Hi,Can you safely use the leveling jacks to raise the tires on one side of the trailer to change a tire (or in my case so that I can adjust the brakes)? And if so, what is the best way to do this? I ask because I have my new 5th wheel set up in my driveway and my automatic leveling system set the jacks such that the passenger side wheels on the trailer are a couple of inches off the ground. So I assume I can use the leveling jacks to raise the other side to adjust the brakes on the drivers side. If this is the case, what would be the best way to do this without putting excess stress on any components? I assume I would (after putting all the slide outs in) raise the rear jacks such that only the front jacks are down. Then lower the rear jack on the side I want to raise. Then simultaneously lower the front and rear jack on that side until the tires are off the ground a bit. Or would be be better to start with all four jacks down and then simultaneously lower the front and rear jacks on the side I want to raise. Or...is it better to start with all 4 jacks down and then continue to lower only one of the jacks on the side you want to raise? I just don't want to put excess stress on any of the jacks or the frame. thanks for your helpMatt

Factory doesn't recommend it but it has been done.

I had to do it to change tires. iam sure if you raise it high enough by an inch or 2 isn't going to make a big deal. I have had my tires off the ground for a week at a campsite it was so unlevel

The mfg of the product always has the best answer.....or the owners manual maybe ?

JIMNLIN wrote:The mfg of the product always has the best answer.....or the owners manual maybe ?If you are speaking of the hydraulic 6pt level-up system, Manufacturer of the product will say No for liability reasons. I personally wouldn't hesitate to use them for this, and already have. the fact is that the 4 rear jacks are rated to 6K per jack, and the front two are like 11K per jack. Its going to be much safer than any portable bottle jack setup, along the highway to change a tire. Would I be climbing around underneath? No, of course not. Just like in the days of old with the old ratchet style bumper jacks we used to have on our cars, you still have to treat the situation with utmost respect for what might go wrong. With that said, I would only lift one side of the trailer off the ground at a time using the manual controls, and probably also have the trailer hitched to the truck, to make sure that the trailer didnt try to move forward or backward at all. You can operate just the left or right side of the jacks by going into manual mode.

If it's the 6 point hydralic, probably OK. With the 4 corner stabilizing jacks, you have to worry about a frame not designed to be supported at 4 corners.I still might stick a jackstand under as a backup.

Using Leveling Jacks to Change a Tire? | Good Sam Community

buc1980
Explorer
May 01, 2018
Sorry I was thinking at the scissor jacks I miss read the original post.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 01, 2018
buc1980 wrote:
The jacks are not made to pick up.Why don't you buy a bottle jack and pick it up.That the safest way to change a tire.

Personally think the TrailerAid is the safest/easiest method. Nothing wrong with using the 6 point system either!
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 01, 2018
"I am more curious about your reason for lifting the RV. If your RV is new enough to have the 6 point Level Up system, doesn't it have self adjusting brakes??? "

There are slide bolts and mating surfaces on disk brakes that need regular maintenance. Same for packing wheel bearings.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 01, 2018
ford truck guy wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
MarkTwain wrote:
Leveling jacks---
Go to camping world and buy a "Travel aide". Approx. $60 from my memory. You just roll the RV onto the. Travel Aide and it will raise the tire off the ground enough to change it. Safer and no stress on the frame or hydrolic systems.

TrailerAid Plus works GREAT!!! I now have 6 point leveling. Depending on conditions I may still use the TrailerAid. General maintenance I simply place in manual mode and raise one side at a time. I have raised one side just enough or both off the ground.

Have you tried using that with the IS ?? I did, and could not get enough height.. I did not have any boards to place under it to get it higher though, Since the IS has 5-1/2" of travel..

I have not tried it. I probably should try it so i know what I would need. I have several wood blocks so it should not be a problem.
ChuckSteed
Explorer
May 01, 2018
My Alpine is 2014 with six point hydraulic level up.. I’ve used it each year to lift tires off gro7nd and remove wheel and tire for breaking inspection, grease, and brake adjust..

The system can more than easily handle the weight.

The smartest way is to place a couple of blocks 7nder the pads on side you want to lift off ground. Then use manual mode and lift one tire at a t8me for removal.

By using blocks under the pads before do8ng this you LIMIT the amount of extension of the hydraulic piston mak8ng the whole th8ng more stable with less side load stresses on the LG and less likelihood of bending anyth8ng..

I’ve als9 used a bottle jack or floor jack under the spring hanger but now just use the level up for all my tire, wheel, and brake work..
djousma
Explorer
May 01, 2018
buc1980 wrote:
The jacks are not made to pick up.Why don't you buy a bottle jack and pick it up.That the safest way to change a tire.

That was true back in the day of scissor jacks and such. Levelup is entirely different story.
ACZL
Explorer
May 01, 2018
buc1980 wrote:
The jacks are not made to pick up.Why don't you buy a bottle jack and pick it up.That the safest way to change a tire.

If the jacks are not made to pick up as you mentioned, then why are they even offered then? When they level a trailer, it's quite possible that one side's tires could be totally off the ground to make it level. Front legs support front of RV w/ no problem. Front legs on semi trailers hold up a whole lot more weight than what are RV's weigh
buc1980
Explorer
May 01, 2018
The jacks are not made to pick up.Why don't you buy a bottle jack and pick it up.That the safest way to change a tire.
dedmiston
Moderator
Apr 30, 2018
You can also drive up onto leveling blocks. I've done that plenty of times.

Most of my flats have been in the boondocks. The easiest way to change the flat is to dig a hole in front of the flat wheel and put leveling blocks in front of the good one. Then loosen up the lugs and pull up onto the leveling blocks. The flat will dangle over the hole and it's really easy to change.
Carl_n_Susan
Nomad II
Apr 30, 2018
The previous posts have all the right info. Jacks are more than strong enough, Slides in, hooked to truck, raise each side enough to get the wheel clear of the ground, and employ jack stands for insurance. The system will not allow the RV to have too much of an angle, so you may have lift one side and then the other to even out.

I am more curious about your reason for lifting the RV. If your RV is new enough to have the 6 point Level Up system, doesn't it have self adjusting brakes???

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Using Leveling Jacks to Change a Tire?

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