Trailer Jack

[1stgenbird]

I have a tandem trailer holding a 19ft Silverline. What is the best jack to have if I ever need to change a tire on the road? I know the usual half round type of jack used by placing under axle and driving forward but those seem to be for single axle trailers.

 

[Cindy's boat]

Re: Trailer Jack

Make or buy ramp that you can drive the good tire on to while you replace the flat tire next to it. P.S Loosen lug nuts before putting on ramp. Ramp only has to be tall enough to get other tire off of the road.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Trailer Jack

Scissor jack would be good for you. . . .

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Trailer Jack

The factory jack for my 04 F150 fits like it was made for the trailer. Just place under the spring perch for the axle and crank away. Easie as pie.

Any auto bone yard should have them for cheap bux.

 

[1stgenbird]

Re: Trailer Jack

Thanks for the advice. Scissor jack is the way to go. I'll take a trip to the local junk yard. If I can't find one there, Harbor Freight has one for 18 bucks, less if I can use a coupon.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Trailer Jack

Thanks for the advice. Scissor jack is the way to go. I'll take a trip to the local junk yard. If I can't find one there, Harbor Freight has one for 18 bucks, less if I can use a coupon.

Don't forget to get the twistie handle for it, too.

 

[salty87]

Re: Trailer Jack

a few small pieces of 2x6 stacked and screwed in a triangle shape.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer Jack

The factory jack for my 04 F150 fits like it was made for the trailer. Just place under the spring perch for the axle and crank away. Easie as pie.

Any auto bone yard should have them for cheap bux.

x2 - never needed to carry an extra jack for my trailers. Standard jack that comes with the tow vehicle has always worked fine. If you use a scissor jack, make sure it is actually rated for what you are lifting. Those cheap ones from northern/harborfreight are not even usable to change a mini cooper tire (ask my kid how he knows )

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Trailer Jack

Something like this works better for us older boaters.
Link has a video:
http://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Aid-21-Tandem-Changing/dp/B000I4JPZE

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Trailer Jack

Something like this works better for us older boaters.
Link has a video:
http://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Aid-21-Tandem-Changing/dp/B000I4JPZE

That one won't help much if you are changing a flat tire.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Trailer Jack

My E150's factory jack is a bottle jack - the top of it fits right under where the springs bolt up to the axle. It's like it was made for it. Probably a bunch o' them at the yard too.

 

[salty87]

Re: Trailer Jack

That one won't help much if you are changing a flat tire.

actually, with a tandem axle these work great. ride your good tire on top and the flat is off the ground. very quick and no climbing under the trailer to position a jack on the frame. they also work great on grass or most soft surfaces unlike lots of jacks.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Trailer Jack

actually, with a tandem axle these work great. ride your good tire on top and the flat is off the ground. very quick and no climbing under the trailer to position a jack on the frame. they also work great on grass or most soft surfaces unlike lots of jacks.

Interesting... On my tandem axle, when an axle rises, the equalizer moves, causing the other axle on the same side to lower, such as going over a speed bump. That way, both tires tend to maintain contact with the ground. If that didn't happen and one tire came off the ground, the one still in contact with the ground would be severely overloaded.

Just saying.... Your trailer may be set up different, but every tandem with an equalizer on the suspension will work this way. Perhaps the torsion axles are different, but I suspect not, keeping both tires on one side in contact with the ground independant of each other.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Trailer Jack

also, a ramp is a big thing to carry around. May as well carry around a floor jack

I prefer a bottle jack to a scissors jack, but now that we don't have bumper jacks in cars any more, your vehicle's jack should do. I never trusted those half-circle things.

Don't forget to carry a couple short boards; the side of the road is seldom smooth hard and even.

More important than the jack is the lug wrench. Be sure you have the right size. I even keep a 4-way in the boat at the bottom of the anchor locker so I know it's always there; doesn't take up any room. Or hard wire one to the trailer.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Trailer Jack

also, a ramp is a big thing to carry around. May as well carry around a floor jack

I prefer a bottle jack to a scissors jack, but now that we don't have bumper jacks in cars any more, your vehicle's jack should do. I never trusted those half-circle things.

Don't forget to carry a couple short boards; the side of the road is seldom smooth hard and even.

More important than the jack is the lug wrench. Be sure you have the right size. I even keep a 4-way in the boat at the bottom of the anchor locker so I know it's always there; doesn't take up any room. Or hard wire one to the trailer.

I carry a 4 ton floor jack w/2x6 boards for our sandy shoulders here in Florida. My rig is heavy w/torsion axles and I have had unfortunate circumstances using my previous vehicle jack to change a tire. Bottle jacks, unless large and heavy, always scare me as to their stability. I also had a Walmart 3 ton jack fail when trying to use it. I try to carry everything I think I might need in the box on the front of my trailer, or in the truck bed. And I carry 2 spares. We could say I am "anal", but I prefer being called "prepared".

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer Jack

I keep a 2 1/2 ton hyd floor jack in my truck box and a 4 way lug wrench.