flat tires

[Eddy G]

With my 6600 lb travel travel, what do I need to be perpared for flat tire, as in who to call, or what kind of jack and or equipment needed, I have tandem axels. Thanks for any advice I can receive.

[Ford Idaho]

I bought one of these it was 189.99 at lowes.

Kobalt 8 Amp 1 2 inch Impact Wrench Corded 350 ft lbs Torque | eBay

I can run it in camp or with the 5500 watt generator that I have.

I plan on a 4x4x18 or one of these.

https://www.google.com/#q=EZ+Jack+

A set of these, I understand some states require them..

Motorist Safety Kit and Highway Warning Triangles by CORTINA - Flags, Flares, Paddles, and Triangles by Zoro Tools Industrial Supplies

[doodler]

I have a 20 ton bottle jack, 4 way lug wrench, chocks and a traileraid plus. www.traileraid.com

[GlenZ]

A traileraid plus is a must!

[SKnight]

My jack for my truck is a screw style bottle so I've used it in the past but I'm seriously looking at the traileraid or the Andersen variant. I'm also considering a 20 ton bottle jack.

I carry the correct sockets, ratchets and torque wrench for just an occasion.

[Brother Les]

Originally Posted by Eddy G

With my 6600 lb travel travel, what do I need to be perpared for flat tire, as in who to call, or what kind of jack and or equipment needed, I have tandem axels. Thanks for any advice I can receive.

Understand that at some point you will have a flat.....

Always check your tires for correct air pressure,wear, bulging, cracks or dry rotting.

Have a good spare and check the air pressure before leaving on a trip. (I now have two spares, as I will not drive with out one anymore. The last several years, when one of tires have blown and I only had one spare, I would find the nearest Wally world to get the spare fixed and that takes an hour or so of more time that I can be on the road. My old camper, if one tire went flat, the good tire would pivot up and literally rub the inside fender well. Hence... two spares instead of one.)

Make sure that YOU have the correct socket and ratchet to take the tire off. My wheels need a narrow walled socket... a standard 4-way will not work if you need a narrow walled lug nut remover. Do not assume that AAA or what ever road service that you may use will have the correct lug wrench/socket.

With duel axles you can build a wooden pyramid of 2x6s to use with the good tire to get the flat axle high enough off of the ground to change the tire (safety first and always) A lift ramp can be bought at Camping World etc, but I use the boards as leveling boards at the campground. Loosen the flat tires lugs when it is still on the ground, if it is up in the air, the tire will spin and you will not get it off.

When the unit is up in the air put on your brakes and keep everyone out of traffic and away from the camper. Do not ever put anything under the raised axle...no hands, feet, blocks or jacks under the raised axle ever. Any forced movement of that axle could shift forward, backward or sideways and cause the good wheel to come off of the pyramid ramp. If you need to get the flat axle higher slowly drive off (forward or backward, which ever is safer) and add another board to the pyramid. The height boards should be made and laid out and practiced before you ever go on a trip.

Put lugs on as tight as you can when up in the air and slowly drive off and re tighten. If you have a torque wench that will work use it (I think it is 110in pounds, but you should double check to make sure) After you have driven for about 25 miles recheck and re torque for any loose lugs.

There are different ways for different people to change their tires and this is the way I do it. I do have AAA, but will not 'call' them unless I am really having problems that I can not handle

[Weezer]

Originally Posted by GlenZ

A traileraid plus is a must!

YEP, we have a trailer aid, and tools, including a torque wrench...trailer aid "lives" in the pass through storage and tools never leave the truck except when in use.

Pictures:
trailer aid - Yahoo Image Search Results

[Brother Les]

Originally Posted by Weezer

YEP, we have a trailer aid, and tools, including a torque wrench...trailer aid "lives" in the pass through storage and tools never leave the truck except when in use.

Pictures:
trailer aid - Yahoo Image Search Results

It also has a duel use as a camper fire chair for short people. and an aid to quickly drain your black and gray water tanks

Sorry... got carried away.

[Platokidd]

I too have to address this issue of jacking for tire removal. The trailer aid looks good n all. But with my wider axle setup on my lacrosse Im skeptical if that will work for me.
Also on the passenger side of my frame there is a gas line that runs right in the way for position of the jack. This leaves me with jacking that side by the axle and Im not real fond of lifting that much weight there. Let alone what kind of axle jack for that would be beefy enough.

[Brother Les]

If you use a jack, never put the jack to lift the unit directly on the axle. You could bend it or get it out of alignment. Put it on the leaf spring bolts/plate.

[Ford Idaho]

It s suggested by some that you jack up the rig under the axle so as to not tweak the frame.

[Platokidd]

Originally Posted by Brother Les

If you use a jack, never put the jack to lift the unit directly on the axle. You could bend it or get it out of alignment. Put it on the leaf spring bolts/plate.

My axle sits below the leaf springs.

[Platokidd]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

It s suggested by some that you jack up the rig under the axle so as to not tweak the frame.

I have a gas line in the way that runs the length of the frame on that one side.

[youroo]

It makes a BIG difference what TYPE of Suspension your unit has to tell how to (Jack it up)! He didn't supply any Info on unit or type of Suspension? Youroo!!

[SKnight]

Yes, always place the jack under the perch for the spring, if the perch is on top of the axle then place the jack on the U bolt clamping the axle to the spring.

If you jack on the tube even a few inches away from the spring then your could bow the tube or even collapse it.

Jacking on the frame could put serious warping pressure on the frame, you'll need serious reach to not only reach the frame but to then pick it up high enough to unload the suspension and get the tire off the ground.

Jacking on the axle only needs a few inches of stroke by comparison. And only go high enough to gain about an inch of tire lift. No need to go any higher and stress things.

[youroo]

Where did He post that he had (Springs)? Youroo!!

[donanddona]

got one of the trailer aids when I first loaded out the 5r. It did not have the center lift block and of course I found out the hard way. It did not lift it high enough when I needed it the most. Boohoo, now I carry the 20lb bottle jack and use it to grease them axels, and when the RV settles during the longer campouts it's used to add a block under that low side.

[Platokidd]

Originally Posted by youroo

It makes a BIG difference what TYPE of Suspension your unit has to tell how to (Jack it up)! He didn't supply any Info on unit or type of Suspension? Youroo!!

In my signature I have my unit. I have your basic dual leaf spring set up.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by Eddy G

With my 6600 lb travel travel, what do I need to be perpared for flat tire, as in who to call, or what kind of jack and or equipment needed, I have tandem axels. Thanks for any advice I can receive.

This is what I am talking about (EddyG the OP) (NO valid INFO)! Youroo!!

[SKnight]

Originally Posted by youroo

Where did He post that he had (Springs)? Youroo!!

Well something's holding it up and I haven't seen too many with torsion suspension.