Setting Jack Stands to Support Tandem Axle Trailer

four winns 214

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Messages
769
I'm going to remove all four wheels from my tandem axle trailer while it has a 5,000 pound boat on it. I plan to set the two pairs of jack stands at four points around the trailer frame and not on the axles. Is this the best way to do this? Better dumb questions than dumb mistakes.
 

Maclin

Admiral
Joined
May 27, 2007
Messages
6,761
I would place them as close to the front and back spring mounts as possible, just in front of front mounts and just in back of back mounts, and also have one under the front of the tongue just in front of where the outside rails meet the tongue.
 

oldjeep

Admiral
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May 17, 2010
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6,455
Best place is under the axles, but the frame should be OK as long as you don't do something silly like support it from the ends.
 

kjsAZ

Chief Petty Officer
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Jun 15, 2012
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433
But make sure that you use stands with large basis! Otherwise they may just fall over when you accidentally hit the boat. I'd rather use some heavy duty wood piles instead. Never use concrete blocks as they tend to crumble under load.
 

BearlyFunctioning

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Apr 15, 2013
Messages
43
MACLIN was spot on. I did it with my 25 foot express cruiser on my trailer (boat and trailer weight of 7000 lbs.) to do a complete brake overhaul. Hooked a tow vehicle to the trailer for my piece of mind, and used typical 3 ton automotive jack stands in my gravel driveway. It worked just fine.
 

Starcraft5834

Lieutenant Commander
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Jun 2, 2013
Messages
1,677
Use jack stands AND wood blocks.. if for some crazy reason one of the jack stands fail the load goes no where as it's also resting on the blocks.. an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of.......ummmmmmm maybe dead.. as for cinder blocks, (construction type) I would not use those. During this past winter, I jacked up my 20ft cuddy and trailer, prob 3000lbs... took most of the weight off the tires and bought (6) 4x8x16 blocks.. they are solid, they worked perfectly for the 6 MONTHS!!! of winter we had in the north east. They did not crack, crumble or chip under that load for 6 months.. I always use stands and blocks when I work on my breaks, axles etc... the stands are actually a "back up" for the blocks... not the other way around..
 
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Splat

Lieutenant
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
1,366
It's only #5000, most modern day pickups weigh more than that. Be safe about it, but no need to over think it to much.
 

keith2k455

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 23, 2012
Messages
558
Please "don't" hijack this thread.......

WIMUSKY
 
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bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,581
I support my tandem axle trailer for my 24' Wellcraft by putting them on the frame before and after the axles.
 
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