newbie question about changing a tire

[Dalorin]

All,

I'm planning to build on an Ironton trailer from Northern tool.

Once the camper is build there's a total weight of around 1000 lbs. So say that I have a tire go out on me on the road and I need to jack the wheel up for a tire change. I've read that most people are using an automotive floor jack for this. What I don't know is where I should position the jack. Do I position the jack so that it rests directly under the axle behind the wheel I'm lifting? Am I supposed to positing the jack against the frame itself?

Maybe I'm over thinking this but it occurs to me that wherever I put that jack, a good part of 1000 pounds is pushing against (focused on) that particular spot and I do not want to damage the trailer lifting it up. These trailers are not built of solid tubing, it's mostly angle and U channel.

Any advice is appreciated.

[pchast]

The Axle plate/connection to the springs is designed to
handle the weight. Using the axle itself should be no problem...

[Roly Nelson]

Hi Dalorin, I hope I can answer your question (or perhaps add to the confusion). My belief (and I have proven it to myself by actual trailer-jacking), is that a metal trailer frame is a fairly flexable, nearly flat unit that can be twisted in it's original form, as apposed to being attached to the body of the upper camping unit, which adds to the strength and non-twistability of the trailer frame, not visa-versa. I have actually jacked up my 4 x 8 woody, with the jack situated at the extreme rear corner, lifting the tire 6 inches off of the ground. While up in the air in this awkward position, both doors could be opened without binding what so ever. Therefore, I never worry about flexing or twisting my pride and joy, no matter where I place the jack.

Now unless your trailer frame is similar to a semi-truck trailer with heavy welded channel iron and steel beams, I think it will flex. Our light-weight metal trailer frames, rely upon the ridgid box-unit to which it is attached, to give it strength. My suggestion is to place the jack under the axle or axle plate at the spring, to lift the tire and not be concerned about damaging the precious sleeping unit. This is my pesonal opinion, and there may be others who may disagree, we'll see. :-)
Roly, the li'l ol' So Calif woody teardrop guy

[Vedette]

Hi Dalorin
What Roly said will work!
But these little trailers don't weigh enough to worry about twisting the box.
Our trailer has a tube chassis that was overkill and trailer stabilizer jacks on the front corners with Toyota Trecel (1993 to 1997) on the rear corners.
Not only do we use them for leveling while sleeping, stabilizing, lifting for wheel removal in emergencies, but also to keep the weight of the torsion axle and tires while sitting in Winter storage for 6 months.
Real easy to lift with these jacks....I bought a cheap ($29.00) cordless drill to do this job.
Good Luck with your build.
Happy New Year!
Brian & Sandi

[Dalorin]

All,

Thanks for this information. Hope that you are all having a good new years.

[Loren]

I also use the stabilizer jacks for tire removal- hadn't thought about using them to take weight off the suspension/tires during storage- will have to do that.
Loren

[canned o minimum]

If my physics and geometry classes taught me ANYTHING...I believe that lifting one side of the trailer to change a tire will NOT be like lifting the entire trailer.My guess is that the traile will be "hooked up" to the tow vehicle, which will take SUM of the "load"off and then by liftin only one side, this reduces even MORE weight. So putting a jack almost anywhere under the frame would certainly do no harm.


DISCLAIMER: I am NOT an engineer or structural genius...

[Wolffarmer]

Put it most anywhere YOU will not get hurt. Trailer may flex a little but it will go back. This is one of those things that should be thought about to much other than safety.

Randy