it wouldn't be level to get started.

[fj12ryder]

I don't believe that I have ever seen a recommendation by Lippert to jack on the axles/spring perches. In fact they specifically state NOT to jack on the axles. I think I would have to see that in writing before I would believe it.

I always jack on the U-bolts, but my toyhauler manual says not to jack up using the axles. I figure it's a strictly CYA statement, and act accordingly.

[Rmcgrath53]

I always jack up behind spring purch with TV hooked up. Lipert recommends doing that way. I saw an Eagle pulled along the side of free way with there wheels all bent up.

[wandering1]

rtaylor0830 wrote:
Some people say it is ok to jack a camper up under spring perch what is that. I have done it by the frame with 6x6"s but my question is when you jack up one side by the frame I have noticed that the landing gear on that side comes off the ground is that normal and is it putting to much stress on the other side.

Probably ok for campers but I would not recommend for 5th wheels. There has been a lot of damage by not using the frame reported including mine. Use the frame like you are supposed to and there wont be any damage. Since the frame is stiff and doesnt bend it is quite normal for the landing gear to raise off the ground when you jack the 5th wheel up.

[Veebyes]

Lost count of the number of times I have raised the trailer one way or another for various reasons.

To raise one wheel it is under the bottom spring leaf. That is it. To raise one side, leave on the truck & jack fwd or aft of spring hanger. Block fwd or aft of other same side for safety & load spread.

To raise the whole thing, leave on truck, raise one side, then the other, drop legs, remove truck.

[JIMNLIN]

rtaylor0830 wrote:
Some people say it is ok to jack a camper up under spring perch what is that. I have done it by the frame with 6x6"s but my question is when you jack up one side by the frame I have noticed that the landing gear on that side comes off the ground is that normal and is it putting to much stress on the other side.

If my trailer is sitting on my concrete driveway pad in front of the garage I use two hyd floor jacks under the frame just fore and aft of the farthest spring hangers and raise the side of the trailer when doing maintenance on the axles/tires/wheels/bearings.

IMO its not placing enough weight on the other jack to make any difference.

Now if I'm on the side of the road with a flat tire or already set up in a campground I use my 12 ton shorty bottle jack under the axle next to the U bolt or the U bolt itself and simply raise one end of the axle. Doing it this way places no stress on any thing.

[RAS43]

What you have described is normal when you do not have your truck hooked up to the trailer. It does put a lot of strain on the opposite leg. I either have my truck hooked up and raise the legs if I need both tires on one side off the ground or jack under the bolts or pads to raise one tire.

[rhagfo]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
I know it's recommended to jack on frame BUT I never do........

Too much cribbing needed (6X6), need to build it stable, jack head can bend lip of I-frame, whole thing too high......

So I jack under the spring perch on axle (directly under where springs are attached to axle). And I do one wheel at a time.
I'm in no hurry......

Now IF I was replacing springs, axle etc. Then I would build a solid platform of cribbing and jack up both sides and then block the frame.
But I have no plans on doing that.

45Ricochet wrote:
I've done it both ways and prefer jacking up each wheel on the axle under the spring. Major work requires all wheels off ground which I did while hitched up (think safety) . Yes crib blocking is required IMO.
I have seen tech's use the landing gear method but they have two big floor jacks on each side of frame and rotate the lifting process.
Bottom line, I try not to stress my Lippert frame to much :W

X3

Right under the spring location on the axle with a bottle jack.

If changing a tire lift about 1" clear of the ground.

[45Ricochet]

I've done it both ways and prefer jacking up each wheel on the axle under the spring. Major work requires all wheels off ground which I did while hitched up (think safety) . Yes crib blocking is required IMO.
I have seen tech's use the landing gear method but they have two big floor jacks on each side of frame and rotate the lifting process.
Bottom line, I try not to stress my Lippert frame to much :W

[Old-Biscuit]

I know it's recommended to jack on frame BUT I never do........

Too much cribbing needed (6X6), need to build it stable, jack head can bend lip of I-frame, whole thing too high......

So I jack under the spring perch on axle (directly under where springs are attached to axle). And I do one wheel at a time.
I'm in no hurry......

Now IF I was replacing springs, axle etc. Then I would build a solid platform of cribbing and jack up both sides and then block the frame.
But I have no plans on doing that.