Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

[Z275]

I have a Prestige tri-axle trailer with a 5800lb boat on it. I'm going to be changing the bearings out and wondering where the best place to jack up one side of the trailer is. I was concerned about bending something with so much weight on it. Should I jack under the frame close to the wheels or under each individual axle close to the wheels?

Jason

 

[woosterken]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

I would think it best,under each axle near the wheel.
you don't need or want to lift the whole rig.

woosterken

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

if i jack my boat up under the axle, it pushes the axle into the center hull bunks. might not be an issue on yours, just something to look out for. I always jack mine up under the outer c-channel frame close to the spring mount.

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

Yup, I always put the jack right under the leaf springs on our boat(given your trailer has leafs).

 

[boat1010]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

I would think under each axle would work the best. Then make sure ya have a jack stand. I use a aluminum half moon jack. Just back the tire you are not working on and it lifts the other ones off the ground.

 

[Its All Good]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

I would really suggest jacking it up by the frame closest to the wheel. Your frame was designed to hold full weight and the accompanying stress. Your suspension is designed to cushion blows, not support all that weight in the comressed state. Just like you would never jack your car up by an axel or A-arm. You put the jack under the frame of the car. If you are jacking your car up via the suspension, shame on you.

John

 

[CountryCruiser]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

Since its a tri-axle trailer, I would get a couple of two bys stacked and drive the trailer up on. You should be able to get one wheel at a time not supported by the two bys and easily get the hub off. I just wouldn't support all that weight on just one wheel.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

Yup, I always put the jack right under the leaf springs on our boat(given your trailer has leafs).

Same with me.

 

[frankie g]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

the frame is the strongest. Call the manufacture and see what they say.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

I always try to hit the frame whenever possible.
Try to avoid the axle...especially towards the center...can't tell you how many bent axles I've seen but I should would like a dollar for every time.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

the frame is the strongest. Call the manufacture and see what they say.

The frame is the strongest, but the area under the leaf spring where the bolts attach was design to take the weight at the point. The frame can bend at the point of lift, which weaken the frame. If you do have to use the frame, put a board along it to avoid damage.

 

[frankie g]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

agreed!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

Let's apply some physics here. Jacking a trailer at the frame, especially a tire-axle is placing all the weight at a single point of contact. On a very long trailer that becomes the places lots of bending stress at that point. Besides, you generally have to jack way too high to get a wheel off the ground because you are releasing the spring at the same time. If you have no other options because of interference from other wheels, than that's what you need to do. Jacking under the spring is the best way to do this. The jack in that position is only lifting the same weight the wheel is supporting if the wheel was on the ground. You do not need to have all three wheels off the ground to work on one and it needs to be only clear of the ground to be removed. Move the jack to the next wheel when done with the first.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

I'm with Silvertip on this one.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

I usually try to put the jack under the point where the spring attaches to the axle. Nice hefty metal plate for the U-bolts that clamp the springs to the axle there, and as was mentioned you are lifting at the same point the wheels are supporting the trailer.

Over the winter to get the weight off the springs/tires I jack at the frame. I do this as close to the axle as possible and use some wood to distribute the force. A 2x4 or 4x4 about a foot long does wonders. Also keeps you from scratching up the paint.

My biggest fear is that a naked jack tends to have a small point of contact with the frame which gives a lot of pounds per square inch on the frame.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Best place to jack up trailer with boat on?

Let's apply some physics here. Jacking a trailer at the frame, especially a tire-axle is placing all the weight at a single point of contact. On a very long trailer that becomes the places lots of bending stress at that point. Besides, you generally have to jack way too high to get a wheel off the ground because you are releasing the spring at the same time. If you have no other options because of interference from other wheels, than that's what you need to do. Jacking under the spring is the best way to do this. The jack in that position is only lifting the same weight the wheel is supporting if the wheel was on the ground. You do not need to have all three wheels off the ground to work on one and it needs to be only clear of the ground to be removed. Move the jack to the next wheel when done with the first.

Yep