How do they jack up big coach when replacing tires?

[univmd]

Ordered 6 new Michelin XZA2 Energy 275/70R22.5 tires from STTC using FMCA discount. They will call me when tires arrive for install in a couple days. $495 each not including mounting, balance, new valve stems, alighnment, tax, or fees. Current tires are Goodyear G670 RV dated 2007 with 54,000 miles.

First time having tires replaced. Wondering how they will jack up motorhome? Anything I should watch out for?

[Snomas]

On mine they used air/hydraulic bottle jack. Bought the Mich's from a local semi-truck repair facility in Denver. 6-Michs cost 3700 OTD.
Next set I will ck prices on Hankook's and Toyo's!!!!

[down_home]

I wasn't happy about it but the place near Decature,Ind jacked ours up with the leveling jacks. He blocked the tires on the rear first and of course air brakes were on. It semed reasonable after thinking about it but. When they pulled the rears hear lately they use air over hydraulic jacks similar to the ones we roll under a car. Have to be careful of where you place them. Definately not on the axle tubes, or differential.

[Geocritter]

Always use jack stands! Last month I lifted the rear of my rig using the leveling jacks and damned if a weld on one of the leveling jacks broke dropping the rig. I was replacing a bad valve stem and fortunately, the inner rear wheel was still mounted on the unbolted studs and caught the rig so the brake rotor never hit the ground.

[lovnlife]

TCI just installed 6 Michelin 275 70R22.5s on my 2005 Providence. I got just under 40,000 miles out of the OEM Goodyear G670s in the same size. I expected to get more miles out of them, the Michelin's tread depth looks a lot deeper than the Goodyears. The Goodyears also had un-even wear issues, as many here have reported, obviously contributing to their short tread life.

As most have already answered, they used my leveling jacks to raise the coach, then blocks and jack stands to make it safe for them to remove the wheels. It certainly saves time and probably just as safe as alternate methods using a jack with blocks or stands.

[bshpilot]

i lift my coach off the tires EVERY time i put it in storage....never had a problem and the coach is not unstable at all...if i needed a tire change on the side of the road, id have NO problem lifting a corner or the entire coach to get it done.

I've been in several campgrounds where one or more tires was off the ground to achieve level, never had an issue, its not like the thing is gonna tip over.

[azpete]

there is a section in the owners manual that expressly says you should not do that. yes you can lift the coach, and many people do, but its not safe, or good business practice.
the reason is liability. what happens if the jacks fail and some one is injured?
there is a real danger of that happening.
why did they have YOU run the jacks instead of them? because they can say you did it, thats why. it transfers liability.
if this sounds alarmist, thats ok. better you have the information than not. what you do with it is your business.
as i've said before, you own the jacks. do what you feel is right and safe.

[msmith1199]

Rollnhome wrote:
Have to ask the hydraulic jack guy. If they say don't do it their must be a good reason. Why chance it? A guess, maybe it is not good on the suspension to lift the axels unsupported. Maybe it could tweek the frame or house. If the guy that built them says not to it I'll take his word for it.

They say don't do it because it's unsafe not to do it correctly. For example how many people do you think have raised their motorhome with the jacks and then crawled under it without using jack stands? One leaking hydraulic line and you get crushed. People will also raise the wheels off the ground on hills and that is also dangerous. So if the motorhome companies don't put warnings in the manual not to do this, then whenever somebody does it wrong and gets hurt then they sue because nobody told them not to do it. As long as you do it safely on level pavement and use jack stands then it's safe to do it.

[cochise49]

My tire place uses huge floor jacks. One corner at a time. For oil changes at home, I use levelers and place jack stands under front axle for extra safety. That being said, has anyone used a bumper jack before? All we had a few decades ago. I've seen more than a few cars fall off of those and none off of levelers or bottle jacks. I'd think that a hydraulic line would have to blow completely at once to cause a rapid fall. A leak would cause a slow drop. Still, better safe than sorry.

[Rollnhome]

Who is liable if your jacks fail and injure someone or cause damage to your motorhome or their property? It is a tire shop they should have proper tools, if not I go else where.

[wa8yxm]

I have changed tires twice

Once, INSIDE a shop, protected from wind, on a very flat slab of contrete we used the motor home's leveler jacks to lift it

The other time in a parking lot, A 12 ton bottle (Air/hydraulic) jack under the axle. Both methods worked well.

[Two_Jayhawks]

ferndaleflyer wrote:
If the coach jacks can lift it to level it what is the difference if they lift it to remove the tires? My friends is sitting on the jacks right now while he gets the tires replaced!!!!!

Big difference. If you ever lift high enough to actually free up wheels to be changed jacks are extended way farther than I would be comfortable with. Compare that to minimal adjustments to maintain level at a CG and it's just not the same.

[Two_Jayhawks]

J-Rooster wrote:
The tire shop had 2 large 8" X 8" wood blocks that they stuck under my front and rear HWH jacks and had me jack the coach up, first the front then the rear (all wheels were blocked to prevent movement), then they put my new Michelins on.

X2

[Sully2]

I got no leveling jacks!!!!!

[ferndaleflyer]

If the coach jacks can lift it to level it what is the difference if they lift it to remove the tires? My friends is sitting on the jacks right now while he gets the tires replaced!!!!!