 |
06-21-2018, 09:32 AM
|
#1
|
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Shawnee, Kansas
Posts: 76
|
Jacking up travel trailers
I'm taking my Hemisphere Lite down to the tire store to have new tires put
on.....Is there a correct way and/or a wrong way to jacking up a trailer?
I assume you place the jack somewhere on the frame? I have one of those
tire roll up one wheel things (it's a tandem axle) that I've used, but I'm sure
that they're going to want to jack it up and get both wheels off the ground.
Thanks!: 
__________________
Salem Lite Hemisphere 232IS
Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat Crew Cab v-10
|
|
|
|
06-21-2018, 09:50 AM
|
#2
|
|
Kasual Kamper
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fairfield County CT
Posts: 1,297
|
Just don't let them do it on the axles! 
__________________
Current: 2013 Flagstaff MicroLite 21DS
Past: 2000 Fleetwood Mallard 19N
TV: 2013 Nissan Pathfinder SL 4x4
|
|
|
|
|
06-21-2018, 09:51 AM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,002
|
Couple years ago I was at Les Schwab in Brookings getting a potential blowout replaced. In the parking lot was guy with a 5er getting 4 tires installed. They had 4 jacks under each axle spring at the U-bolt area. Jacking up by the frame takes a lot of blocking to get the jack up high enough to lift the tires off the ground especially on larger trailers.
Not sure how high or low yours is off the ground. That may determine how they go about it.
|
|
|
|
|
06-21-2018, 09:52 AM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,002
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JayArras
Just don't let them do it on the axles! |
Why?
|
|
|
|
|
06-21-2018, 10:01 AM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 1,694
|
if you have spring axles it is OK to lift under the spring shackles. If you have torsion axles don't lift on the axle use the frame.
__________________
2024 Artic Wolf 3018 Suite 5th Wheel
Prior TT Grand Design 2800BH TT 2021 - sold 4/24
Prior TT 2017 Flagstaff 831CLBSS Classic Ultra lite - SOLD 5/21
TV 2024 F350 DRW Lariat Ultimate
Prior TV 2017 F150 6.5' bed 3.5 Eco-boost Max tow 1800lbs payload - sold 4/24
|
|
|
|
06-21-2018, 10:15 AM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,002
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by llr
if you have spring axles it is OK to lift under the spring shackles. If you have torsion axles don't lift on the axle use the frame.
|
Exactly.
|
|
|
|
|
06-21-2018, 10:35 AM
|
#7
|
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,173
|
Oh, and don't let them take a look and think "Hey, he's already got jacks (stabilizers) at the four corners of the trailer, lets just use these."
__________________
There's no use crying over spilt milk... unless it's on your keyboard.
|
|
|
|
|
06-21-2018, 03:23 PM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: ALASKA (World's Biggest Campground)
Posts: 6,753
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JayArras
Just don't let them do it on the axles! |
X2! Both Lippert & Dexter tell you (WARN YOU). Do not jack on the axles! Jack on the frame. Additionally, springs and shackles are designed to "suspend" the weight, not lift it.
__________________
'07 K3500 Silverado LT Crew Duramax (LBZ)
2016 Salem 27RKSS
1984 CHEV SCOTTSDALE K20 2GCGK24J0E1XXXXXX (Chevrolet Legends-Class of 2019)
"...exhaust fluid? We don't need no stinkin' exhaust fluid"
|
|
|
|
|
06-21-2018, 06:08 PM
|
#9
|
|
Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Georgia
Posts: 62
|
This is the way my friend’s tire store did it. I’m assuming they’re doing it right.
|
|
|
|
|
06-21-2018, 07:05 PM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,002
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by D W
X2! Both Lippert & Dexter tell you (WARN YOU). Do not jack on the axles! Jack on the frame. Additionally, springs and shackles are designed to "suspend" the weight, not lift it.
|
You do know that when the tire hits a drive entrance like a gas station or even a bump in the road that the tire is making the axle push up on the leaf springs?
Show me how it's different when using a jack under the U-bolts or the above simulation.
You're actually putting less upward pressure on the axle when lifting under the U-bolts as opposed to when the tire pushes up because the tire is further away from the U-bolts.
Lippert and Dexter say that as a CYA so some guy doesn't stick a jack 2' under the trailer and bend the axle. Kinda like don't drink hot coffee.
|
|
|
|
|
06-21-2018, 07:37 PM
|
#11
|
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Shawnee, Kansas
Posts: 76
|
Yes, I'm thinking that placing a jack on the frame has to be the safest bet....the tandem
axles are sprung with leaf springs I believe. It isn't a real tall trailer and they should only have to get it off the ground a couple of inches or so.
__________________
Salem Lite Hemisphere 232IS
Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat Crew Cab v-10
|
|
|
|
|
06-21-2018, 10:27 PM
|
#12
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 8300 Feet - Rocky Mountains
Posts: 2,475
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jas451
Yes, I'm thinking that placing a jack on the frame has to be the safest bet....the tandem
axles are sprung with leaf springs I believe. It isn't a real tall trailer and they should only have to get it off the ground a couple of inches or so.
|
Ideally, two jacks...probably hydraulic bottle jacks on blocking...one forward of the axles and one to the rear of the axles. This avoids putting abnormally high pressure on the tongue jack or landing jacks on a Fiver. One side at a time is more than enough for tire replacement work, but if the shop feels compelled to lift the entire rig, then 4 jacks and jack stands.
Yes, the suspension is designed to hold the weight of the entire trailer, but manufacturers don't warn against jacking on the axles for no good reason. If nothing, do it right for peace of mind.
__________________
Jim & Renee
2020 Jayco Jay Feather X-213
previously 2014 Forest River/Rockwood HW 277
2006 Ram 1500 4WD Crew with Firestone Airbags
Every weekend boondocking in the National Forests or at Lake Vallecito.
|
|
|
|
|
06-22-2018, 12:38 AM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 316
|
If you read all the fine print in the frame and axle documents it's probably gonna say do not lift at the frame and do not lift at the axle. Everybody doing CYA... 
For a dual axle trailer one axle could go up on a ramp unloading the other axle enough to take off the wheels. But as described above most tire shops use 4 jacks, one under each spring mount.
Basically you want the jack as close to the wheel as possible. Personally I've used a jack under the leaf spring mounts as well as on the wheel end of the swing arm (NOT the axle tube) of a torsion axle.
|
|
|
|
|
06-22-2018, 04:28 AM
|
#14
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
|
The older, spring axles did not have a warning not to jack on them. Common sense says to jack under the shackles/U Bolts.............but no warning
The torsion axles have a warning.............from the same axle manufactures.
I think it is more than lawyers causing the warning, I think the manufactures know their product.
That is good enough for me.
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
