JACKING UP YOUR T/T

[badsix]

kind of a dumb question, but how do you all jack up your tandem axel T/T if you have a flat or something. I have a duel axel car trailer and have used a wedged block on the good wheel and pulled it up onto it. this would lift the other wheel. then there's the truck jack but usually a pain to get to.
Jay D.

[Community Alumni]

Lynnmor wrote:
I guess the road service guys are disposable? They can play in traffic for all we care? :R

In all fairness, the service guys are probably better equipped to play out in traffic than your average RVer. Chances are you're going to have someone show up that's highly visible, some good warning lights, and all the tools to get the job do quickly. They know what to watch out for, how to operate in dangerous conditions, probably have years of experience, and professional training.

I carry roadside assistance, but choose to perform my own work in most situations since I can handle it. It's just there just in case though. However, I wouldn't disparage anyone for depending on them vs. doing the work themselves. They are the pros after all. It's better than having some poor sap on the side of the road trying to figure out how to change his tire while his wife frantically waves a towel over her head to warn traffic.

[rbpru]

Both my TT flats were in an area were I could pull into a parking lot.

Believe me I have changed lots of car flats over the years, either you pull over safe enough off the road or you become a product of Darwinism and no long add to the gene pool. 🙂

[Lynnmor]

I guess the road service guys are disposable? They can play in traffic for all we care? :R

[Community Alumni]

Waiting for the service guy to show up is just as dangerous. Until they arrive you're just a sitting duck waiting to be picked off by someone not paying attention. The longer you're stranded on the side of the road the greater your chances are of being involved in an incident. Changing your tire within feet of passing traffic can be dangerous, but the trade off is that it can be done fairly quickly minimizing the amount of time spent in a dangerous situation on the side of the road.

[MarkTwain]

Lynnmor wrote:

3oaks wrote:

MarkTwain wrote:
When I get a flat on my trailer, I call Good Sam Emergency Road side Service, open a cool drink, open up my news paper and relax:):)

I would have the tire changed and on my way long before they got there. I found out long ago, self service is the best service. 😉

That is as long as I am still able. :@

I agree with that. You also run the risk of the service guy jacking it up improperly causing damage. Even some of the wonderful PA inspection stations want to jack towards the center of the axle.

IMHO, Changing a trailer tire when you are on a multi lane freeway can get real dangerous, especially when you have little or no room to pull the trailer off the road. Crawling under the trailer, laying on dirt or dirty roads, especially if it is in the hot summer times is not my 1st choice to changing a tire.

[MarkTwain]

WayneAt63044 wrote:
I use a bottle jack positioned as mentioned above on the axle of interest. Beware that your lug nuts holding the spare may be a different size than those on the axles.

Just curious, why would the mfg. use different sized lug nut on the spare tire. I had heard of this from other people but never experienced it myself on my trailer.??????????

[GrandpaKip]

At home, I either use a floor jack under the springs or the trailer aid.
I have both a 4 ton bottle jack and the trailer aid on the road.

[rbpru]

Old Biscuit

I have no argument with your approach it certainly works.

But, as the tech said, " I do not know the skill level of the people we sell TTs to". So the frame is a safe bet.

As you pointed out, the big draw back is the amount of lumber it takes to bridge the gap.

[Lynnmor]

3oaks wrote:

MarkTwain wrote:
When I get a flat on my trailer, I call Good Sam Emergency Road side Service, open a cool drink, open up my news paper and relax:):)

I would have the tire changed and on my way long before they got there. I found out long ago, self service is the best service. 😉

That is as long as I am still able. :@

I agree with that. You also run the risk of the service guy jacking it up improperly causing damage. Even some of the wonderful PA inspection stations want to jack towards the center of the axle.

[3oaks]

MarkTwain wrote:
When I get a flat on my trailer, I call Good Sam Emergency Road side Service, open a cool drink, open up my news paper and relax:):)

I would have the tire changed and on my way long before they got there. I found out long ago, self service is the best service. 😉

That is as long as I am still able. :@

[Old-Biscuit]

rbpru wrote:
During our walk through I asked the technician where to set the jack. He said on the frame. The axle tube might bend or deform.

I have had two flats on my TT, both were nail like punctures. Having the proper cribbing wood blocks for the jack and having practiced before hand was the difference between a twenty minute delay and waiting for road service to find you on some back road.

As already mentioned, some folk jack on the center shackle but the tech said he told folk to use the frame, because it was the least complicated for most folks.

We now have a Tire-Aid but it too has drawbacks. On the sandlot I call a yard, I place it on a 2x8 board to keep if from being pushed into the ground. Also, some TTs have wider spacing between the wheels. I do not know how well it would work with a triple axle TT either.

I can say it is really handy when you want to adjust the brakes. Just lift one wheel and adjust the other.

Another thing to note is, just because you torqued your lug nuts to the specified ft./lbs. Does not mean they will be the same at your next stop. I find mine need to be tweaked twice before they all maintained the recommended torque poundage.

Good Luck

Frame is always 'recommended'....CYA Lawyerese

Jacking on the 'axle' could cause it to bend IF one where to do so towards the middle of axle
Jacking on axle UNDER the leaf springs is no different then trailer bouncing up/down while being towed. Trailer weight on axles is supported/controlled by those leaf springs

I would have to stack 'cribbing' over a foot tall in order to even begin to reach frame with a jack
Way too much wood needed.
On side of hwy I want to et it DONE safely but as quickly as possible
Jacking UNDER the springs gets that done.

[rbpru]

During our walk through I asked the technician where to set the jack. He said on the frame. The axle tube might bend or deform.

I have had two flats on my TT, both were nail like punctures. Having the proper cribbing wood blocks for the jack and having practiced before hand was the difference between a twenty minute delay and waiting for road service to find you on some back road.

As already mentioned, some folk jack on the center shackle but the tech said he told folk to use the frame, because it was the least complicated for most folks.

We now have a Tire-Aid but it too has drawbacks. On the sandlot I call a yard, I place it on a 2x8 board to keep if from being pushed into the ground. Also, some TTs have wider spacing between the wheels. I do not know how well it would work with a triple axle TT either.

I can say it is really handy when you want to adjust the brakes. Just lift one wheel and adjust the other.

Another thing to note is, just because you torqued your lug nuts to the specified ft./lbs. Does not mean they will be the same at your next stop. I find mine need to be tweaked twice before they all maintained the recommended torque poundage.

Good Luck

[myredracer]

My solution was a Torin TF0202 double ram bottle jack. Very compact and extends from 5 1/4" high to 14" high and has 4K lb capacity. Doesn't seem to be available anymore but there are other similar brands. Fits under a U-bolt with a block of 2x4 on top of the jack (even with a flat). Easy to store in our under-bed storage. Better than jacking under an I-beam or using the Trailer Aid I think because the trailer won't get tilted to one side, but you must be very very careful if ever jacking up an axle and must have a block of wood under the U-bolts (never under the axle tube). Besides using a jack for a flat, they're also good for inspecting brakes and bearings.

[MarkTwain]

When I get a flat on my trailer, I call Good Sam Emergency Road side Service, open a cool drink, open up my news paper and relax:):)