Changing trailer tire

[SOONERSALT]

Experinced my first flat tire, fortunately close to home. My 1.5 ton jack was hardly enough to lift the trailer, so i ramped it up by driving on some 2x6's along w the jack. Whats a prefeable method to jack up the trailer. Stronger jack? Trailer aid?

[fonzie]

Depending on your type of suspension, there is many choices. I use 12 ton jack as in post #2 in following link.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...taff-1636.html

[OKI Marine]

I use a 12 ton bottle jack. Bought it at Lowes for about $30. Some will argue about the placement of a jack. Nobody really seems to know. I've seen RV service centers jack up on the end of the axle tube close to the wheel. That is where I've placed mine as well to change flats and service the brakes/wheel bearings. Always try to use a jack stand for extra safety. I used the Trailer Aid once and after getting the camper up on it, there was a serious lean. It to me didn't look safe.

[SaskCampers]

I have a 20 ton bottle jack I put between the trailer wheels and then put a 2x2 up on the frame and the jack come up on it. I have a 20 ton because I got it on sale for abt 30 bux.

[kerrlakelover]

Soonersalt, if I'm on the road and have a tire failure I want to get it changed and back on the road as soon as possible (and out of harms way if I'm on the side of the road). So, I don't see an issue with pulling the good tire/axle up on blocks which will, most of the time, lift the failed tire off the ground enough to change it. When I changed mine, I had everything ready (lug nuts loose, replacement tire on the ground next to the failed tire) then pulled up on the blocks. It only took a couple of minutes to get the tire off and good one on. Then I immediatly pulled off the blocks to get the weight off the good tire/axle. If I'm working on it at home, I'll use a bottle jack and blocks depending on how long I'm gonna keep it jacked up and what I'm doing.

[jwedell]

I asked forrest river about the ramps you can buy to drive the good tire up on and change the bad one and they said it was no problem, so I bought one. Hope I never use it.


Started Out With Nothing,
Still Have Most Of It Left!

[Ford Idaho]

Fastest option IMO.

Andersen 3620-S Rapid Jack- Leveler, Tire Jack and Block for your trailer jack

[KyDan]

My ultralite trailer weighs 4050 at the axles.
It has dual 3500 lb axles.
A measly 3" (that's a 2 by and a 1 by- not a full 3") of lift with blocks under the good tire will raise the flat
off the ground enough to get an inflated spare on the lugs.
Don't forget to loosen lug nuts B4 pulling up on the blocks and tighten then
after pulling off the blocks.
I've got a 4 way lug wrench laying in the floor in the back seat area of
my truck.
Getting the factory jack out of my truck is a PIA and putting it all back
in that little package is even more so. I don't wanna ever take it out
but it's there if needed.
As mentioned- heavier trailers might require other means such as HD jacks.

[SOONERSALT]

So what is torsion suspension. Simple terms please. I have two axles on springs but their is a pivot mechanism between the two axles, so when i raise good tire on a ramp, the flat tire doesnt nececssarily go up with it. I still had to jack that up to get the wheel up

[fonzie]

Torsion axle....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzVVqXxbGSA

[WolfWhistle]

I have a 10ton bottle jack for at home... and I have used both the frame and an axle for a lifting point... but just bought the Rapid-Jack like Ford Idaho posted, but mine is slightly different and red. I have seen one used, and the guy didn't have any boards / plywood, so it lifted as it sank into the ground... he got the flat off, but it wasn't high enough to get the good tire back on. But, he did have a bottle jack that he placed under the axle... frankly, I wouldn't want to have to get part way under a trailer this size to get a jack under an axle. Something to think about. I plan on getting a piece 3/4" plywood, 2' x 2' and throw into into the front storage bin. I plan to use it for side-to-side leveling as well. I got the chock with it for this purpose. That way you can get from 3/4" to 7" without carrying the many pounds of lumber.

[Taranwanderer]

I broke down this week and grabbed a Trailer-Aid from the CW store. It's just a nice little, lightweight, plastic ramp to drive the good tire up onto so you can change the flat one. I lost a trailer tire on my car trailer last week (2nd one in 2 years,) and this would have made things so much easier. So I'm thinking that this thing is just going to live in my truck...

[vinmaker]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

Fastest option IMO.

Andersen 3620-S Rapid Jack- Leveler, Tire Jack and Block for your trailer jack

What the heck is that made out of? 17lbs? holy crap!!!!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Taranwanderer

I broke down this week and grabbed a Trailer-Aid from the CW store. It's just a nice little, lightweight, plastic ramp to drive the good tire up onto so you can change the flat one. I lost a trailer tire on my car trailer last week (2nd one in 2 years,) and this would have made things so much easier. So I'm thinking that this thing is just going to live in my truck...

Made mine and it rides on the back bumper of the trailer.

[WolfWhistle]

The Anderson 3620 actually only weighs 7.7lbs... one place it says 6#... I don't know why they say the shipping weight is 17#... probably about 9# shipping. It is one substantial piece of plastic! You can also flip it on its side to be used as a base for your tongue jack. And, its stylish (what dah!)

[jodyand]

I have the trailer aid and it works great. Didnt have to buy it as i found it on the side of the road.

[PSUFan1]

Had to use my trailer aid last week for the first time...fortunately not on my trailer but a friends. It worked great. We were back on the road in less than 30 minutes. Nothing scarier than seeing the trailer in front of you ripping rubber up.


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[WolfWhistle]

Old Coot,
I like it and its biodegradable!
Wolf

[vquad]

I carry a "trailer aid" in my truck when I travel...no brainer.
I also added an extra air line off of my on board air compressor to run an air tool.

[vinmaker]

I like the home made fabrication a lot. At $50, the Tire aid is quite pricy for a simple slope to drive up on.