Where to place jack when changing flat tire?

[plasticmaster]

On my last camper to change a flat, I always used a bottle jack under the frame to jack up the travel trailer. It had normal dual axles. My new camper (Forest River Vibe) has spread axles. Also, on the curb side, there is a propane line attached to the bottom of the frame running all the way to the rear bumper mounted grill. Where would be the best location to place the bottle jack if and when I need to change a flat? I'd rather have this figured out ahead of time. Thanks.

[trail-explorer]

westend wrote:
I'd suggest to place the jack underneath the spring shackle.

SPring shackle is the absolute worst place for jack placement. The shackle idea is BAD, VERY BAD.

[Passin_Thru]

I'd carry ramp and blocks and drive up on it. To hell with jacking. I have 2 plastic 12,000 lb ramps.

[time2roll]

For better or worse I jack on the U-bolt.

If replacing suspension... jack on the frame and use jack stands.

[Hannibal]

This is a pic of my F250's screw jack under the spring perch U bolt of our 2007 KZ 5th wheel. I had a brake grabbing on one wheel so I decided to give all four a quick check and adjustment while in the campground on hard clay ground. The long handle to the screw jack made it a lot easier than the short handled hydraulic bottle jack I'd been using. No stress on the suspension, chassis or DW inside blending me up a frozen strawberry Margarita.

[Tvov]

JIMNLIN wrote:
All you need to do is lift one end of the axle instead of the whole side of the trailer.

Jacking under the axle next to the U bolt or the U bolt itself on a std leaf spring suspension works fine and there will be no damage to the axle.

If your going to lift one side of the trailer from the frame I would suggest using two jacks next to the farthest apart spring hangers. That way less chance of a bent frame from a single jack point on a heavy trailer.

Whatever method you use make a dry run at home.

Agree with all this. Practice at home! I found that the jack for my truck works fine to change a tire on my trailer - actually, the extended handle for reaching under the truck is perfect for getting under the axle of my TT.

Make sure you carry a socket and/or lug wrench that fits the lug nuts on your TT!

And... check the air pressure in your spare tire.

[IPegasus]

After my first flat tire we bought the Anderson rapid jack. We have used this three times now. My wife and I are like a nascar pit crew on changing a tire.
Check out this link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jE_x_TjlOI

[rbpru]

The manufacturer suggests the frame on my Dutchmen. It works okay. I prefer the aforementioned shackle.

A quick call to the manufacturer might be in order.

The important thing is to practice changing the tire, beforehand.

[danimal53]

i've been researching this as well...where do you jack on a single axle trailer? right under the leaf spring?

[JIMNLIN]

All you need to do is lift one end of the axle instead of the whole side of the trailer.

Jacking under the axle next to the U bolt or the U bolt itself on a std leaf spring suspension works fine and there will be no damage to the axle.

If your going to lift one side of the trailer from the frame I would suggest using two jacks next to the farthest apart spring hangers. That way less chance of a bent frame from a single jack point on a heavy trailer.

Whatever method you use make a dry run at home.

[TucsonJim]

Toddupton wrote:
The frame, always the frame and never the axle.

On Lippert manufactured frames, that used to be their instruction. Now, they are okay with using jacking the tire off the ground when you are changing a tire as long as you are right at the spring U-bolts. In fact, I was at a rally last month and the Lippert techs were doing some upgrades for folks, and they were using the axles to lift it.

Lifting by the frame is nearly impossible to do on the side of the road without special jacks or cribbing material. In fact, there is no reason to lift the entire weight of one side of the coach when you only want to pull one wheel off.

Jim

[TurnThePage]

If you used the frame, a typical bottle jack would run out of extension long before the tire was off the ground.

[JnJnKatiebug]

BB_TX wrote:
I put my bottle jack under the axle, directly under the spring and just barely lift the tire off the ground. Always have, always will. May not be according to recommendations. But more stable than using blocks and/or extending the jack enough to lift the frame enough to get that same tire off the ground.

What he said x2. Just make sure it is under the spring. Been doing this for 45 years. No damage so far so I think I will continue.

[K_Charles]

Where I use to work we sold equipment trailers, 6 - 12 ton. They came from the factory with no tires and stacked up with blocks of wood under the axle at the spring. Most had dexter axles, 3 and 4 ton, same as most campers.

[hohenwald48]

Toddupton wrote:
The frame, always the frame and never the axle.

Why do you say that?

I've always placed the bottle jack at the U-bolts and have never had an issue. Seems to be the case with most other responders too.