What method do you use to jack up your 5er or trailer?

[DR_Buck]

I just went through replacing all the brakes on my 5er toyhauler. I used the tried and true roll one tire up on a ramp to lift the other method to do the job. This was a real PIA, especially since I was changing brakes on all wheels.

All of the manuals appropriately caution jacking on the axles to prevent bending them so that is out as a possibility. The trailer frame is underneathth and quite high making it hard to jack and support with automotive jacks and stands. Yesterday I purchased a 20 ton hydraulic jack with a 10" lift and a pair of heavy duty truck jack stands. The jack has quite a broad base to make it stable. The 10" lift will still require me to use a large block. It will need to be about 8" thick and to keep it stable I will make it 12" to 14" square. The jack stands are rated at 12 tons and have a height range of 17" to 30".

I'm going to try it out later today to see how it works. But, I'm wondering what others use besides the roll up on the ramp method?

[wandering1]

Jack under the frame using wooden blocks to get the jack high enough. DO NOT use the shackles, you can damage them?

[Lynnmor]

If you decide on a bottle jack, make sure that it will go under the axle with the tire totally flat. Most likely it will be useless if you want to jack it in that manner.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

IMO - lift the trailer by the frame - as the majority of axle manufactures and trailer mfgrs recommend.

Bottle jack on either side of the two wheels to be raised off the ground.

Sure - you can accomplish the same with the "roll-up" technique,
or the bottle jack under the axle below the spring shackle U-bolts.

*YOU* decide on the technique you prefer - remember.....
all those X-2s and X-3s aren't gong to pay for any repairs if *you* cause damage.

Nor do they (or me) know your mechanical ability.

YMMV..:W

~

[DR_Buck]

JEBar wrote:
until a little over a year ago my response would be X7 to the for the bottle jack under the u bolt method .... after installing a Bigfoot leveling system, I can push a button and lift any or all of our camper's tires off the ground .... last Monday I did so, lifted all 4 off the ground so that we could have 4 new G614's installed

Jim

Didn't know that the system could lift everything up. I have the Lippert "Level Up" system. I know you can't lift one side because if you get more than 1.5º difference between sides it stops. I guess I need to see if I can lift all 4 uo at once. Looks like tomorrow is an experiment night.

[time2roll]

+1 for bottle jack under the U-bolt one wheel at a time.
Although for all wheels I use a 1.5 ton floor jack on the frame and the tall 12 ton jack stands. I use a stack of cut 2x4s to add height to the floor jack.

[spike99]

HappyKayakers wrote:
I use a bottle jack on the axle, between the U bolts.

This method works for me as well. And best of all, I only need to lift the tire 1" (or so) off the ground. No need to lift the entire chassis 6" high - to get the wheel 1" off the ground. Less chassis twist the better...

.

[JEBar]

until a little over a year ago my response would be X7 to the for the bottle jack under the u bolt method .... after installing a Bigfoot leveling system, I can push a button and lift any or all of our camper's tires off the ground .... last Monday I did so, lifted all 4 off the ground so that we could have 4 new G614's installed

Jim

[RoyF]

I find that the jack from my Ford F350 has enough lifting power and, with its long crank handle, is a lot easier to use. (But I carry a bottle jack, as well.)

[ArcticDodge]

x 6? lost count for the bottle jack under the u bolt method

[DR_Buck]

OK, so my frame jacking worked although it took more blocking to raise to the needed height than I'm comfortable with.

I think I'm going to make cradleel top plate to fit on the new hydraulic (bottle) jack and just stick with jacking under the u-bolts. Don't need near the lift and I can still use my largjack-standsds under the frame for safety.

[DR_Buck]

fj12ryder wrote:
I've always jacked on the u-bolts with never an issue. IMO the warning not to jack on the axle tube is a CYA from the builders just in case someone is dumb enough to jack in the middle of the axle.

This is exactly what I thought as well.

[fj12ryder]

I've always jacked on the u-bolts with never an issue. IMO the warning not to jack on the axle tube is a CYA from the builders just in case someone is dumb enough to jack in the middle of the axle.

[Old-Biscuit]

X3

The cautionary tale is to try and stop some fool from placing a jack inwardly under axle tube and bending it.

[Road_Runners]

HappyKayakers wrote:
I use a bottle jack on the axle, between the U bolts.

X2. I have been jacking trailers like that for over 50 years and never had a problem bending the axles. In fact if you jack on the plate holding the U bolts you are applying the axle load at the same place that the axle is loaded from the wheel.