What tire jack will lift a 16k lb. montana

[ForBruce]

Not counting the plastic type of jack you roll the camper on.

If the trailer is leveled and i am not moving what jack can i use to lift my trailer and change a tire. Don't want to use the leveling system which can cause FRAME TWIST.

also how many tons ?

tried a hydraulic pump jack (not a bottle type) rated 2 1/4 tons which equal 27,000 lift...well that was a joke

any ideas ??

[jimcol]

I use a 12 ton bottle jack right on the spring seats between the U bolts. Do not place it on the axle tube .

[DQDick]

As Jim says a 12 ton bottle jack properly placed will do the job. We bought one when we first went full time, but once we added levleup we have used the hydralic system for the last 9 years with no issues.

[Briarglenn]

Right on. Love the hydraulics

[ForBruce]

That what i was telling you guys all along..while a smaller bottle jack might work..when you are laying down the increase TON capacity makes life easier.

FOOTNOTE---- had to level my trailer at home where the road slanted for water run off....my ELECTRIC leveler started to raise the tires off the ground
( the slant was too much) and then stopped and the ERROR beep went off and the system shut down...had to RE-PARK all six levelers to recalibrate.

So while some of you guys use your lifts to change tires , I think a distinction has to be made weather your are Hydraulic or Electric .

The Hydraulics are more powerful and allow you to completely lift while the electrics may not....

[ForBruce]

Originally Posted by jimcol

I use a 12 ton bottle jack right on the spring seats between the U bolts. Do not place it on the axle tube .

look at the photo..between the u-bolts is still on the axle (yea i spelled axle wrong in the photo--oops)

[BB_TX]

Originally Posted by ForBruce

look at the photo..between the u-bolts is still on the axle (yea i spelled axle wrong in the photo--oops)

But it will not bend the axle. The weight on the jack is sitting directly under the spring where the weight is centered for that side. When someone says “not on the axle” they mean under the axle on the other side of the U bolts which would place the downward spring weight several inches outside the point the jack would be pushing up on the axle. That creates a lever effect that could bend the axle tube. The farther away from the spring, the greater the lever effect.

[jimcol]

Originally Posted by ForBruce

look at the photo..between the u-bolts is still on the axle (yea i spelled axle wrong in the photo--oops)

Guess you missed the part where I said on the spring seat. Guess I should have clarified, before I had spring seats on the bottom of the axles I placed the jack right on the u-bolt. I used a 12 ton because that is what I have. A 3 ton would be very adequate.

[phillyg]

Originally Posted by jimcol

I use a 12 ton bottle jack right on the spring seats between the U bolts. Do not place it on the axle tube .

This/\, but really, level with the 6-pt jacks, then go manual and lower one side, then raise the other. I cannot discern any frame flex as the jacks on each side work together.

[Montana Man]

I would reconsider using the level up. When used properly the trailer is raised evenly. Less stress than lifting one of four wheels.

[laverdur]

Keystone and Lippert both advise against using the level up system to raise wheels off the ground.

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by ForBruce

Not counting the plastic type of jack you roll the camper on.

If the trailer is leveled and i am not moving what jack can i use to lift my trailer and change a tire. Don't want to use the leveling system which can cause FRAME TWIST.

also how many tons ?

tried a hydraulic pump jack (not a bottle type) rated 2 1/4 tons which equal 27,000 lift...well that was a joke

any ideas ??

A hydraulic pump jack (aka floor jack) would appear to be difficult to maneuver into position. It needs to go under the spring pack. But at 2 1/4 tons, it should have worked.

According to my math, 2 1/4 tons is 4.500 lbs. The weight on any wheel is typically around 3,500 lbs. There should be enough capacity for that jack to lift the wheel.

I personally have a 3 ton hydraulic bottle jack which I used to use on my other trailers. Once I got the Level Up system, I never bothered with the bottle jack again.

I use the Level Up to change tires, lube the wet bolts, check brake adjustment, etc. The Level Up is far more secure than a shaky bottle jack and has much greater lifting capacity. Plus it won't let you twist the frame.

[ForBruce]

Originally Posted by Carl n Susan

A hydraulic pump jack (aka floor jack) would appear to be difficult to maneuver into position. It needs to go under the spring pack. But at 2 1/4 tons, it should have worked.

According to my math, 2 1/4 tons is 4.500 lbs. The weight on any wheel is typically around 3,500 lbs. There should be enough capacity for that jack to lift the wheel.

I personally have a 3 ton hydraulic bottle jack which I used to use on my other trailers. Once I got the Level Up system, I never bothered with the bottle jack again.

I use the Level Up to change tires, lube the wet bolts, check brake adjustment, etc. The Level Up is far more secure than a shaky bottle jack and has much greater lifting capacity. Plus it won't let you twist the frame.

in level up you do one jack at at time or is there a "LEVEL UP" command in the leveler electrical panel

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by ForBruce

in level up you do one jack at at time or is there a "LEVEL UP" command in the leveler electrical panel

You have to use the "Manual" control and just lift the left or Right side as required. It lifts all the jacks on that side. It will stop if it thinks you are tilting too much. If that happens, just lift the other side a bit to even things out. Then you can continue to lift the wheels you want off the ground.


Here is a picture with all four wheels off the ground from when I replaced all four GY G614 with Sailuns.

[Mikendebbie]

Carl - please explain the elephant in the room!

[mlh]

A 4 ton bottle jack is all you need. You aren’t lifting the whole trailer just one wheel and 8000 pounds is half. Harbor Freight has them for 20 or 30 dollars.
Lynwood

[Carl n Susan]

That is Montgomery E. LaPhant (aka Monty) a full fledged member of the MOC and the Montana Owners Facebook group. He is the white elephant prize at the Western Region Spring Rally. The lucky winner gets to travel with him for a year showing him the sights and wonders of RV travel. Guess who the lucky winner was at that time.

[mhs4771]

I carry a 12 Ton Bottle jack, but will normally use the Level-Up System to raise both tires on one side. Have done this numerous times, plus the "Original Add for Level-UP' listed the ability to change a tire as one of it's features.

[dieselguy]

It's finally reassuring to see some members realize that a 12K fiver does not have 12K sitting on each wheel. More like 2500 - 2800# if you also realize there is about 2300# sitting on your truck or front jacks. Do the math. I use a 6 ton jack to easily lift a wheel about one inch off the ground to change a tire just because that's what I already had to keep in the fiver. A 2.5 - 3 ton floor jack should easily lift one wheel as well unless you are trying to lift the frame of the fiver instead of the axle which I'd guess was the issue here or ... the jack was used up. Some of us place the jack on the ubolt, and others weld a little piece of angle iron to a piece of pipe that slips on top of the jack. I will admit if you have "level up" it easily accomplished the task at hand and does not twist the frame.

[ForBruce]

IS THE "level up" SYSTEM JUST ANOTHER NAME FOR lipperts "ground control 3" system