Proper trailer jacking advice needed

[In Deep]

I took my boat to storage today and upon arriving, found the valve stem partially torn and slowly leaking. My friend whose farm I store it at had jack stands and we placed them under the frame in front of each wheel and blocked the tires.

The trailer is a single axle and the crank down jack is supporting at the tongue.

Can you please tell me step by step the safe, proper procedure, support etc. so I can safely remove the wheel to be fixed. My friend has a floor jack, do you jack the trailer or axle ??

Thanks for your replies.

Doug

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Proper trailer jacking advice needed

Under the axle where it connects w/ the spring.
Mike

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Proper trailer jacking advice needed

if at all possible, attach a vehicle to the trailer first. Trailer chocks on a trailer aren't the most reliable thing ever when you jack it, since the trailer has 3 points of contact, one of which is a swivel.

In general, you can jack on the frame of MOST trailers without issue also. Not like it is that much different, you either have the axle pushing up on the trailer, or your jack in a slightly different spot. About the only thing to stay away from is any suspension hardware. Don't jack from the spring mounts!

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: Proper trailer jacking advice needed

It's generally not recommended to jack under any axle. It's best to locate the jack under a side framing member near/behind the tire being changed. You can lower the tongue for better balance.

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: Proper trailer jacking advice needed

When I took my trailer to the tire shop (with the boat loaded) to get a new tire they jacked the axle. It was a tandem trailer. It was a shop used to working on boat trailers in a coastal community. (I used to have a searay srv220). You should then put jack stands under the trailer frame while fixing the tire.

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: Proper trailer jacking advice needed

Don't tell Dexter axle you lifted your load from the axle. You'll be out of warranty. No matter what the reputation of the tire shop, doesn't mean the mechanic did the right thing.

 

[In Deep]

Re: Proper trailer jacking advice needed

Took me a while but got the wheel off, valve stem changed and wheel back on SAFELY. Jacked from behind the wheel with a floor jack, trailer attached to my truck and jack stands for safety and opposite wheel blocked. The longest part of the process was backing up to the coupler alone.

Thanks for the help.

Doug

 

[drrpm]

Re: Proper trailer jacking advice needed

Hitching by yourself gets a lot easier with a little practice. If you line up the mid point of your vehicle with the winch that will center you. Then back slowly and start checking when you think you're getting close. Usually it only takes a couple distance checks. I'm generally quicker by my self than when I get "help" from the wife and kids.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Proper trailer jacking advice needed

I was a LOT faster when I had a beat up old truck I wasn't worried about.... could stop with the hitch within an inch of perfect most of the time.... Now I'm chicken and don't want to chance denting my tailgate or bumper and I take much more time...Usually under a minute but not under 5 seconds any more LOL

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Proper trailer jacking advice needed

Don't tell Dexter axle you lifted your load from the axle. You'll be out of warranty. No matter what the reputation of the tire shop, doesn't mean the mechanic did the right thing.

Here's what my Shorelandr' user manual says:
"The jack, depending on the style, may be placed under the side frame in back of the wheel or also under the axle. When placing the jack under the axle, the following precautions should be taken:
o The jack must be placed under the axle as close to the spring as possible.
o If your tailer is equipped with a channel axle, a 2 x 4 x 8" wood block must be placed between the jack and the axle positioned so that the wood block contacts the entire underside of the axle channel.
o Any other jacking procedures may cause damage to the axle and void warranty."

 

[Philster]

Re: Proper trailer jacking advice needed

i just had to swap a tire/wheel because of a flat and I thought it look safest for me and the trailer to jack up on the I-beam frame as close to the flat tire as possible. I don't have a solid axle spanning the width of the trailer for either set of wheels. Each of the four wheels has it's own independent axle. I kept the trailer attached to the truck.