Can I lift my Camper with a jack ? (pictures inside)

[Happy_Camper3]

Hello, my camper, which is actually a toy hauler ( if that makes a difference) has been sitting in the same spot for about 2 years now.

Its starting to lean to one side..

Can I jack up one side, by the frame, just enough to slide a 4ft 12x2 board under the tires ? to level it out.


How much risk, is there of bending the frame ?

[diesel_man_03]

There is nothing wrong with jacking up the axle under the spring mount.

[tegu69]

I would suggest that the next time you tow the trailer and air up the airbags, that you also air up the tires. Check to see what the pressure should be, but I'm thinking 44 lbs. You are at 7000 lbs, not including camping gear. I'm sure somebody here can tell you the exact weight that should be on your tongue, but I would think somewhere around 800 lbs. There should be some documentation as to how much weight you can carry. Maybe try towing without the Polaris and see how that feels.

[Happy_Camper3]

Alright, I now have some info.

My toy hauler is 5800 lbs dry. My polaris rzr is 1183 dry.

I was not using the wd hitch properly, I was just dropping the camper on the truck, and hooking the chains.

The youtube video showed raising the camper to level after connecting to the truck, then getting chains as tight as you can, then letting the camper down.

I also saw I have passenger tires, at 31psi, and net LT TIRES, At full psi when towing.

[westend]

Happy.Camper wrote:

westend wrote:
Did you air up the tires before you travelled? Did you have the air bags inflated before you attached the WDH? Have you weighed at the tongue to see how much tongue weight you have with the Polaris in the back? If you don't know how much the trailer weighs, a good first step would be to take a trip to the scales and see what you have.

I did not air up the tires, I found out yesterday I have the regular passenger tires the truck came with stock, and that I should buy some "LT" tires , and that has a stronger sidewall, and will help alot with the swaying ?

I have not weighed the tounge,

I have no idea how to use the weight dist hitch, how to I know how to set it ? I just put the chain on the thing, and secure it... .

should I be using the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th chain link ? it only fit on the 2nd one, so that's what I used./ I do not know how to determine if its set correctly or not.

Then I aired up the air bags, truck was pretty level

sway bar sqeeked loud when I went around corners, so I think its set tight enough, is it too tight ?

Anything I say would be a pure guess since no one knows the weights involved, the type of hitch you have, and the connection situation.

It occurs to me that if you had the trailer parked for over a year, the tires have lost air pressure.

As mentioned, take the trailer to a scale and find out exactly what you are dealing with in regards to weights. Relying on something "squeaking" is not going to prove accurate.

[Happy_Camper3]

westend wrote:
Did you air up the tires before you travelled? Did you have the air bags inflated before you attached the WDH? Have you weighed at the tongue to see how much tongue weight you have with the Polaris in the back? If you don't know how much the trailer weighs, a good first step would be to take a trip to the scales and see what you have.

I did not air up the tires, I found out yesterday I have the regular passenger tires the truck came with stock, and that I should buy some "LT" tires , and that has a stronger sidewall, and will help alot with the swaying ?

I have not weighed the tounge,

I have no idea how to use the weight dist hitch, how to I know how to set it ? I just put the chain on the thing, and secure it... .

should I be using the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th chain link ? it only fit on the 2nd one, so that's what I used./ I do not know how to determine if its set correctly or not.

Then I aired up the air bags, truck was pretty level

sway bar sqeeked loud when I went around corners, so I think its set tight enough, is it too tight ?

[MrWizard]

bpounds wrote:
You only have to move it about 1 foot to get it up on boards. Cut two boards, each about 18" long. Pull trailer forward 1 foot. Place board behind rear tire, another board behind front tire. Back up 1' to same spot as before.

I don't know why folks insist on using a 5' long board for leveling. It's a lot more practical to use short lengths.

You can also just dig some shallow holes on the other side, since it looks like soft packed soil. Same thing. Pull forward 1 foot. Dig holes. Back up into holes.

This case is not about being level while camping
In this case .. The trailer wheels are sinking into the ground
Weight needs to be spread out aka distributed when parked for long term storage
Long pieces of wood spread the weight and prevent getting lopsided stuck

[Mich_F]

Looking at that trailer I would GUESS that it's under 4,000#

[westend]

Did you air up the tires before you travelled? Did you have the air bags inflated before you attached the WDH? Have you weighed at the tongue to see how much tongue weight you have with the Polaris in the back? If you don't know how much the trailer weighs, a good first step would be to take a trip to the scales and see what you have.

[dodge_guy]

Hard to say, but I'll bet with the Polaris in the back the tongue was light!!!

[Happy_Camper3]

Alright, i just got back from my weekend up north.

I hooked up, fornthe first time in two years, took it to a state forest 12 miles away, spent the day there amd brought it back.

Thanks for the help everyone. It felt like the tailnwas wagging the dog when i was going 55mph, didnt feel sturdy.

I have a weight dist hitch, and air bags.

I was towing it with a 1100lb polaris rzr in the toy hauler.

i used a 2010 silverado 1500 with air bags.

Truck has tranny cooler and tow package from factory.

Think i was overloaded? Can you guess from the pics how much the trailer weighs ? I want to say 6000lbs dry ?

[wbwood]

dee74 wrote:
I would just hook it up and pull it forward.

Ditto....you could of already done it by the time you came on here and asked the question. Don't make it any harder...

[MrWizard]

If you lift from under the axle...Yes

I would Not lift the camper from any where on the side rail frame
It's Not built for it
It will bend under the stress of trying to lift the weight at one point, especially if the tires are sinking and stuck

[tegu69]

Yep. Be careful where you put the jack.

[bpounds]

You only have to move it about 1 foot to get it up on boards. Cut two boards, each about 18" long. Pull trailer forward 1 foot. Place board behind rear tire, another board behind front tire. Back up 1' to same spot as before.

I don't know why folks insist on using a 5' long board for leveling. It's a lot more practical to use short lengths.

You can also just dig some shallow holes on the other side, since it looks like soft packed soil. Same thing. Pull forward 1 foot. Dig holes. Back up into holes.