Tire Changing?

[Sivymp1]

Headed to KC in 2 weeks, been thinking about what happens if I get a flat along the way. I have a floor jack but will it be enough? Whats teh best way to change a trailer tire? I have seen the ones you can drive up on but I think my axels are independant and it wont work. :confused:

[mazboy123]

bring a number of different length 2X6s.

or better yet join good sams or some other organization.

"bouncey:

[KYFamily]

I carry a 6 ton bottle jack just in case. Small and works real well. Hope I never have to use it though.

[Ken / Claudia]

What ever you do think about the danger you put yourself in being on the left side of a stopped vehicle on the shoulder. Vehicles passing you just several feet away at highway speeds. Get as far to the right as possible. Too many stop on the white line and open doors or walk into the traffic without thinking.

[Sivymp1]

Oh I know getting over on the right is a big deal. As a Deputy Sheriff I have had the close calls of people not moving over. Scary.:eek:

[JRTJH]

With your trailer near GVW, you'll be lifting nearly 3500 pounds on one side of your trailer to change a tire. That will put you over the load limit of a number of floor jacks, so make sure the one you pack is rated to lift enough to raise your trailer. It's often difficult to block/brace and maneuver a floor jack with small steel wheels in loose gravel/dirt or mud. You might want to think about a small hydraulic jack that will work better and take up much less space.

Whatever you decide, do a "dry run" in the driveway to make sure you've got the tools to actually do the job, then put those tools in your RV. Nothing is more frustrating than getting the jack, spare tire, blocks and chocks out, only to find out your lug wrench isn't the right size......

[MarkS]

If you use a floor jack, be careful where you put it under the trailer. The manual says to jack the frame rather than the axel. There are lots of forum posts on that subject. And lots of disagreement on that subject.

[hankaye]

Sivymp1, Howdy;

If you have a WD set-up for your TT disconnecting it will be a big help,
that way you won't be fighting it as you jack up one side.

hankaye

[Watt]

Just had to change a separated tire on the curbside, our Traileraid ramp worked well, but will still get a jack at first opportunity.

[gearhead]

X2 on the TrailerAid. It worked well on my Cougar with 15" wheels. But it will not quite get the Montana 16" wheel completely off the ground. And, the TrailerAid is the larger size of the two. May have to use a jack or put a piece of 1" x 6" under it to get it high enough.

[bwright]

X3 on the Traileraid, had to use it once and it performed perfect.

[Jim & DJ]

X2

Join Good Sam road service.
Best move I ever made.

Used it twice in 3 years
and was well worth it.

[ocbms]

Bottle Jacks are fine with out the gusting winds but big vehicles going by at 75 MPH (10 MPH over speed limit) caused me to call Emergency Road Service. My reflective triangles mean nothing. Only after the big service truck arrived did traffic move to the left. The service man had a big floor jack.

[howard]

I've done it, but it is VERY dangerous on the Interstate. It is not worth it. Get the Good Sam Road Club (AAA does not cover RV's). Watch how they park their service truck to protect themselves on the shoulder. Some even have a flashing light mounted on a dolly that they put on the shoulder that a sleepy driver has to hit before they hit the service truck!
Also give serious consideration to getting a tire pressure monitoring system. They are well worth the cost...and peace of mind!

[MadMax]

X2 on the TrailerAid. It worked well on my Cougar with 15" wheels. But it will not quite get the Montana 16" wheel completely off the ground. And, the TrailerAid is the larger size of the two. May have to use a jack or put a piece of 1" x 6" under it to get it high enough.

Gearhead,
I just got (and tried) my Trailer Aid and had to use a 2 x 6 under it but it worked fine."bouncey:

[zuley]

Lost count. X whatever on the Trailer Aid. Go to YouTube and do a search. I purchased one after watching the vid. Paid 80 bucks for mine in Ontario, Canada but have since read or talked to people to have paid substantially less. Don't care, it works great. It gets loaded into the rear of the truck whenever we head out.

[gearhead]

Gearhead,
I just got (and tried) my Trailer Aid and had to use a 2 x 6 under it but it worked fine."bouncey:

I need to do a dry run in the driveway before the September trip. Did the TrailerAid try to slip/slide on the 2 x 6?

[zuley]

My trailer aid came with 2 bolt heads mounted on the underside that dig into whatever you have it mounted on to prevent any slip. When using it in my driveway I have to put a piece of plywood under it to prevent the bolts from digging into my driveway.

[Desert185]

Andersen Hitches offers a similar product as the Trailer Aid, and with a kit of other items handy for trailer use, if desired. A good bottle jack and the Good Sam rescue service still seem like good backups, though.

www.andersenhitches.com

[kellydog98]

Definately buy a trailer ramp. I just place it in front of the good tire and pull forward or backwards to lift the flat tire up. Even better, add roadside assistance to your current insurance policy. It covers tire changes, gas aide, towing, and lock outs. Usually only cost about $2-3 dollars montly. It's well worth it. Just used it in Tennesee last week.

[sagebel]

I have an onboard air system on my truck with enough hose to reach the trailer axles. I use a bottle jack and an impact gun. Changing a flat doesn't take long.

I think the biggest take away from this thread is to change one out in your driveway. That way you will know what tools you will need.

[racin500]

...

Whatever you decide, do a "dry run" in the driveway to make sure you've got the tools to actually do the job, then put those tools in your RV. Nothing is more frustrating than getting the jack, spare tire, blocks and chocks out, only to find out your lug wrench isn't the right size......

Looking at old posts and ran across this one. JRTJH could not have put it better. Doing a DRY RUN will save you a bunch. Don't just see if your jack works, go ahead and see if you can loosen a lug nut too.

We blew out a tire on Jelico Mtn. (I-75) heading south at 2am with a 24' TT. Luckily, close to the rest area because (1) no level place to pull over. (2) No good place to change a tire at 2am since all the spots were full of semi's. Pulled along the curb, pulled out the jack and (3) found out it wouldn't fit under the axle with the trailer loaded! Thank goodness for a helping hand. Semi driver came over. Compressor in his truck, airbag lift and 1/2" air wrench. He even changed the tire for me. Wouldn't take a dime.

[Jim & DJ]

Believe me. Good Sam Road Service is well worth the charge invloved. :)
It only takes one small mistake.

[bsmith0404]

A gorilla wrench is a great tool. The handle extends to give you good leverage and it comes with flip sockets (I think there are 3) each side us a different size so you have enough sizes to change just about any tire on the road. I keep the wrench under the seat and the sockets in the center console. Now I just need to add my 12" extension so I can use it on my dually

[Rickmuzick]

I have never used a jack to change a trailer tire. Loosen the lug nuts, drive the unaffected side of the blow out onto blocks (leveling or wood) and one tire on the affected side.

This will raise the blown tire high enough off the ground for you to remove the lug nuts, replace the tire and hand tighten. Drive off the blocks and torque the lug nuts.

DO ALL OF THIS only if you can get to an exit. The shoulder is not wide enough for you to change a tire on the roadway, especially on the traffic side.

[lspajm]

I have a passport 3229bh and it has the spread axles. So the ramps do not work and using boards does not. So I bought a 3ton floor jack and carry that. I do have good Sam but many times camp and travel in areas with no cell service.


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[bg71361]

I have never used a jack to change a trailer tire. Loosen the lug nuts, drive the unaffected side of the blow out onto blocks (leveling or wood) and one tire on the affected side.

This will raise the blown tire high enough off the ground for you to remove the lug nuts, replace the tire and hand tighten. Drive off the blocks and torque the lug nuts.

DO ALL OF THIS only if you can get to an exit. The shoulder is not wide enough for you to change a tire on the roadway, especially on the traffic side.

Agreed! This is how you do it nothing fancy needed.

[lspajm]

This will not work with spread axles because the suspension is separate for each axle. So as u jack up one axle/wheel the one in front of it is still on the ground. I tried your method.


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