Correct method to jack up a 5'er??

[dodger22]

Like most of us, I do my own maintenance on my 5'er. When I am travelling I have an E-ze jack which works very well if I need to jack up a wheel.



At home, in the driveway, I resort to a bottle jack or trolley jack to do brakes and bearings etc. If I place the jack under an axle it is difficult to get the wheel assembly out as it catches on the fender skirt. If I jack on the frame close to the axle, the jack will actually lift the rear stabilizer on the other side of the trailer as well.



I am sure this is not good for the trailer (weight 10,000lb) and must put a lot of stress on it.



How do other members jack up their 5'ers?



Thanks,



Richard

 

[Bob Stephens]

I always jack mine on the frame. I have heard that jacking on the axle can effect the bend in the axle, affecting alignment. Some jack under the spring hanger. I don't put the stabilizers down when jacking. Are you lifting the stabilizer jack or the landing legs?

 

[RustyJC]

Never jack directly on an axle. I use a hydraulic bottle jack under the spring plate (where the axle U-bolts attach), with the load spread across the spring plate by a 2"x4" spacer block. This doesn't impose any more loading than is being transmitted to the axle by the spring and spring plate anyway. Jacking under the frame is fine (and, is in fact the recommended way), but it takes a lot more jacking to get a wheel off the ground!



Rusty

 

[Boondocker]

jack vs stacked

How about driving one axle (one side) up on leveling blocks to raise the trailer and cause some droop in the other axle. This should give you a head start on jacking up droopy and allow additional fender clearance.



Neil

 

[dodger22]

Thanks for all your comments guys! When I jack on the axle I am actually placing the jack under the spring plate that supports the axle.



When I jack on the frame behind the spring hanger on the rear wheel the force will lift both rear stabilizers off the ground and it is this stress that I am concerned about.



Later,



Richard

 

[Bob Stephens]

Originally posted by dodger22



When I jack on the frame behind the spring hanger on the rear wheel the force will lift both rear stabilizers off the ground and it is this stress that I am concerned about.

Since you are doing it right and still concerned, I would contact the trailer manufacturer and ask there advice.

 

[dremelts]

Re: jack vs stacked

Originally posted by Boondocker

How about driving one axle (one side) up on leveling blocks to raise the trailer and cause some droop in the other axle.

That's what I have been doing lately. I can run one wheel up on a stack of four 2x10s and leave the other wheel hanging from the spring. This gives you a VERY stable arrangement because three wheels are still on solid footing plus it's connected to the truck so the trailer is not going to yaw on you.

 

[dodger22]

I use the method you describe when travelling but I have an E-ze jack. When at home in the driveway I am too lazy to hook up the truck to the trailer, also I usually need to use the truck to get things I forgot before I started the job



Richard