I found a set of GY, now how to get the trailer jacked up

[Slow Moon]

Originally Posted by tomkatb

Any jack will do. I prefer bottle jacks.

Your cribbing is an issue. Be careful. This deal here kills a lot of folks. Get nice wood. Professionals use jack stands.

We crib our levelers with pre cut 2” x 8”x8”. Carefully stacked.

Minimize the travel of the jacks piston.

Cinder blocks are strong enough with the holes looking up. The other way they have minimal strength. Break rather easy.

The orientation of concrete blocks cannot be over-emphasized. I see them used sideways way too often. They crush quite easily if the holes are horizontal. For heavy loads, I only use them with wood blocks on top to spread the load. Otherwise, steel hard points can concentrate too much load in one area and crack the concrete, a potential catastrophe.

[Projectman]

Originally Posted by Mike134

Concrete blocks is what I used. I don't think cinder blocks are even made any more. I lifted with a bottle jack right behind the spring mounts you might want to use 2 jacks one front one back of the mounts since you have a 5er.

Cinder blocks are used almost exclusively in Florida. They are made here by the millions!

[Mountaineer1954]

A "buffoon" ! Seriously !!

[DuluthCamper]

Since you have dual axles, simply use one, or two, or these. Pull or back a tire on each side up onto the ramp. The other tires will be left high & ready to swap out. I have one--LOVE it! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[mikeyk101]

On the Trailer-Aid, I have read that the regular Trailer-Aid might not lift the wheel high enough on dual axle trailers and the Trailer-Aid Plus is the better choice as it raises the axle just a little higher. For the Plus model, here is the best price I have found and have one from here. I have to admit that I haven't had to use it yet on my camper but before retiring, I had used one several times on the horse trailers at work. It was a breeze to use.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/camco...lift--18408088

[SNHIPP]

This is what we use:

https://www.campingworld.com/trailer...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

[SRP09]

So stupid question: It's not hard on the axle whose wheels remain on the ground if 2 of the ramps are used, one on each side of the trailer, to take 2 wheels to the shop for new tires? I realize that the tongue jack is supporting some of the weight, and it's only for a few hours while the tires are getting changed, but I still wonder if it's not hard on the other axle and suspension to bear that much weight.

[Bogieboy]

So, an update to the thread, the job was acomplished yesterday. I used 2 jackstands and a bottle jack, along with a few blocks of wood and a sheet of 3/4" plywood for jackstand stability on the uneven gravel pad.

I jacked just in front of the tires on the reinforced part of the frame where the forward spring mounts, got wheels off the ground about 1/2", placed stands under both axles, removed wheels on one side, lowered trailer back down to level (so the fridge would run ok) setting on the jackstands. Lather rinse repeat for other side...

[Slow Moon]

Originally Posted by SRP09

So stupid question: It's not hard on the axle whose wheels remain on the ground if 2 of the ramps are used, one on each side of the trailer, to take 2 wheels to the shop for new tires? I realize that the tongue jack is supporting some of the weight, and it's only for a few hours while the tires are getting changed, but I still wonder if it's not hard on the other axle and suspension to bear that much weight.

Axle (or tire) stress induced by gentle movement up and down the ramp and sitting on the ramp for a few hours are virtually nothing compared to the dynamic loads of traveling at speed on highways and normal bumps, dips, potholes, curves, etc. encountered in routine travel. Think of your trailer bouncing and swaying on a normal highway or dirt road, and your bearings and tires heating from the speed induced friction and flexing. Typical travel dynamic loads far exceed anything involved in sitting on a ramp for a few hours, so the latter is nothing to worry about.

[krazyk]

Its possible to bend a torsion axle like that. The axle shaft is a very small diamater and not comparable to a standard leaf designed axle.

[Slow Moon]

Originally Posted by krazyk

Its possible to bend a torsion axle like that. The axle shaft is a very small diamater and not comparable to a standard leaf designed axle.

MAYBE, but think about two things:

1--IF quote is correct, then "Its possible to bend a torsion axle" every time you hit a bump or dip or drive on a dirt road, because the induced force will often be more than double the induced force of rolling up a ramp at <1mph.

2--IF quote is correct, then torsion axle marketing data should tell us not to use ramps to change tires.

Has anyone seen a torsion axle manufacture's recommendation regarding ramps?

[SRP09]

Originally Posted by Slow Moon

Axle (or tire) stress induced by gentle movement up and down the ramp and sitting on the ramp for a few hours are virtually nothing compared to the dynamic loads of traveling at speed on highways and normal bumps, dips, potholes, curves, etc. encountered in routine travel. Think of your trailer bouncing and swaying on a normal highway or dirt road, and your bearings and tires heating from the speed induced friction and flexing. Typical travel dynamic loads far exceed anything involved in sitting on a ramp for a few hours, so the latter is nothing to worry about.

Good points. Thank you.

[krazyk]

If your axle is so weak that it cant handle a tire change, its time to upgrade. There are cases of torsion axles bending when one set is off the ground and the other is supporting all the weight.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by krazyk

If your axle is so weak that it cant handle a tire change, its time to upgrade. There are cases of torsion axles bending when one set is off the ground and the other is supporting all the weight.

I'd like to see some empirical evidence of this.

[krazyk]

Its easy to understand if you look at how torsion axles are designed. They were not meant to be in double or triple axle trailers. Watch the design videos as the axles traverse various terrain, potholes, etc. There are times when ALL the weight is on a single small diameter axle.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by krazyk

Its easy to understand if you look at how torsion axles are designed. They were not meant to be in double or triple axle trailers. Watch the design videos as the axles traverse various terrain, potholes, etc. There are times when ALL the weight is on a single small diameter axle.

Obviously, you've had some sort of an issue with a torsion axle because you've been shouting from the roof tops here the last month or so that torsion axles are not fit for use on trailers.

Many of us understand how torsion axles are designed, manufactured and operate. There are thousands and possibly tens of thousands of torsion axles under R/Vs that are performing perfectly fine.

The spindles and bearings on my current two trailers with torsion axles are bigger than many of the other spring axle trailers I've owned.

Now in a separate thread you are stating Maxxis tires are as bad as Chinese Castle Rocks when Maxxis have proven themselves over and over.

Please back up your claims of weak spindles, bent axles and underperforming tires with some actual evidence or quit fear mongering.

[Bogieboy]

Mods, can we close this thread, as it has entirely deviated away from the intent??? My trailer is not torsion axle, nor does that have anything to do with safe ways to support your trailer...

[krazyk]

For some reason most were under the impression you had torsion axles. Glad you got it sorted out.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Bogieboy

Mods, can we close this thread, as it has entirely deviated away from the intent??? My trailer is not torsion axle, nor does that have anything to do with safe ways to support your trailer...

OK, can do.