Proper Jacking method for dual axle trailer

[kend40]

Hi all:
I have had my trailer for 3 years and it just occurred to me that the day I get a flat or need to change a wheel, I don't know the proper procedure for getting just one wheel off the ground safely to change to my spare.
I know someone on this forum can properly explain this procedure to me, and will appreciate the assistance.

[TSeck]

I've used the level blocks before in a tight situations which works in a pinch. Biggest problem I'v seen is what's under the jack. If your stuck on the side of the road in loose dirt or on an incline you need a small piece of 3/4" plywood or something to place a jack on.

[CaLBaR]

MitchF150 wrote:
This is how I do mine. But, I've got torsion axles, so it's different from leaf spring axles.. 🙂

Mitch

This is exactly how I lift mine too. Don't have to worry about damaging the axle or anything else.

[JIMNLIN]

I have a old hyd truckers special from the '70's when I was on the road pulling trailers. Its a 12 ton shorty bottle jack that came with a 10" x 10" wide base made specifically for jacking trailer axles while on soft surfaces which was usually on the side of the road.
It came with a short leg channel adapter that fits over the end of the jack. No chance of it the jack slipping while under the axle tube. Makes it simple for lifting one end of a axle a few inches instead the whole side of a heavy trailer.

Whatever method you decide...... do a dry run at home especially with those trailer aid ramps as some folks found out the hard way it didn't raise the tire with a flat off the ground.

[Community Alumni]

I use a a small block of wood under the U-bolts. A 12 ton bottle jack goes under that. Be careful when using the frame as your jack point. Some manufacturers want you to use specific points while some forbids it. Also if you have a spread axle design, Trailer Aid and similar ramps may not work. The axles are set so far apart that flat tire may enough lift high enough to change it once the good tire is driven onto the ramp.

[MitchF150]

This is how I do mine. But, I've got torsion axles, so it's different from leaf spring axles.. 🙂

Mitch

[morphrider]

I just adjusted my trailer brakes this weekend and ended up driving on linx levelers, which now I know I would do this on the road.

[gmw_photos]

What rbpru says is true about the manufacturers saying use the frame as lift points. The thing I don't like about lifting by the frame is you have to lift so much more to allow for the suspension to droop.

However, one certainly must be careful to not damage the axle when picking up under it. For what it's worth, I only lift my leaf spring axles this way. I have two other trailers that are "rubber glide" ( dexter torsion ), and I jack under the frame on those.

Downtheroad, thanks for the kind words, but hey, you can make your own in about 20 minutes out of scraps you have laying about.

[rbpru]

The Manuel says to use the frame, as some axle cannot support the Jack. I recently purchased a Trailer Aid, it is a lot easier.

Which ever you use, practice at home, on the road is no learn.

[downtheroad]

gmw,
That's brilliant.
I'm interested and I have my check book out..contact me if you are interested in going into business selling one of those.
I'm serious.

[gmw_photos]

I'm often accused of over-thinking things and coming with what I would call solutions, to problems that don't really exist.
Fair enough, but with that disclaimer outta the way, I took three short pieces of 2x4, made the radius cuts to match the spring u-bolts and the axle tube, then glued/screwed together.

This is how I jack it up at home where I have a floor jack.

On the road, I would simply pull the trailer up onto a short stack of lynx level blocks under the good tire.

[myredracer]

prichardson wrote:
When placing the jack, position it under the spring pad or the trailer frame. DO NOT place under the axle inboard or outboard of the spring pad or frame mount if a torsion axle.

Good point, forgot to mention that.

If you have overslung axles (axle tubes underneath the springs) you will be putting the jack and block of wood under the U-bolts which of course are rounded. You have to be careful to the jack and block of wood centered directly under the U-bolts so it won't slip to one side.

[prichardson]

When placing the jack, position it under the spring pad or the trailer frame. DO NOT place under the axle inboard or outboard of the spring pad or frame mount if a torsion axle.

[Mr__Camper]

We have a Trailer-aid from CW. You pull up or back up the good tire onto the aid and change the flat tire for your spare. We got lucky the first time we used it. We called a gas station with a mechanic to make sure they could fix the tire (Sunday morning). Once he was told we had a means to take off the tire in a few minutes he sent out his mobile unit to repair the tire on the spot. The whole delay from start to finish was 35 minutes. Next time it happened was right in front of a tire repair and that turned out to be a bad valve.

[NanciL]

I have jacked mine several times to change wheels, adjust the brakes and to grease them.
I use a bottle jack and put it under the shackle that holds the axle.

Jack L