flat tire

[BoatingWilly]

In the unlikely event of a flat tire, what has been found to be the safest way to get the trailer up? I have a dual axle Open Range weighing in at aprox 5000 lb. I have my truck jack and a 12000 lb bottle jack I have never used. I would appreciate advice and suggestions.

[skiles]

I'm a fan of the Trailer Jack as well. Easy, secure to use. No more bottle jacks for me.

[rbpru]

If you know what you are doing you can lift the flat tire by the axel clamps and by the spring shackles. When I mentioned this to the TT dealer they agreed but it is a big "IF".

From the dealers perspective, the new TT owner with a flat tire could be really upset, super excited or just plain all thumbs when it comes to mechanics. So, they just tell everyone to put the jack on the frame.

My TireAid works but it will sink into softer ground without a board under it. I do not know how well it works with wide spaced tires or triple axles.

[time2roll]

myredracer wrote:
How does a regular bottle jack fit under an axle? I ended up buying a double ram Torin jack that is about 6" tall collapsed (14" max extended) so it would fit under the U-bolts along with a piece of 2x4. Some axles are under the springs (like ours) and some are over which are safer to put a jack under. One of these days I'm going to make a custom saddle from steel pipe for the jack so it fits perfectly under the U-bolts and can't slip. This jack makes it easy for inspecting/serving brakes & wheel bearings at home.

If we didn't have a jack and had a flat on a trip, I'd be making a ramp from our lego blocks and putting one on each side so the trailer doesn't have to tip over.

+1 for the Torin 2-stage. I have the 2-ton but in hindsight I should have gotten the 4. Low profile and good lift range.

The handle fits a bit sloppy so I recently made a custom aluminum handle that is a bit longer for better leverage in awkward positions.

As for the 4-way... skip that and carry a low cost (or better) torque wrench, small extension and six-point socket to fit trailer and tow vehicle.

Torque rating is intended for dry (ungreased) threads.

Also carry a board to place the jack if the ground is soft.

[myredracer]

How does a regular bottle jack fit under an axle? I ended up buying a double ram Torin jack that is about 6" tall collapsed (14" max extended) so it would fit under the U-bolts along with a piece of 2x4. Some axles are under the springs (like ours) and some are over which are safer to put a jack under. One of these days I'm going to make a custom saddle from steel pipe for the jack so it fits perfectly under the U-bolts and can't slip. This jack makes it easy for inspecting/serving brakes & wheel bearings at home.

If we didn't have a jack and had a flat on a trip, I'd be making a ramp from our lego blocks and putting one on each side so the trailer doesn't have to tip over.

[GrandpaKip]

Several posts mention jacking under the axle. That’s not a good idea. If they meant to jack under the shackles, that’s a different thing.
I have the Trailer-Aid and it works fine on our camper. Others have said it won’t raise the flat high enough. I also carry a 4 ton shorty bottle jack. And a 4 way. And a Dewalt 18V impact wrench.
The aluminum floor jack sounds good, too.
With all that, we’ve never had a flat on the road, just at home.
While on the road, I really like having the TPMS for reassurance.

[rbpru]

As a rule, I would not put the jack under a TT axle unless, I knew where to place it so I would not chance damaging the thin wall axle tube.

I used the frame until I bought a Tire Aid.

[mat60]

trail-explorer wrote:

mat60 wrote:
Get a 4-way

a 4-way what?

Ok.. Get a 4-way lug wrench. 🙂

[Dick_B]

Trailer Aid. Search this Forum for more info on it.

[trail-explorer]

mat60 wrote:
Get a 4-way

a 4-way what?

[stevemorris]

check your stuff before you go away!!
make sure the jack fits under the axle with a FLAT tire, makes huge difference!!
check the lug nut sizes, lug nuts and spare tire holder nuts are different, I think mine are 13/16 and 3/4

[Muddydogs]

Last year I got a flat from a leaking valve stem and happened to have a Harbor freight lightweight floor jack in my pickup bed. I tell ya that I felt like a Nascar pit guy changing that tire. Whipped out the jack, took the lugs off with my Dewalt 18 volt impact driver, replaced tire, had everything put away and was torquing the lugs by the time the wife got out of the Maverik gas station.
I now carry the floor jack in my pickup bed all the time and an extra spare as this flat left me with no spare and 30 miles of gravel road. Probably don't need two spares as I upgraded tires but its what I carry.

[RoyF]

I carry a bottle jack, but have found that my Ford F350 jack with a long crank handle is actually easier to use, and also I can turn the crank without being under the trailer.

[rhagfo]

ScottG wrote:
Like Matt above, I use a 4 way wrench and a bottle jack under a U bolt or shock mount.
My DW and I have this down to an art. She gets the tire while I raise the TT and unbolt the wheel.

The fact you have it down to an art tells me you need to buy better tires!!

[ScottG]

filrupmark wrote:
Bottle Jack under the axle works great for me. Make sure its not going to be to tall when your tire is flat.

Yeah, that happened to me on the side of the road where one side of the trailer was sorta in a ditch. I ended up using the rear stabilizer jack to lift the trailer (I know, the horror right..) far enough to my bottle jack under it.

[Desert_Captain]

Never, ever crawl under any vehicle that is supported only by a jack {"any jack},
use a jackstand{s}. Harbor freight has decent Bottle Jacks and Jackstands for not a lot of money. Also carry some sort of compressor and tire repair kit. You do havd a spare, right?

As far as it being unlikely that you will get a flat... think again, it iks not "if" but "when". I had 3 in 4.5 years and fixed/ changed them all myself. They were all on the right rear as the shoulder is where all of the debris lives and the front tire just flings it back to the rear...seriously.

Check, your psi every trip and the first chance you get replace those China Bombs that your trailer probably came with...Maxxis' are an excellent replacement.

As always... Opinions and YMMV.

:C