can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

[aggiedave98]

I am going to be replacing the axle on my '88 Invader 17.5' I/O w/ a 2727GVWR EZLoader trailer.

Is there a way to jack up the trailer so I can replace the axle?? Do I jack it up at the very back?? Or jack it up on the rails by near the axle and use jack stands??

thanks!

 

[JB]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

Crank the tongue jack to max, then jack up the rear corners and put jack stands under.

Worked well for me several times.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

I like to use wood between the jackstands and the trailer frame, and anytime I'm under my trailer, especially with the wheels in the air, I feel safer with the coupler connected to the ball on the back of my truck.

I'd support it on the rail just far enough behind the axle to have working room.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

Attach the coupler to your truck. Buy a couple of jack stands. Jack up each side of the trailer and support the frame with jack stands. Can't be safer than that.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

I didn't think about putting it on the truck. great idea. thanks.

Cap, where to put the jack stands is still a question though... I've seen here a at the back and close to the axle. I would think close to the axle. Not sure if others still want to chime in.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

i have so scrap 2' long pt 6x6's, i drop the tongue, block up the stearn , jack up the tongue and block. it ain't going no where. i adjusted and changed many an axle this way

 

[Silvertip]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

Position the jack stands close to rear spring shackles but not so close they interfere with the axle replacement.

 

[sleepinin]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

AggieDave,
Lots of "go for it" comments, but I can relate two times where I got lucky and might not have. Once I was going to work on the brakes on my truck in the driveway and I jacked it up put the rear axle on jackstands. Very quickly the jackstands sunk enough in the warm Asphalt to cause the truck to roll and fall. Lesson one. Put jackstandds on concrete or place some hard support under them like wood blocking. The other time I got lucky I was changing the leaf springs on my double axle boat trailer. I jacked it up pulled the tires changed the leafsprings, put it all back together and was in the garage putting away my tools when a minor earthquake rattled the house causing my freezer in the garage to tip alittle bit. I knew if i had been under that 6000lb Glasply at the time I could have been killed. But i got lucky. Now I do a lot more than I could imagine might be needed. I'd probably "go for it" also, but with a lot of extra blocking and jackstands. You can even stack the tires you pull off under where your working so you don't get smushed if something goes wrong.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

sleepinin,

I can appreciate the caution stories... I once forgot to block my truck when I was changing the ujoints... at the same time my parking brake wasn't adjusted right and my driveway was sloped slightly. When I pulled the driveshaft (while I was underneath), my suburban started to roll donw the driveway and I had to roll out sideways from underneath... between the two tires...

not fun...

 

[jeldreth]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

If you keep the trailer connected to your truck, make sure the keys are in your pocket. My ex almost tried to drive away with the boat trailer on stands and me working on it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

I used a jackstand on the trailer.

 

[jlinder]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

I use jackstands under the rear near the axle with wood between the stands and frame. Jack it up then put it on the stands.

For the front I use cement blocks. A couple of big ones side by side then some wood blocking on the top to distribute the load. Note that it is possible for the cement blocks can crush if you don't use the wood to spread the load.

I do this over the winter to take the load off the tires. It also makes the whole thing harder to steal, especially since my tongue is removable.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

jeldreth, that's a great story... glad you're still here to share it...

funny thing is she probably would have driven forward, though she heard something, but then kept driving...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

A buddy followed his neighbors wife and daughter for miles trying to get their attention regarding a flat rear tire. When they finally stopped their response was, we thought something sounded funny? Ran on the rim for miles. A friend of mine drove to the land fill with a boat full of bricks. Couldn't imagine what the squealing noise was. Fenders rubbing on the tires. You'd think people would have the common sense to stop and at least take a peak but nope -- ignore it -- maybe it will go away.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

Silver,

Well, I don't think I can talk too much...

When the tranny burned up on my '89 surburban driving from Austin, Texas to Houston (because a shop cut my lockup wires when they rebuilt the tranny 5 years earlier), I thought I smelled somerthing funny, but convinced myself it was the smoke that came up from Mexico because of fires down there. You could actually see the haze from the Mexico smoke, but apparently the smell was my tranny fluid spewing out the front seal and burning off on the cats...