Adventurism

How to Jack Up a Travel Trailer to Change a Tire

Having a flat tire on your travel trailer is a very frustrating and annoying situation. However, the most frustrating situation is when you realize you have a puncture and do not know how to change a tire on your travel trailer. Though they are usually towed along during long road trips for vacations, they are an easy target to pick up loose screws, nails, thorns, and other scraps along the way.

If you own a travel trailer, make sure you familiarize yourself with the necessary process to change tires. This article has explored and discussed in depth the process. The equipment you need to change flat tires on both single and dual shaft are discussed too.

Jacking up a travel trailer to change a tire needs a bottle jack, a sloping surface if you are using a dual shaft, or any other automotive jack. Start by clogging the wheel on the other side. Slide the jack under the frame close to the tire you are changing, then jack it up. This allows you to remove the tire you are replacing.

It does not matter if you have a new travel trailer and you are familiar with the process of conducting routine maintenance on it, or you want to brush up on your maintenance skills to keep yourself prepared for anything. Keep on reading this article.

Types of Frequently Used Jacks

A jack is a major instrument used to jack up a travel trailer. Before you start learning how to put a travel trailer on jack stands, we are going to discuss some of the jacks that are frequently used.

When picking up a jack, consider the features like its loading capacity, weight, lifting range, and portability according to your vehicle. The most popular jacks are the scissor jacks, bottle jacks, and floor jacks.

Bottle jack, unlike the name, is much like a gas cylinder. Its average height is one foot and weighs about 18 pounds. Its lifting capacity is 40000 pounds. Bottle jacks’ lifting is different, ranging from nine inches to 18 inches. They are designed with either pneumatic or hydraulic techniques.

The scissor jacks have an average weight of 6.3 pounds which is about 3 Kgs. Its lifting weight capacity is 3300 pounds. The scissor jack is user-friendly and can be carried around easily because of its weight. You cannot rely on it for heavy weight lifting. You can only use scissor jacks to lift vehicles that are lightweight like cars.

Floor jacks are best used to repair vehicles while at home. They have a fast and heavy weight lifting capacity to feature dual hydraulic pumps. However, it is hard to carry it along with you when you travel.

Based on the specifications of the three different jacks, a bottle jack will be the better option because of its weight lifting capacity and size.

How to Jack up a Travel Trailer with a Bottle Jack

You will need other tools if you would like to jack up your travel trailer safely. The tools will help you to stabilize the jack so that you can rely on them. Some of the equipment includes:

  • Wheel chocks will be used in securing the trailer. You have to wheel the chocks.
  • Jack stand. Many people use stacked wood blocks under the jack as a jack stand. This is to secure it. The wood stack might not be that stable, so it might not be safe. There is a chance that it might slip down any time to cause an accident. Rather than using the woodblocks, the best option will be buying a jack stand. This will set the jack firmly on the ground even when the terrain is not suitable.
  • Extensions. The distance between the travel trailer and the ground is usually 16-25 inches. Even after extending the bottle jack completely, you do not obtain the right height. Here, the extensions become necessary. Always ensure you keep different sizes of extensions in the travel trailer’s toolbox.
  • Universal Round Jack Pad. A universal round jack pad is used to hold the frame or shaft beneath the trailer. You have to put the pad on top of the jack. Casting the round jack pads is fixed, so you should choose the size relative to the frame of your trailer.
  • Flat Jack Pad. A Flat Jack Pad is a requirement since you may need to hover the suspension.

Step by Step Instructions on How to Jack up a Travel Trailer

  1. Secure the travel trailer

Place your travel trailer on relatively flat ground. Ensure you have activated the parking brake of the tow vehicle. Put the wheel chocks beneath the wheels, then level the travel trailer as the tow vehicle. Lower down the in-built jack from the tipoff the hitch to unhook the travel trailer from the tow vehicle.

There are four inbuilt stabilizer jacks in all the corners of the travel trailer. You can use the stabilizer jacks according to your needs.

  1. Prepare the jack

Put the jack on the jack stand. Plug the extensions to fix the height of the jack. You will then place the flat jack pad or the Universal round jack pad at the top of the jack.

  1. The third step is how to jack up a travel trailer to change a tire

Put the jack close to the tire you are changing below the axle. You will then use the universal round jack pad at the top of the jack to grasp the frame of the trailer. Make sure the jack is attached to the frame because it is its strong point.

© For-sale.co.uk

You might cause damage to the trailer if you locate the jack with the suspension. Raise the trailer up till the tire is off the ground.

  1. The fourth step is how to jack up a travel trailer to lift it from the ground completely

Position the jack near the inbuilt jack of the travel trailer, then raise it up. Next, lower down the inbuilt jack to the ground and take away the jack. You can repeat the process for the other corners one at a time.

Once you have fixed the travel trailer, put back every jack from their place and repeat the same procedure.

There are several questions that people frequently ask.

  1. How to jack up a single axle travel trailer

Single axle travel trailers are connected with the two wheels by one axle by using either a spring or attaching to the trailer bed directly. This brand of a travel trailer is lighter, making it easier to jack up. Ensure you follow the steps correctly to jack it up.

  1. Can I jack up a fifth-wheel trailer by following the instructions above?

Yes, you can jack up a fifth-wheel trailer using the same instruction, although you have to be careful because a fifth-wheeler is a heavy vehicle.

  1. How much does a bottle jack cost?

The price of a bottle jack varies depending on the brand and capacity. 2 tons of a bottle jack starts from $6. The price of 20 tons of bottle jacks starts from $64.

  1. How to jack up a boat trailer

By following the guidelines above, you can jack up your boat trailer. Ensure you choose the bottle jack

  1. What if I don’t have extension tools for the jack

It is always good to use an extension. Nonetheless, if you have a lightweight trailer, you can use wood blocks to modify the height variation of the jack.

What you need to Jack up a Travel Trailer

There are numerous components that are necessary for changing a tire on a travel trailer that seems obvious. In many ways, they are obvious, but you have to make sure every travel trailer owner is on the same page as far as fitting is concerned. When changing a flat tire on your travel trailer, you need the following equipment:

  • A space tire and wheel hub assembly.
  • A lug wrench or tire iron.
  • A trailer ramp or a jack stand.
  • Wheel chocks.

The trailer ramp and wheel chocks can be interchanged depending on the type of travel trailer you are trying to change the flat tire on. If you want to change a tire on a single shaft travel trailer, use the standard jack and stand.

If you have a dual shaft or tandem travel trailer, you may have to buy a trailer slope or a trailer backup to help you when replacing the tire. The trailer incline or backup makes the tire changing process on the dual-shaft travel trailer simple and safer.

Make sure you test the spare tire at home before you find yourself stranded on the roadside. Make sure you pack all the required tools in your toolbox to keep you from being stuck on the road.

Replacing a Flat Tire on a Single Axle Travel Trailer

When you are changing a flat tire, the first thing you should do on the single axle trailer is to move the travel trailer to a safe area. Especially when you get a puncture on the road. Travel trailers are usually larger than cars or trucks. This makes it require more space to safely change a flat tire.

The space you choose to park your travel trailer on while replacing the tire should be flat. Park it on large shoulders on the roadside or empty parking lots. In these places, you will work well. You will then like to pull your travel trailer’s jack, a jack stand, tire iron, wheel blocks, wheel assembly, and a spare tire.

When all these materials are placed before you, take the wheel blocks, place them behind each wheel on the vehicle you are towing with and the travel trailer, with the exception of the flat tire. Make sure you have parked your towing vehicle and engaged the parking brake at this point.

Once you have secured your vehicle using the wheel chocks, lift it to loosen but do not remove the lug nuts on the wheel with a flat tire. Next, when you have loosened all the lug wrench, then put your vehicle jack under the travel trailer frame.

The best place to put your jack relative to your travel trailer needs to be listed in its operation manual. When you place the jack in the wrong place, you could damage the trailer and even harm yourself. Do not jack up your travel trailer’s shaft/axle to prevent causing permanent damage.

Ensure you watch your brake lines so that you won’t place the jack under to crunch to gnaw the working parts of your unit. After you put the jack in a proper position, raise your travel trailer until the flat tire wheel is no longer on the ground.

When the flat tire is not on the ground, you have to remove it fully and then replace it with the spare tire. Align the spare tire against the wheel studs. Place the lug nuts onto the tire, then tighten it with your lug nut wrench.

Do not tighten the lug nuts on the spare tire fully yet. The next process is to lower the travel trailer using the vehicle jack. When your travel trailer is on the ground, tighten the spare tire. It will help you greatly if you have a torque wrench to adjust the tightened bolts to factory specifications.

All you need at this point is to remove the wheel blocks that are around your vehicle then you are good to get going.

The Procedure to Change a Flat Tire on a Single Axle Travel Trailer

  1. Ensure the trailer is in a safer location.
  2. Collect the spare tire and everything else you need.
  3. Put the wheel blocks on other tires apart from the flat tire.
  4. Lessen the lug nuts on the flat tire.
  5. Place the jack under the travel trailer and lift it.
  6. Substitute the flat tire with the spare tire.
  7. Drop the travel trailer using jack
  8. Tighten and torque lug nuts on the spare tire.

How to Replace a Flat Tire on a Tandem Axle Travel Trailer

© Reel Hazardous

The process of changing a tire on a double axel travel trailer is similar to the one of changing a flat tire on a single axle trailer. Instead of using a jack and jack stand, you will need to use a trailer ramp or aid.

While you are using a trailer, a trailer ramp, or aid to change a flat tire on the back of the trailer, you are supposed to put the ramp in front of the good tire on the other side at the back of the trailer. If your flat tire is on the front of the trailer, you will place the trailer aid in the back of your good tire.

When the trailer is placed in the right position, you will have to loosen the lug nuts (do not remove them). You will then pull or back the travel trailer onto the ramp to lift the flat tire from the ground.

After the tire is raised from the ground, place wheel blocks under each tire that is on the ground. You can then begin removing the flat tire by taking the tire’s lug nuts out. Loosen the lug nuts and then remove and replace the tire with the spare tire.

When you have mounted the spare tire on your travel trailer, tighten the lug nuts using your hand. Once the lug nuts are tightened enough, remove the wheel blocks that are under the tires, then pull the travel trailer from the trailer aid. Finish tightening the spare tire to the manufacturer’s torque specifications using a torque wrench. This process is usually similar to leaf springs and a torsion axle.

Steps to Follow When Changing a Flat Tire on a Double Axle Travel Trailer

  1. Pull the travel trailer to a safe location, then loosen the lug nuts.
  2. Set the trailer aid, then pull or back the trailer on a ramp.
  3. Put the wheel blocks under the tires.
  4. Take off the lug nuts from the flat tire.
  5. Exchange the flat tire with the spare tire.
  6. Tighten the lug nuts on the spare tire using your hand.
  7. Remove the wheel blocks and move the trailer from the ramp.
  8. Make sure the lug nuts are tight enough on the spare tire.

Conclusion    

Make sure you are safe when changing the travel trailer’s tire. When working with a dual or tandem axle trailer, make sure you take all the cautious and use a trailer aid.

Once the tires are not revolving and are tightened enough, the static load of a raised travel trailer will not be something to worry about. Ramps will help you save the storage area and lower the weight of the travel trailer. They are designed to reduce the damage done to the other tires when changing a flat one.

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