How do I jack, stabilize and remove both wheels from 1 side?

[Godspeed999]

I have a Forest River, Coachmen, Freedom Express 292BHDS --



It was originally manufactured with axles incapable of supporting its weight and they bent, causing the tires to rub on the underside at times (they were replaced under warranty with higher rated axles). This tore the fibrous "mesh" looking material that protects/covers the wood floor construction in the wheel well area and began to wear away some wood.

I want to protect this area as water will eventually soak into the wood and the whole thing will (eventually) disintegrate.

I think Line-X would be the strongest, longest lasting solution, but I might also consider some DIY spray of a similar product.

Either way, to do this job properly the wheels should come off, both (or all 4) at a time.

Where do I jack this thing up and how is best to support it? The "I" (eye) beam frame construction doesn't make for a big target, especially when about half of it (width wise) is covered with Coroplast.

Also, where is the mid point weight wise on this trailer, best for placing the jack?

Should I be hitched up with WDH bars (Equalizer) in place, or unhitched?

Thanks.

[goducks10]

MFL wrote:
I know every ones owners manual says "do not place jack under axle", mine does too. I would put a wood block under the axle, by the U-bolts, and jack just enough to remove tire. Now place a jack stand close to the tire. Do the same for the other tire, same side.

Yes, as mentioned, leave hooked to truck. Do one side at a time.

Many opinions on this, this is JMO!

Jerry

x2

[Godspeed999]

Appreciate all the tips and advice....and especially the offer to borrow the jack stands. We're a few thousand miles apart though!

Regarding this being covered under the warranty job, the trailer was my father's at the time (now passed) and I wasn't involved on the issue.

[BarneyS]

This thread, while about a different subject, will give you some good advice about jacking and supporting your trailer to work underneath it.

When I did mine, I did one side at a time but LAdams did both sides at the same time. You will need some jack stands for support after getting the trailer up off the ground and leave the trailer hooked up to the truck for additional stability but do not hook up the WD bars.

I used both a floor jack and a 12ton bottle jack to lift the trailer. The bottle jack works best to get the thing up enough to put the stands under the frame.
Good luck on your project.
Barney

[time2roll]

Jack under the frame and some big jack stands worked for me.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-steel-jack-stands-61599.html

If you were close by you could borrow mine.

[Dick_B]

When I rotate my TT's wheels two at a time I first run the front jack up all the way then put a bottle jack in back of the rear wheel and start jacking on the frame with a piece of wood for a cushion. When the wheels are up high enough I support the jack with cement blocks, RR ties or whatever is available.
I take off the two wheels and immediately replace them with the ones to be rotated.
Ditto for the other side.

[bluie5]

If the damage was caused by a warranty issue with the axles shouldn't Forest River do the work for you?

[bob213]

When I put a jack under the u-bolts of my rear tire axle (FR Surveyor 30ft.) it will lift the rear wheel. A few more pumps on the jack will lift the front wheel as well. I block both axles after the tires are off just for safety.

[MFL]

I know every ones owners manual says "do not place jack under axle", mine does too. I would put a wood block under the axle, by the U-bolts, and jack just enough to remove tire. Now place a jack stand close to the tire. Do the same for the other tire, same side.

Yes, as mentioned, leave hooked to truck. Do one side at a time.

Many opinions on this, this is JMO!

Jerry

[K_Charles]

If you leave it hitched it will be more stable and I would do one side at a time.