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05-05-2016, 12:08 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 487
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TrailerAid Plus and 312RE
Just thought I would share.
I picked up one of those TrailerAir Plus doohickeys thinking it might come in handy to do an emergency tire change on the road.
I knew many "wide spread" axle setups won't work with them, but my 312RE is NOT wide spread. So I figured I'd buy the thing and just give it a try.
The result: without additional blocking, you won't get a tire off of the ground...
More disturbing was noticing this, which is interesting considering this is just the normal travel of the suspension... But I have no plans to do any rock-crawling with a trailer on behind, so not too worried about it.
For those wondering, that dirt is rock hard and the TrailerAid didn't sink in at all. It would have taken many more inches of lift to get the other tire off the ground.
Anyway, was a fun exercise to see if the thing would work in an emergency. Guess not. I'll be carrying jacks and blocks...
And I have a TrailerAid Plus for sale I think. (I don't think I can return it to the place I got it from but I'm checking.)
Anyone need a TrailerAid plus for a smaller trailer?
Edit: The place will take it back on return... So it's going back.
__________________
Pilot for fun, Computer geek for a living, and happy 5er owner who wants more time to go play in the camper!
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05-05-2016, 01:34 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 380
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Just wondering.
If you did use the trailer aide plus, run the good tire up on it, then used your jack to lift the flat, wouldnt it make jacking up the flat much easier because you are only lifting the axle and not the weight of the entire trailer?
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2016 Passport 2890RL
2007 GMC Sierra 1500
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American Ranger Auto Gyro
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05-05-2016, 03:19 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,690
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With our tire mishap Monday I tried to use this same device on my trailer, which doesn't have spread axles either; it will not work without blocking, which I did. If you have one, or intend to buy one, make sure how it's going to work. It appears to me that it is intended for smaller tires....and mine are only 15s.
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05-05-2016, 05:27 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Liberty, Texas
Posts: 5,034
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I use mine for bearing maintenance. It won't lift mine off the ground either. But I put a 1x6 under it and it works great. I'm going to have a few pieces of lumber anyway, so it is still easier than a jack.
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2023 CanAm Defender SXS
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05-06-2016, 02:36 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Or
Posts: 172
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A bottle jack under the spring hangers is better. You only need to lift the tire 1.5-2" off the ground. With those goofy tire aides you're supporting the whole side of the trailer with just one axle. Using a bottle jack is no different than running the trailer up on a couple Lynx blocks for leveling.
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05-06-2016, 03:19 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,690
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^^Good thought. Hadn't thought of that.
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05-07-2016, 07:48 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goducks
A bottle jack under the spring hangers is better. You only need to lift the tire 1.5-2" off the ground. With those goofy tire aides you're supporting the whole side of the trailer with just one axle. Using a bottle jack is no different than running the trailer up on a couple Lynx blocks for leveling.
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Same technique for installing wetbolts one side at a time.
__________________
Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
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05-07-2016, 01:02 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,331
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Goducks is on the money, and very simply said I might add. A bottle jack (about $25 eh?) on the bracket where the spring meets the axle or on the spring shackle if the jack won't fit is about the easiest.
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Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
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05-07-2016, 01:53 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Kansas
Posts: 308
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I also have one and with the my new 5er with Mor-Ryde 4000 suspension with 4 inches of travel it would take lot blocks to get the tire off the ground to change. I probably going to jump on this one but I have 6 point Level Up and would use it to lift one side of 5er high enough to get tire off the ground and put a two jack stands under the spring mounts and pull the tire. Better yet I would call Coach Net and tell them to come change my tire
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Current
2017 Fleetwood Discovery 40D Class A Diesel Pusher
Past
2016 GMC Denila 1 ton Diesel CC 3722
2017 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R
Montana 3711FL Front Living Room 5er
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05-07-2016, 03:10 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
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How far will Coach Net travel?
__________________
Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
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05-07-2016, 05:30 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,690
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Coach Net to come change the tire? That's what I thought about Good Sam Roadside assistance, and when they couldn't find anyone, Geico roadside assistance, they couldn't either. Everyone was too busy to come out in a reasonable time; quickest one was 2 hours. They contacted everyone they could find, and everyone I could think of, within a 1 1/2 hr drive from me. At that point I said forget it, I'll change it.
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05-07-2016, 06:53 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Kansas
Posts: 308
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert185
How far will Coach Net travel?
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I can't comment on Coach Net since I haven't had to use them but we did have AAA and it took them almost 5 hours to get to me and I just had back surgery and couldn't change the truck tire on my own.
__________________
Current
2017 Fleetwood Discovery 40D Class A Diesel Pusher
Past
2016 GMC Denila 1 ton Diesel CC 3722
2017 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R
Montana 3711FL Front Living Room 5er
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05-07-2016, 07:42 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
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That's what I thought. I go to some remote locations and plan on being self-reliant when it comes to tire changes.
__________________
Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
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05-07-2016, 10:45 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 487
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike484
Just wondering.
If you did use the trailer aide plus, run the good tire up on it, then used your jack to lift the flat, wouldnt it make jacking up the flat much easier because you are only lifting the axle and not the weight of the entire trailer?
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Ehh, not going to bother finding out. For other maintenance the thing needs to be cribbed or on jack stands anyway, so this was just a test to see if we could forego dragging along a bunch of gear, and just toss this plastic doohickey in the rear of the trailer for emergency tire changes.
Answer: Nope.
Quote:
Originally Posted by goducks
A bottle jack under the spring hangers is better. You only need to lift the tire 1.5-2" off the ground. With those goofy tire aides you're supporting the whole side of the trailer with just one axle. Using a bottle jack is no different than running the trailer up on a couple Lynx blocks for leveling.
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This is usually how I do it, I just wanted to see if this thing worked.
Right now my concern is clearance for the jack(s) if a tire is truly flat. I've seen posts here mentioning folks are using low profile jacks, and I think I'd better make the "flat tire toolkit" have those.
Also seen folks mention to get the jacks rated for higher weight, since it'll just be easier to "get 'er done" than pumping on a jack barely rated to lift the thing.
My jacks at home are overrated for the job, but I don't want to travel with them. They're staying home.
__________________
Pilot for fun, Computer geek for a living, and happy 5er owner who wants more time to go play in the camper!
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