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07-26-2018, 12:21 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Springtown
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #21220
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Jacking Up The Trailer
My Dexter axle manual that came with my Montana says Never lift the trailer under the axle or the suspension system. So how are you supposed to change a flat tire on the road. Seems driving the good tire up a ramp to lift the flat up is no different than using a jack under the axle. Wishone of you could set me straight on what everyone else does.
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07-26-2018, 12:45 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,363
M.O.C. #6433
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Yeah, they say to jack the frame. But I think there are far more of us who use a bottle jack between the U bolts than under the frame.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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07-26-2018, 12:55 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
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Many posts on this issue if you do a search. A good many of us use a jack directly under the axle between the spring U clamps. Some of us like me made a v bracket to go on the end of the bottle jack to cradle the axle tube for better contact. Do not place the jack under the middle of the axle and try to lift it all up at once, you will damage the axle in this case. Some use the ramp you mentioned and 2 or 3 have used the product (EZ Lift) that levers the axle up as you drive forward. I think our trailers are a bit too heavy for the lever type which were more so designed for smaller utility trailers. This is just my thinking and my way of doing this for years and years … there will be more opinions to follow.
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07-26-2018, 01:21 PM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Moultrie
Posts: 250
M.O.C. #20747
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If you have the Level-up system, use it if conditions allow. On my 3402 it will lift all four wheels off the ground.
__________________
Frank and Marilyn
2014 3402RL, Sailun S637/Disc Brakes
2015 F350 CC LWB SRW 6.7L PSD FX4
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07-26-2018, 01:33 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Under the UBolts has worked for me over the years, trailers and boats. I prefer a 20 ton bottle jack over the levelers. To each his own.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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07-26-2018, 02:02 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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We use level-up also.
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07-26-2018, 02:47 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Carson City
Posts: 2,017
M.O.C. #21963
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Using a ramp is fine. Or the level up just like an Indy car.
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07-26-2018, 06:00 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,774
M.O.C. #12947
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I regularly use the level up for routine and emergency jacking. I still carry bottle jacks and a Safejack kit, www.safejacks.com. We lost a tire valve this past April, and ended up on a bad location to install the spare. Got the rig as high as I could, then resorted to the bottle jack to complete the job.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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07-26-2018, 07:19 PM
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#9
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Springtown
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #21220
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Thanks everyone for your replies. Truth is I have been doing the same thing for years. It just struck me the other day that if Dexter and others say not to, what do they really expect someone to do on the raodside. Just disclaimers against potential axle issues. This forum is great. Thanks ya’ll.
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07-27-2018, 10:05 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Full Timer In Naples, Florida
Posts: 1,049
M.O.C. #15731
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I Jack it up under the axle, but you can jack on the frame if you need, BUT you have to be connected to the truck so the frame dosent torque on the landing gear and bend the frame or brake the landing gear.
__________________
2017, 3500 Ram Big Horn, 4x4, Crew Cab, DRW, Aisin Transmission, 4:10. Curt Q20, 2014 Mountaineer 331 RLT, Sailun's on the rv and truck.
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07-31-2018, 07:56 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Auburn
Posts: 879
M.O.C. #18474
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The newer Montanas with either the MorRyde 3000 or 4100 suspensions have a longer suspension travel than previous ones making it nearly impossible to use ramps, blocks or even jack under the frame.
__________________
2020 Montana 3790RD Legacy EditionOnan, TST TPMS, TrailAir pin, Discs,
2013 F350 DRW 4x4 CC LBViair 10007, Ride-Rites, Westin HDx, 12k Smittybilt
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07-31-2018, 08:15 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2018
Location: livingston,tx
Posts: 571
M.O.C. #21685
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Golfmedik
The newer Montanas with either the MorRyde 3000 or 4100 suspensions have a longer suspension travel than previous ones making it nearly impossible to use ramps, blocks or even jack under the frame.
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Rapid Jack from Anderson Hitches, easy peasy.
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07-31-2018, 08:30 AM
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#13
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Arlington
Posts: 19
M.O.C. #21018
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyle and Lisa
Rapid Jack from Anderson Hitches, easy peasy.
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We used this on my parents' trailer last week twice (rough start to the trip) and found that it didn't lift enough to pull the bad tire off the ground. Surprised us! Dad bought a bottle jack for the rest of the trip. Disclaimer: their TT isn't a Montana. But, we have the same Anderson system and will try it as soon as our trailer is out of the shop to be sure it will work when needed. Have others used it successfully on a 2018 Montana High Country?
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07-31-2018, 08:45 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2018
Location: livingston,tx
Posts: 571
M.O.C. #21685
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CanalesPac
We used this on my parents' trailer last week twice (rough start to the trip) and found that it didn't lift enough to pull the bad tire off the ground. Surprised us! Dad bought a bottle jack for the rest of the trip. Disclaimer: their TT isn't a Montana. But, we have the same Anderson system and will try it as soon as our trailer is out of the shop to be sure it will work when needed. Have others used it successfully on a 2018 Montana High Country?
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We have not had to use ours , but yes I need to try it out and also have a bottle jack for backup.
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07-31-2018, 09:01 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 1,567
M.O.C. #20475
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The tire block does not work on the new suspension systems I carry a 20 Ton bottle jack and lift it under the U\Bolts I made a U\Shaped bracket that fits on the bottle jack so it stays on the axle when I left it.
__________________
Bob & Carol Washington St
2017 HC HM352RL 2018 Dodge 3500 laramie CC LB 4x4
Curt Q25 with puck system, Factory air bags
Happy Trails
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08-01-2018, 04:26 PM
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#16
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Omaha
Posts: 258
M.O.C. #17319
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I have had to jack my 2010 Mountaineer 326RLT 14000 lb about 5 times. I jacked under the frame as close to the tire as possible. I carry short lengths of 2 X 6's (and it takes a lot of blocking). The first time I found my bottle jack wouldn't raise high enough so had to drop down on more blocking to reblock jack. I now carry 2 bottle jacks which makes rejacking quicker.
I helped a friend change a tire once while his trailer was not hitched to the truck. I insisted he back his truck under first and he refused. As he started to jack by the right back tire, the pin in the left front landing leg slipped out of hit's hole and it bent that pin 90 degrees in the leg.
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