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Old 10-28-2018, 08:23 PM   #1
Diverdan
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Flat Tire - How to Jack?

Can anyone please tell this newbie where i am to place the jack when i have a flat. Under the axle closest to the flat or under the frame closest to the flat. Thanks for the help.
 
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Old 10-29-2018, 06:27 AM   #2
powerhaulic
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Originally Posted by Diverdan View Post
Can anyone please tell this newbie where i am to place the jack when i have a flat. Under the axle closest to the flat or under the frame closest to the flat. Thanks for the help.
Use the leveling jacks, after breaking loose the lug nuts
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Old 10-29-2018, 09:48 AM   #3
Woodworker
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You can use the leveling jacks. On the display, press manual, then press the right or left side to raise the wheels off the ground.
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Old 10-29-2018, 10:15 AM   #4
Mikendebbie
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Steve said - You can use the leveling jacks. On the display, press manual, then press the right or left side to raise the wheels off the ground.

I have not played with the leveling system yet - but in manual mode, if you press "left", do both rear left jacks operate together?
Is there a way to operate rear jacks on an individual basis if needed?
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Old 10-29-2018, 11:35 AM   #5
scottz
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On my unit, the rear jacks (a set in front of the axles, the other behind the axles) operate together; you can choose left, right or both. You cannot operate just one of them. They work fine for lifting a tire.

If I use a floor jack, I prefer to set it under the frame. I worry that jacking it up by the axle will mess up the alignment.

Also, the front two jacks can be operated independent of the rear jacks.
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Old 10-29-2018, 12:04 PM   #6
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Gentlemen-- Diverdan has a 2007 unit so I don't think he has the level-up system on his unit. If he does, then he can use the level-up system to raise the unit to remove and replace the flat tire BUT Lippert/LCI does not recommend the use of the level-up system to do this purpose.

If you do not have the level-up system, you need to place the jack on the U-bolt bracket around the axle just adjacent to the flat tire. DO NOT JACK ON THE AXLE ITSELF! This will bend the axle, it's a hollow tube and not a solid bar. You can also jack by putting the jack on the frame itself BUT you will need quite a few blocks under the jack because you have to raise springs and all when jacking on the frame. scottz has it correct about bending the axle and throwing it out of alignment if you jack on the axle itself. Most of us do not carry a floor jack with us but that is an excellent move by jacking on the frame with it to change a tire. A lot of the roadside assistance folks carry a floor jack on their rigs to do just that.


If you got a manual with your unit check to see if there are any instructions on jacking the unit but I don't think there is. You can also go into the archive here on the Forum and I know there have been previous posts about jacking a unit up when a flat occurs.
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Old 10-29-2018, 12:10 PM   #7
1retired06
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Another option I used was a 20ton bottle jack directly between the two ubolts holding the spring assembly to the axle, before these great 6 point levelers came on the scene. Keystone recommendation
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Old 10-29-2018, 12:54 PM   #8
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We have this:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000I4JPZE/..._JB11BbW466WTK

Trailer aid is like a ramp you drive onto. Haven’t used it yet as we have not had a flat since we bought it.
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Old 10-29-2018, 01:08 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Loneoak View Post
We have this:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000I4JPZE/..._JB11BbW466WTK

Trailer aid is like a ramp you drive onto. Haven’t used it yet as we have not had a flat since we bought it.
Will this overload the tire on the Trailer Aid? If it does, it probably won't do any damage for no longer than it would take to replace the flat. I had one too in our previous TT, but thankfully never had to use it. Just wondering.
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Old 10-29-2018, 04:54 PM   #10
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You are usually overloading the other tire while you are driving with other tire blown, before you find out about it. I don’t see it as a problem then. Just my personal opinion, and I am not a tire expert.
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Old 10-29-2018, 06:26 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Loneoak View Post
You are usually overloading the other tire while you are driving with other tire blown, before you find out about it. I don’t see it as a problem then. Just my personal opinion, and I am not a tire expert.
Yep, if all of one side's weight will damage the tire, it's already happened by the time you pull it up on the Trailer aid. As I said, I did have one, but never used it.
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Old 10-30-2018, 05:33 AM   #12
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With no leveling system, jack under the spring at the u-bolts or the plate, depending on whether your 5er has the axle above or below the spring. This is the point where the trailer weight is carried. I carry an inexpensive Harbor Freight 12 ton short version jack but a 6 ton will do the job. I made op a block that distributed the weight on the u-bolts/spring a bit better on the underslung axle



NEVER jack on the axle anywhere else but at the spring
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Old 10-30-2018, 09:41 AM   #13
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If you have a flat. the same amount of weight is on the tire if it is on the ground or on the trailer aide.
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Old 10-30-2018, 02:49 PM   #14
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We have a Trailer Aid and are glad we did. It did not get the flat totally free of the ground, but it did help tremendously. The last little bit of lift needed was easily done with a bottle jack and 3 or 4 pumps of the handle.
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Old 11-04-2018, 01:41 PM   #15
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Watch those Roadside Assistance guys

I had a flat a few weeks ago. 2500 miles on the OEM junk Rainer tires. Anyway, called Good Sams and the tech came out. Jacked my rig from the axle. I didn't want to tell the guy how to do his job but I wish I had. As far as I can tell no damage done.
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Old 11-04-2018, 01:46 PM   #16
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As someone else mentioned, Lippert does not recommend using the Level-Up system to raise tires off the ground. I had a jacking saddle made that goes under the axle without contacting the axle tube. The ears at the top of the saddle come in contact with the bottom leaf spring on either side of the axle. Then I use a bottle jack to raise the tire. Works perfectly. I had one of those Trailer Aid gadgets and returned it due to unsatisfactory results.
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Old 11-04-2018, 02:32 PM   #17
Graham
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Axle Cradle

I was at a Montana rally and someone was making these axle cradles for bottle jacks. They work well. The one I have is similar to the picture but has a steel ring welded to the bottom that fits the top of bottle jack.
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Old 11-04-2018, 02:39 PM   #18
LarryO
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LarryO.

When I first got my 2014 Montana home I tried lifting a tire by rolling one up on blocks to see if the Easy Lift would work like it did on my 2003 Monty. Turns out the Mor-Ryde suspension is so flexible it left the one tire firmly planted on the ground. So the Easy Lift was of no use. Later I was in a camp site that was so out of level the left tires were completely off the ground when the self leveling was complete. It stayed that way for a week without moving. I know Lippert says don't use the jacks for changing tires. I suspect that suggestion has more to do with lawyers than engineers.
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Old 11-04-2018, 02:45 PM   #19
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I called the dealership just the other day in this. They told me that they jack on the axle right inside the wheel hub, as close to the hub as possible.
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Old 11-04-2018, 02:47 PM   #20
MAwolcott
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I had a buddy who is a machinist make me something similar the other day. Fits perfectly under the axle with an attached piece that goes on the bottle jack.
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