Is this normal?

[riven1950]

I had a tire go down due to a screw it it. In the process of jacking up the TT and changing the tire I took a look at my axles.

TT is a 2017 Apex and has Lippert Axles I think.

I noticed both axles have a slight crown in them. At least thats the way they look to me. I noticed it on one axle and then checked out the other one and noticed both at least appear to have a slight crown. Both appear the same, in other words crown is in same location on both axles.

Never noticed this before. Is this normal for a TT axle? Guess I could call Coachmen or Lippert but thought someone here could answer the question.

We have put about 6,000 miles on the TT and it tows great. Tire wear is normal.

[JIMNLIN]

I use a 12t shorty hyd bottle jack that has a 10" X 10" base made for side of the road use.. It has a U channel adapter on top made for jacking from the axle tubes.

Axles tubes on a std leaf spring suspension are not soft and placing a jack under one next to the U bolt will not bend or crush the tube.

Jacking from one end of a 3500 lb axle is lifting about 1500-1800 lbs at the most.....not the whole side of the trailer.
The reason axle makers warn against jacking from the axles is some try jacking from the tubes to far away from the U bolts and of course will bend the axle creating more camber bow.

If you use a product like the clicky or make your own make a dry run at home. Many found out the hard way on the side of the road the device didn't lift the flat tire off the ground.

[Huntindog]

riven1950 wrote:
Ipegasus...Neat looking jack. Same idea as driving up on boards, just easier.

Beemerphile1...No I do not carry all this stuff. This was kind of an experiment as I had never changed a tire on this TT before. I have been carrying the bottle jack, a jack stand, wood blocks. Think I could get the job done with that, although I plan on using a roadside service:)

Roadside service... I have had some bad experiences with them. Watch them to make sure they jack it up right,,,,, and do everything else right.

A funny story. I once ran out of fuel at a bad location. On the on ramp to a busy Interstate, towing my TT. I used onstar for roadside assistance. Tow truck #1 arrives and had gas, instead of diesel. While we are discussing it, a car entering the Freeway knocked the rearview mirror off his truck. He gets mad and leaves. Call onstar again, tell them to be sure to bring diesel. Tow truck #2 arrives with a metal jerry can full of diesel. He doesn't have a spout for it, or a funnel or any way to get the diesel out of the can and into my tank... He just kept repeating, "here is your diesel".
I look thru the roadside rubbish and found a large cup and fashioned a crude funnel. It doesn't work very well, especially with the cars blowing by on the on ramp and their air wash rocking my rig and blowing diesel all over my truck and me. Probably get about 2 of the 5 gallons into the tank.
I then pop the hood to prime the system and notice that the Tow truck driver is still hovering over me. As pissed as I was soaked with diesel, got even madder as I realized he was expecting a tip.

I looked him straight in the eye and said: "Heres your tip, get a spout for your can".
He left without saying a word.

[riven1950]

Ipegasus...Neat looking jack. Same idea as driving up on boards, just easier.

Beemerphile1...No I do not carry all this stuff. This was kind of an experiment as I had never changed a tire on this TT before. I have been carrying the bottle jack, a jack stand, wood blocks. Think I could get the job done with that, although I plan on using a roadside service:)

[Lwiddis]

You certainly can use jacks and blocks and jack stands. I’ll just continue to use my homemade ramp and finish up twenty minutes before you.

[beemerphile1]

riven1950 wrote:
...I think I did ok changing the tire...I used a floor jack with several blocks of wood on the frame to lift it enough to get the tire off. Also had two jackstands under the frame just in case while I went to the tire shop. To get the aired up tire on I used a bottle jack with a block under the spring bracket, to get the final lift, to get the tire on....

Do you carry all that on the road? It is best if you do all your home service with the equipment that is available when you are traveling.

I pay for ERS, but I still try to be capable of taking care of myself.

[IPegasus]

Here is the quickest and safest way to change a tire. My wife and I have used it several times on our trips.
https://andersenhitches.com/Products/3620--rapid-jack.aspx

[MFL]

Yes, a block under spring perch/u-bolts, and a bottle jack, works fine to slightly raise one end of axle to change tire. I do carry a TrailerAid Plus to use in an emergency, but have never needed it.

Jerry

[riven1950]

Thanks folks for all of the answers. I am thinking my axles are normal based on your comments. I just never noticed the camber before on this or my other TT's. My solid boat trailer axle is straight, but apple and oranges I guess.

Don0128....I think I did ok changing the tire. It is sitting in my drive and I did not want to call roadside. Decided it would be a good time to find out how much trouble it would be. I used a floor jack with several blocks of wood on the frame to lift it enough to get the tire off. Also had two jackstands under the frame just in case while I went to the tire shop. To get the aired up tire on I used a bottle jack with a block under the spring bracket, to get the final lift, to get the tire on. It took me way longer than it should but I did not want to screw something up.

BTW: My frame seems plenty stiff to lift by with a proper wood block but it is a long way up and requires too many blocks for my little floor jack. I think if I do it again I will just use the spring bracket with a block, which I am sure is what my tire guy would do. Lippert says use the frame. Other choice if hooked up would be to pull up on several inches of wood blocks, maybe with the combo of using a bottle jack under the springs. Never tried that, but sounds like it should work. Best method IMO is to call roadside assistance 🙂

[keymastr]

As mentioned earlier if you jack them up only use the spring perches or jack at the frame. The axle tubes are soft and will bend where the jack contacts them which can change the alignment. The soft tubes can also be bent when brushing the curb with a tire as well.

[Old-Biscuit]

The 'BOW' helps compensate for the vertical load on axles and still have proper wheel camber.
When the load is put on the axle will flatten out and the wheels will be aligned properly.

[harley4275]

slight crown is perfect,if they flatten out tnen you will wear tire on the inside...

[Lwiddis]

Why jack it? Ramp is far easier. Mine is home made from 2x6s.

[donn0128]

That is how they are aligned. Perfectly normal. BTW hope you jacked right under the spring perch?

[bguy]

Crown is normal as in axle bowes up in the middle.