safe way to change tire

[johnpjpa]

I screwed up again trying to reduce my pictures
they are reposted bellow


I replaced my tires yesterday and discovered that there was no safe way to lift the wheels on the Montana ,
i made a adapter for a bottle jack that will take the weight of the lifted wheel on the 2 u bolts with no possibility of sliding from the axle or the jack , it works great .
if some moc members are interested ,i could make some if you provide me with the diameter of the top round piece of your bottle jack , some bottle jacks are different depending on the tonnage

[jackel1959]

John,
I would be interested in one. I will measure the diameter of the top piece on the jack tomorrow and get that info to you. I will gladly pay your cost of materials and shipping.

r,
Jack

[sreigle]

John, I really like your idea. Soon as I can I'll dig out my bottle jack and measure the top piece. Would you click the email icon above this post and let me know the approximate cost of your time and materials plus shipping, if you know that? I'll send it to you in advance. Thanks.

And I'll get you my email address by return email. I don't like to post it here. Too many bots roaming around fishing for email addresses.

[Ozz]

Great idea, I made one also, mine lifts the tube around the U-Bolts, but good concept.

[LonnieB]

They are both great ideas and should function equally well. The jack mfgrs should supply them with the jacks, but that'll probably never happen.

[johnpjpa]

looks LIKE YOU TOOK A LITTLE MORE TIME IN THE DESIGN THEN I DID OZZ ,GREAT JOB
i JUST DON,T UNDERSTAND THAT keystone DOES NOT PROVIDE A SAFE WAY TO CHANGE A TIRE
FOR THE CUSTOMER ,

[oldelmer1]

Hi John,

Thanks for doing this, I have a Harbor Freight 12 ton bottle jack, the diameter of the ram is 1 & 5/8th of an inch. Please let me know what you want for 1 and the shipping costs.

[lestx]

I have always raise my 3400RL may the I-Beam, Never by the axle.
The Dexter info states this. Have I been doing it the hard way ?

[johnpjpa]

reposted pictures



[IMG]http://i53.tinypic.com/2pobmfm.jpg[

[Ozz]

John,
This is the way that Keystone wants us to do it. I agree with you that it is not safe....look and see how I did it once.

[johnpjpa]

OZZ: i just hope it was not windy the day you did this. or that the W did not start aerobic dancing in frt of the television
with my luck that setup would have failed

[Lambchop]

I have been jacking mine up by putting the jack between the u bolts on the axle. I can't see where it would cause any damage to the axle tube this way.
Never had a problem & doesn't dent or distort the axle tube at this area.
Of course whenever possible, I have the trailer hooked up to the TV or have the opposite tires chocked securely.

Roy

[washley1]

I have an even safer way to change a tire. With my insurance policy I have this thing called road side assistance...

[Ozz]

Good call on hiring someone to do it.
The problem as I see it, is that the entire weight of that side of the trailer, is on a hollow axle with a 1-1/2" jack end.
That's why I placed my jack-end on the bolt, did it once, never again.
I have a sheet-metal punch that works on the same principle. John, you have the right idea. TrailerTrash made a great set-up also.

[johnpjpa]

I would certainly hope that most of RVers have some kind of road service Washley1
i think it would be foolish not to .
If, or more likely when i have a flat on the road ,i will probably call my GS road service also and i will hand my adapter to
the tech who will do the job .I have no intention of crawling under the fifth wheel on some highway .
But at some point i will adjust my brakes , repack the bearings, ,replace tires like i did a couple days ago, "after 45 years in the car business old habits are hard to break"

[Ozz]

John, I keep a 'cheater bar' in the Monte, sometime the lug nuts are so tight, my electric impact drill won't budge them, the breaker bar won't either, without the short chunk of 2" electrical conduit I carry. Sometimes a guy can't get someone in a timely manner or, like myself, I prefer to do it. If it's a dangerous situation, I may call someone. You are a hands-on guy, you know what I'm talking about.

[Champ_49]

I actually lift the trailer on the frame with a 20 ton bottle jack taking the majority of the weight off the axle, then use another bottle jack on the u-bolt and lift the axle far enough to get the wheel off the ground. Its safe that way but it takes a little time this way.

I like the ideas guys. Would be interested in doing this also.

Dave

[johnpjpa]

exactly OZZ !! I would also rather do it myself if the conditions are safe also weather condition permitting, and not have to wait 1.5 hours or more for someone to show up .
to remove I use a 2 ft breaker bar and socket to loosen the wheels then use my electric impact th rest of the way
electric impact at lower speed to reinstall and torque wrench to finish the job .
i will look around at my son ,s shop for a cheater bar also , good idea to have one on hand .

[Lambchop]

quote:Originally posted by Ozz

Good call on hiring someone to do it.
The problem as I see it, is that the entire weight of that side of the trailer, is on a hollow axle with a 1-1/2" jack end.
That's why I placed my jack-end on the bolt, did it once, never again.
I have a sheet-metal punch that works on the same principle. John, you have the right idea. TrailerTrash made a great set-up also.

OZZ,
When you lift one wheel, your Not lifting the whole side of the trailer to change a tire or pack one set of bearings. In fact, I have lifted one wheel with a 1 1/2 Ton jack with no problem. It's a physics system working here? Not sure if I'm using the right words here? A lot(most) of the weight is on the tire & axle that is still on the ground.

Anyway I hope everyone understands me.

Roy

[Ozz]

True Dat...
I was getting rid of those pesky Mission tires, one at a time. I was able to change the one tire lifting the one axle.