Hydraulic jack

[Saskatchewan]

Good day. I know the answer is likely a simple one but I am just not sure about what I need. We have a single axle travel trailer (max weight 5,000 lbs) and a 2011 Silverado 1500. We recently had a flat tire on our trailer while on the highway so I needed to get out my truck jack to use on the trailer. Thankfully someone pulled up who had a hydraulic jack and they jacked my trailer up in a matter of minutes. This was so much simpler than if I had to get my truck jack all set up. So here is my question. What size of hydraulic jack might you recommend for me to purchase to use not only for my trailer but my truck as well.

Forgot to add, the kind of jack which was used on my trailer was I guess what you would call a floor jack.

https://images.app.goo.gl/QfSsDtg7JRY1LT9G6

Thank you all!

[Harvey51]

I like the jack MDK linked in the second post. It has a nice wide top for stability. The one that came with our class C had a top the size of a dollar coin. I welded a better top on but am a bit worried my weld might break.

[JRscooby]

agesilaus wrote:
That's interesting, the info about floor jacks. I've seen what you are talking about but never figured out what the problem was.

One tool everyone should carry is one of these Gorilla wrench, which will remove those lug nuts that the tire shop overtightened with their impact wrench.

Well, the "tire shop overtightened" is not a issue for me. If I can't watch them put wheels on my ship, they only get my business once, and I loosen and torque the nuts myself. If I watch, and they do not torque, they don't get paid.
I carry long breaker bar in each of my vehicles. And I use 6 pt deepwell impact socket of the correct size for the nuts (Northern tool, to keep my sets together, I buy cheap impact sockets one at time) Under DW's car, and our pickup, I have painted marks to show where to put the jack. I would hope somebody would help her, but with tools she has available in trunk and between the ears my 65+ YO wife can change tire on her car, or the pickup.

[agesilaus]

That's interesting, the info about floor jacks. I've seen what you are talking about but never figured out what the problem was.

One tool everyone should carry is one of these Gorilla wrench, which will remove those lug nuts that the tire shop overtightened with their impact wrench.

[JRscooby]

wa8yxm wrote:
I lie the floor (Also called Trolly) jacks. 5000 pounds is 2 1/2 tons and you will likely never need to lift all of it. 2 Ton is a very common size and should work great.. Also way easier if the Truck has a flat trust me.. I keep on in my towed's trunk.. (Along with a bit of lumber there is not enough clearance on the towed for the jack so I jack it up a bit. Block it and reposition and then do the job).

The problem with a floor jack is often when you need to change a tire you are missing a important part of safe operation, the smooth hard floor. As the lift plate goes up, it travels a arc in relation to the trolley. On a floor, as the load goes up, the jack moves under the load. But on a rough or soft surface, the lift plate must slide on the load, and it falls.
When shopping for jack, think about will it fit under the lift point when tire is flat. Will it lift far enough to get the spare on? Sure, you can pull the flat on a ramp.
IMHO, one thing everybody that drives should do is pick a nice day and change a tire on their vehicle and trailer. Learn what you need to do to jack it up. What wrench fits the lugs. Can you turn it, or do you need a longer handle? Does the wrench fit the nuts that hold the spare? Think about it. Do you want to go to school at night, in the rain, with traffic wizzing past?
BTW, I have a bunch of hydraulic jacks. But I only carry the one that came with pickup. Plenty capacity, plenty of stroke. But I will pull flat on block, so can spin jack up, only need handle for short lift. As soon as flat tire is off block, remove wheel and block, am high enough to put tire back on.

[Dusty_R]

I bought a hand operated hydraulic remote pump, and plumbed it into my hydraulic jack. It works very well, and it is nice to be able to kneel beside our mh rather lay under it, while jacking it up.

Dusty

[Dusty_R]

I bought a hand operated hydraulic remote pump, and plumbed it into my hydraulic jack. It works very well, and it is nice to be able to kneel beside our mh rather lay under it, while jacking it up.

Dusty

[wa8yxm]

I lie the floor (Also called Trolly) jacks. 5000 pounds is 2 1/2 tons and you will likely never need to lift all of it. 2 Ton is a very common size and should work great.. Also way easier if the Truck has a flat trust me.. I keep on in my towed's trunk.. (Along with a bit of lumber there is not enough clearance on the towed for the jack so I jack it up a bit. Block it and reposition and then do the job).

[DFord]

I'd recommend a scissors jack for the job. You need something short to get under the axle with a flat tire. The scissors jack is just the tool for that. They are also a lot more stable than a bottle jack that can sink in the ground and tip over as the load gets heavy when the tire comes off the ground. I see they are also offered in electric models.

Performance Tool W1600 1-1/2 Ton (3,000lb) Capacity Scissor Jack, 4" - 15" Lift Range

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Harbor Fright has one version of the 3-ton that lifts 4" higher. A wheel chock is a splendid accessory.

[time2roll]

I use a Torin 2 stage 2 ton bottle jack with custom handle for my 2 axle 7880 gvwr trailer.
Have used it plenty of times over 15 years. In hindsight I think the 4 ton would have been easier. Just make sure the jack will go under the axle with a flat tire and enough lift to swap on the inflated tire.

[agesilaus]

Actually they used the bottle jack, I stupidly used the floor jack. And I'm sure they are all made in China, that gray one just made a point of it in the write up.

And heh I found one made in the USA a little pricy tho. But gets great reviews.

[MDKMDK]

Saskatchewan wrote:
Good day. I know the answer is likely a simple one but I am just not sure about what I need. We have a single axle travel trailer (max weight 5,000 lbs) and a 2011 Silverado 1500. We recently had a flat tire on our trailer while on the highway so I needed to get out my truck jack to use on the trailer. Thankfully someone pulled up who had a hydraulic jack and they jacked my trailer up in a matter of minutes. This was so much simpler than if I had to get my truck jack all set up. So here is my question. What size of hydraulic jack might you recommend for me to purchase to use not only for my trailer but my truck as well.

Forgot to add, the kind of jack which was used on my trailer was I guess what you would call a floor jack.

https://images.app.goo.gl/QfSsDtg7JRY1LT9G6

Thank you all!

I would be leery of using a "floor jack" (or "racing jack" as some call them) on the side of the road where the surface might be uneven, and the jack could slip or roll, as agesilaus found out "the hard way". Whoever helped you out must have thought the situation was safe enough or acceptable when they used that type of jack to lift your trailer.
The other issue with floor jacks is they tend to weigh a lot more than a bottle jack, particularly as their capacity increases. I also had a 3 ton racing jack from Harbor Freight that easily lifted my Roadtrek when I was doing some work underneath it a few years ago. On a level driveway, with wheels chocked and then used the 3 ton bottle/jack stands to support it. No problems with either product.
All made in China.

[MDKMDK]

agesilaus wrote:
Here they are: Amazon

"that gray chinese jack for example does not list the lift of the jack. The Torin 12 ton does 7.5 to 11 inches."

From the ad for the "gray chinese jack" below the one you're recommending on the same page in your link.

"Highly durable. Wide steel base for stability under load. Height range is 11 inch to 21 inch, but its default lift range is 11 to 17.25 inch, it can be raised to 21 inch if adjusted manually"

And don't kid yourself, they're all made in China.

[agesilaus]

midnightsadie wrote:
and about four pieces of two/by four and a square piece of plywood 12x12. might never use them but there easy to store away.

Ditto on that bottle jacks tend to sink into soft ground.