Jacking For Tire Change

[Bluedog]

Seems there is a lot of controversy over where to place a jack on a 2-axle travel trailer to change a single tire or service wheel bearings. Experts say under the U-bolt plate is not OK because of the danger of bending the axle. Question is how can the axle get bent when you are lifting the suspension system at the U-bolt location which is built to handle it. Same as driving the single wheel up on a 2 inch board. Some experts say to place the jack under the frame behind the wheel which appears to me to invite damage to the frame more so than the axle method. Also, this way the trailer has to be lifted quite high for the springs to extend and lift the tire off the ground. Under the U-bolt only requires a few inches to get the tire up.

Please enlighten me!

[klutchdust]

at home Air/hydraulic 20 ton bottle jack. On the road, 20 ton bottle jack. A few blocks of wood.

[WinMinnie02]

OP how did you do? Jacking up a Class C front or rear is interesting as well. Bottle jack 8 tons, 6 tons jack stands, sockets, breaker bar, impact wrench, wood, and lots of patience.

[StirCrazy]

JRscooby wrote:

B-n-B wrote:


This exact jack would not get under a flat tire on my trailer, at least not under the spring perch. I carry a small floor jack with a 1x6 if needed.

Do you also carry the important part needed to safely use that jack? By that I mean a floor.
With no load on it, run the jack up. Notice the lift pad goes up in a arc? Normal lifting, the pad stays in contact with lifting point be cause the jack rolls under the load. If the wheels are setting on soft or rough surface the pad must slide on you lift point. At least you're not under when it drops.

if your jacking the axel just enough to take the tire off the ground its no issue. I just did all my wheel berrings yesterday and jacked under the axel on gravel just enough that the tire would rotate, but I could see what you are talking about if you have to change a flat.

[JIMNLIN]

Jack up the trailer just to change one flat tire or all of them ??? This otta' be could.

[Fisherman]

Texas Nomad wrote:
Interesting discussion! Everyone stay tuned because on October 1st I'm going to start a brand new thread titled: Just Had a Flat ... What's the Best Way to Jack Up My Trailer? :):):)

:B Don't forget the right sized socket.

[Texas_Nomad]

Interesting discussion! Everyone stay tuned because on October 1st I'm going to start a brand new thread titled: Just Had a Flat ... What's the Best Way to Jack Up My Trailer? :):):)

[Mike134]

bump

[klutchdust]

PButler96 wrote:
After reading through 7 pages could someone tell me the size and type of jack I need to lift a pallet of Tylenol?

Experience proves what works. The lack of that is very clear here.

Like Mike Tyson said "everyone has a plan until you get punched in the mouth"

[PButler96]

After reading through 7 pages could someone tell me the size and type of jack I need to lift a pallet of Tylenol?

[wanderingbob]

Back aways Grit Dog said a man should be able to pick out a good lookin girl at 100 yards . At 78 years old I can see good enuff to pick em out but ain't noway that I could pick em up unless they weigh less than 30 lbs !

[MFL]

ford truck guy said..."I am NO SUPERIOR mechanic but......"

You obviously understand the working of a floor jack, so SUPERIOR mechanic to GDE, as an example.

Jerry

[ford_truck_guy]

Grit dog wrote:

JRscooby wrote:



I don't know where you guys get the magic floor jacks that don't move. Just for snots and grins I just put a tape on 1 of mine (standard 7000 lb capacity that I load if I know I'm going to need a jack, or grab if I need to lift a car in the drive) I put the wheels against the wall and measured to center of pad. 5 inches. Jacked to top, 13 inches.

I'm with Scooby here. GDE, I am genuinely interested in seeing a pic of your rolling floor jack that doesn't just have a single pivot on the arm, which by default as the angle changes, the jacking point gets closer to the rear part of the jack.
Hard to believe 5 pages about changing a flat tire, but I guess that happens when people have magic floor jacks!

I am NO SUPERIOR mechanic but......

I always thought that the wheels on the floor jack were there so the jack COULD MOVE when lifting to keep the weight closer to the center point of the jack????????? If they did NOT move, ALL of the weight being lifted would be at the far end of the jack...


Think Forklifts.... A 15,000# lift is rated to lift 15,000#.. AT THE CENTER POINT OF THE FORKS.... IF you try to lift 15,000 on the tips of the forks, you will be greatly disappointed

[Mike134]

read, and post repeated info for the 7th time

[klutchdust]

Grit dog wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

Now my floor jack tops at 18" lift and at that top the plate moves back about 2".. At that height would be stupid to consider to be usable.

But one could say the exact same for using any jack once you get past a couple of inches worth of lift, they all get unstable. Bottle jacks, scissor jacks since they have very small base foot prints get scary unstable the higher amount of lift you go.



If one ever needed full lift height offered by a floor jack, one might wish to rethink the approach which reduces the amount of lift required..

Lol, jack up something that isn't a pavement pounder and you'll use that travel. Heck, I have to put a wood block on top of my (not junky, whatever you called them) floor jacks fairly often.

I know you're trying real hard here to be right, but maybe time to pump the brakes a bit.

That, and I'm not familiar with a scissor arm floor jack.

None of this makes any sense.