What type of Jack do you carry?

[EZDog]

I am about to launch on my Maiden Voyage,Ready or Not and need to decide how to get a tire changed as needed?
So I am curious what type of Jack you carry to be able to do a roadside Tire Change in our "Try to kill the guy changing the tire" roadside climate these days?

I am not sure that my trucks jack will work and I prefer Scissors jacks from experience but they are getting pretty tough to find these days and I am thinking I will need a pretty good reach to lift the box now too.
I am skeptical of the floor jack as wheels on a jack just seems like a bad idea to me on the roadside?
The tiny bottle jacks seem powerful enough but also pretty tippy as they are sold.

Maybe the HiLift is the answer and they have a lot of other uses too and can be customized for a lot of different applications.

I also have a Casita which seem prone to blowouts and I think I have had more than my fair share of them so there is that too!

Mine is a single axle too.

So lets see what you got,blocks and chocks too!

Thanks

Ed

[daveesl77]

I have a scissor jack and a collapsible 4 way lug wrench. I always carry a few pieces of wood, mostly like 1.5" thick x 12" long x 6" wide. If needed, I'd put the jack under the axle and on top of a piece of wood, this just keeps the jack from sinking and more stable. Barely loosen your lug nuts prior to jacking up, raise it, remove lug nuts, swap out the tire, spin on nuts to semi-tight, lower jack, tighten nuts properly. This way 1 jack, one lug wrench, ready for both van or trailer or others.

dave

[pchast]

I've got the truck jack that's pretty stable. I have tried it with the trailer.
I've been looking for one of those aluminum eccentrics that you hook on
the axle and then drive a foot forward or back.

Has anyone used one?

[tucked]

I have my hi-lift with me...and what I plan on using.

[McDave]

Funny, I haven't really given it much thought, but I have three. Scissor that came with truck, Handyman jack, and a 3 ton hydraulic floor jack. None of those are perfect for anything, but can get the job done. I'm thinking that the aluminum cam shaped deal could work well for trailers. If you have stabilizer jacks installed, maybe just need some wood blocks?

McDave

P.S. I also carry a "Bike Jack" for the Harley, might be useful elsewhere? I use the screw type jack stands for trailer, also could be handy to have around. A trial run in the driveway could be enlightening.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

One of the items that gets a lot of chatter on the RV forums is jacking an RV or trailer whatever ...
As Dexter is one of the most prolific manufacturers of trailer axles I thought I'd look it up. Here's
what they have to say on their FAQ page; http://www.dexteraxle.com/faq_s

MISCELLANEOUS - Is it okay to jack up my trailer?
Dexter recommends that you do not jack up the trailer on the suspension components because there is always the potential for damage. Bent hangers, leaf springs, or axle tubes can cause bad axle alignment with bad tire wear resulting. Also, many trailer builders do not use Dexter hangers and we have no idea how strong these hangers may or may not be. Therefore, we take the conservative approach and recommend jacking up only on the trailer frame.

So, ... where do you place the jack for your trailer ?

hank

[working on it]

Not ever knowing what conditions will dictate usage of jacks (road slope, mud and muck, loose gravel, etc.), I have had to use various jacks on my vehicles and racecar trailer over the years. Sometimes combining two types (if the car hauler would be sliding off a shoulder). I carry many jacks with me now, in my truck box, and use them as needed: scissor, bottle, bumper (from my '66 Chevelle), small floor jack, and Hy-Lift. And wheel chocks. And on my TTT, I used the rear stabilizers (capacity is 600# each) as well, when changing a flat (never trusting any jack, 100%).

[dales133]

Ive got a hilift witch is what ill probably use and get the after market larger baseplate for it

[S. Heisley]

I keep a bottle jack under the seat of my tow vehicle; plus I have two front stabilizers and two rear stabilizers on the trailer. I think the bottle jack is good enough to lift a side of the tiny trailer and the stabilizers could lend a "hand". (I've tried it out.) Also, my tow vehicle has its own jack. I hope I never have to use any of that for a tire; but, one never knows. I also have a Tyvek cover-all jump suit tucked away in case I have to wallow on the ground or whatever. (And, it's easier to see you if you're wearing white.)

[GuitarPhotog]

I have a scissor jack, identical to the one in my truck. I also carry an axle stand, in case I have to leave the trailer up in the air while having a tire/wheel repaired.

<Chas>

[wanabxtrm]

I have a hilift and use it to rotate the tires/grease the axles and it works great, but don't normally carry it, and wouldn't use it without jack stands. We're dual axle (sorry didn't catch what you had) and just carry a big block of wood. They sell a fancy plastic version but a good thick piece of wood works just fine. Drive up onto it and lift the flat off with the good tire or back up as the case may be. My tongue and stabilizer jacks can also lift it entirely off the deck if needed.

[jjvw]

I carry a Harbor Freight ton and a half aluminum floor jack. 22 lbs at $59 on sale

[225]

I bring a scissor jack with the chuck that fits on a impact wrench, and this:



1,200 ft. lbs. of reversing torque. It's one bad mama jamma.