Jacking points on a travel trailer

[ssthrd]

I have read and heard that you should never jack a travel trailer using the frame, the axle, or any suspension part. Kinda eliminates all options as far as I can see, other than rolling one tire up a ramp to raise the other one off the ground.

I have a Wilderness 2750RL. Are the frames on these things too flimsy to be used as jacking points? I would hate to jack the thing up and have the frame fold up on me.

Any real world opinions based on experience?

[Mike134]

Guy Roan wrote:
Under the "U" shackle that holds the axle is the correct way.
Never the frame!

Guy

Dexter the axle manufacturer says " MISCELLANEOUS - Is it okay to jack up my trailer?
Dexter recommends that you do not jack up the trailer on the suspension components because there is always the potential for damage. Bent hangers, leaf springs, or axle tubes can cause bad axle alignment with bad tire wear resulting. Also, many trailer builders do not use Dexter hangers and we have no idea how strong these hangers may or may not be. Therefore, we take the conservative approach and recommend jacking up only on the trailer frame.


More reading at
http://www.dexterpartsonline.com/page/398255222

[Tvov]

I found that the jack for my F250 fits perfectly under my trailer axles, and I put it under the U bolt shackles as everyone says. My truck's jack has a wide pad on top that works great - I can also also put a larger wood or metal pad on it if I think it needs it (I have various pieces of stuff in my shed - wife calls it junk!). Also, the extra long rod that comes with the truck jack is great, I can get the jack basically anywhere and still jack things up.

Not only does the truck jack work great, but I know I can change a flat TT tire if needed while on a trip.

I have also used my roller jacks when appropriate - I put wooden blocks on top as pads.

You may find you don't need to "jack" the trailer up much to get the wheels off.

[JIMNLIN]

Lwiddis wrote:
“Now having said that I did bend a frame on a fully loaded 38'..”

Interesting. Do as I say, not as I did?

And your point is ??

The OP has a short trailer probably well under 10k lbs vs a fully loaded 38' 22k trailer jacked from a single point.

[Guy_Roan]

Under the "U" shackle that holds the axle is the correct way.
Never the frame!

Guy

[ssthrd]

wopachop wrote:

ssthrd wrote:


For now, I am only doing maintenance--repack bearings and have a look at/adjust brakes, so I will be hooked up but no WDH.

Nah dont even hook up the truck if thats what youre doing. Jack up one side at a time and do what you need to do.

I only hook up so the trailer doesn't run over me if I screwed something up. I never did trust wheel chocks. Haha. It would be just my luck.

[Boomerweps]

If working on the wheel or brakes, jack under the axle. If working on the springs or axle, jack it up on the axle and place supports under the frame near the spring mounts front and back, if possible. I f not near just the spring rear mounts.

[wopachop]

ssthrd wrote:


For now, I am only doing maintenance--repack bearings and have a look at/adjust brakes, so I will be hooked up but no WDH.

Nah dont even hook up the truck if thats what youre doing. Jack up one side at a time and do what you need to do.

[ssthrd]

Mike134 wrote:

naturist wrote:
I've had a couple flats on a tandem axle trailer. Fastest/easiest/safest way to do it is put leveling blocks down, run the good tire up on the blocks high enough to raise the blown tire off the ground.

Don't forget to remove the WDH bars before driving up. They shift weight to both trailer axles and front truck axle

Never thought about that. Sounds like good advice. Next flat on the road (Wait--what?) I will disconnect the bars.

For now, I am only doing maintenance--repack bearings and have a look at/adjust brakes, so I will be hooked up but no WDH.

[Mike134]

naturist wrote:
I've had a couple flats on a tandem axle trailer. Fastest/easiest/safest way to do it is put leveling blocks down, run the good tire up on the blocks high enough to raise the blown tire off the ground.

Don't forget to remove the WDH bars before driving up. They shift weight to both trailer axles and front truck axle

[Lwiddis]

“Now having said that I did bend a frame on a fully loaded 38'..”

Interesting. Do as I say, not as I did?

[JIMNLIN]

ssthrd wrote:
I have read and heard that you should never jack a travel trailer using the frame, the axle, or any suspension part. Kinda eliminates all options as far as I can see, other than rolling one tire up a ramp to raise the other one off the ground.

I have a Wilderness 2750RL. Are the frames on these things too flimsy to be used as jacking points? I would hate to jack the thing up and have the frame fold up on me.

Any real world opinions based on experience?

Jacking a trailer ?? Much depends on what I'm going to do.
Experience ?? 1.2 million miles towing non rv trailers for a living has shown me a lot about what worked better for my jacking situations.
If its a simple changing a fl;at tire out on the road I use a Truckers Special 12ton shorty hyd bottle under the axle tube (leaf spring axle) next to the U bolt. The jack came with a adapter that slips over the top of the jack and cradles the tube. I've used it on every size axle up to 11k lbs that Dexter made.

A short trailers frame like you have will not fold. Someone has a big imagination. Now having said that I did bend a frame on a fully loaded 38' GN flatdeck by placing one jack under the frame. A big rig repair shot fixed my rookie mistake in short order.

[ssthrd]

Thanks for the ideas. Ramp sounds painless, so I'll give it a try.

[naturist]

I've had a couple flats on a tandem axle trailer. Fastest/easiest/safest way to do it is put leveling blocks down, run the good tire up on the blocks high enough to raise the blown tire off the ground.

[wopachop]

I set the jack stand right next to the front and rear trailer tires. Then roll the jack right next to the stands.

[Lwiddis]

I’ve never jacked up a trailer and only buy TTs with tandem axles. I loosen the lugs on the flat tire wheel, run the good tire up a home made wooden ramp and change the tire. Faster, safer.