Jacking up my 5er to R/R equalizers

[Calkidd]

I have a 2006 F37SP Sierra Sport TH. I am going to be replacing the equalizers and shackles. My dilemma is how to safely jack up one side and support the trailer in order to remove both wheels and do the work.

My first thought is to hook it up to the TV to keep the stress off of the landing gear. Have the wheels up on on blocks to minimize the distances the trailer will travel to get off the ground. I have a 20 ton pneumatic bottle jack, a 3 ton floor jack and two 6 ton jack stands.

What I don't know is how to go about getting both axles up far enough and supporting the trailer correctly and safely. Do I jack up one axle at a time and support the frame before moving on to the other axle? Where do I jack up the trailer and where can I support the trailer with the jack stands? Of course I am only doing one side at a time.

Thanks for any help.

[lincster]

So majority of members told you the correct way to do it.
1 person told you the wrong way to do it and you chose that way....... Hmmmmmmm

[Calkidd]

Ok first off I was not asking for a tongue lashing. I took all information and made my own decision. Secondly it was posted by a member it was done on his RV. The entire trailer was supported on four Jack stands not just the front landing gear.

[tinner12002]

Calkidd wrote:
I wanted to update this. My front landing gear motor is not powerful enough to lift the trailer with the jack stands at the rear of the rear axle. I had to eventually use my 3 ton jack to lift it the rest of the way. On each side of course.

Pretty scary and very unsafe in my opinion!!!

[tinner12002]

I also suggested hooking it up to your truck for stability/safety! I would never attempt to jack one up enough to work on axles and putting that much weight on one front leg without having the RV securely attached to a truck.

[lincster]

I even told you not to and you still tried it?

Did you seriously think the landing gear motor is powerful enough to lift the entire trailer off the ground?

[Calkidd]

I wanted to update this. My front landing gear motor is not powerful enough to lift the trailer with the jack stands at the rear of the rear axle. I had to eventually use my 3 ton jack to lift it the rest of the way. On each side of course.

[nayther]

lincster wrote:
I replaced all of my equalizers and such doing 1 side at a time.
No big deal and everything lined up.

Always jack the trailer up by the frame, never the axles.

I would not use my landing gear to do all the work.

Big floor jack and big jack stands.

Ditto to the tee.

[CJW8]

Calkidd wrote:
CJW8, I am not sure I understand your process. I assume you used your 4x4's as a base to set your jack stands on top of? How did you lift your trailer to get the wheels off the ground?

Yes. The 6X6' were just a stable base for the jacks.

[Dirtclods]

lincster wrote:
I replaced all of my equalizers and such doing 1 side at a time.
No big deal and everything lined up.

Always jack the trailer up by the frame, never the axles.

I would not use my landing gear to do all the work.

Big floor jack and big jack stands.

2nd that!!(Always jack the trailer up by the frame, never the axles)

And check your shackles make sure their in the right position as your lowering it.

[Calkidd]

CJW8, I am not sure I understand your process. I assume you used your 4x4's as a base to set your jack stands on top of? How did you lift your trailer to get the wheels off the ground?

[CJW8]

I did this on the exact same camper in a parking lot in Gila Bend Az a few years ago. I had a shackle fail while returning from the dunes. I have 4 6X6 blocks I always carry to go under my levelers. I placed two under my frame fore and aft of the side I was working on. I used 6 ton jacks on them to lift one side, removed the tires and replaced the shackles and equalizers. I used a compressor I always carry and an impact wrench to remove the hardware. I had no trouble aligning everything to put it back together. I repeated the procedure when I got home on the other side. I used the Dexter equalizer with the rubber cushion in it, worked great. It came with wet bolts and the shackles were 3 times thicker than stock.

[lincster]

I replaced all of my equalizers and such doing 1 side at a time.
No big deal and everything lined up.

Always jack the trailer up by the frame, never the axles.

I would not use my landing gear to do all the work.

Big floor jack and big jack stands.

[tinner12002]

Calkidd wrote:
What a great idea and I love HF! That's where my 6 ton jack stands came from originally.

I think I'll have to use a 2x4 on top of the stands. The frame near the axles are an I-beam sandwich below the frame of the trailer. The jack stands bend the lip of the I-beam up.

I used a couple 8" concrete blocks front and rear with wood blocks on top. Worked fine.

[tinner12002]

You won't have any issues doing one side at a time...been into mine a couple times and had no problems with any kind of alignment. Your far enough from the other side that its a non issue. I've done my tri-axle and tandem axle both with no problems. I would recommend having truck hooked to RV while doing it as it gives the RV a solid point of stability. I raised mine with a floor jack at the spring pack then blocked up the frame in front and behind axles, then released my jack to use to hold axles. If you have access to a bottle jack as well as a floor jack it makes the job a little easier. Keep in mind shackle bolts have to be driven out of the shackle because of having a spline on them same as a wheel stud on a car/truck. If your planning keeping the RV I would upgrade to wet bolts and bronze bushings along with the rubber isolated Dexter equalizer. Dexter has a kit that all is included.