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Old 01-10-2020, 11:32 AM   #1
Bigt47
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How to Properly Lift a trailer to replace all four tires

New to RVing, well been doing it for a couple three years now. My question is how to properly lift/jack up a travel trailer so all four tires can be replaced at one time. I have a Keystone Ultra Lite Bullet 21 ft trailer with tandem axles. I know that the tires do not last forever and need to be replaced. Just trying to get ahead of the game so when the time comes I can do it correctly. Any help is much appreciated.
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Old 01-10-2020, 12:36 PM   #2
chuckster57
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Use the frame. We lower the nose as far as we can. Place appropriate jack stands on the frame as far back as we can. Then raise the front until the tires are off the ground. The shackles may “flip” so be ready for the noise they make. Jack stands under the front and away you go.

When you put the new tires on just reverse the procedure. The shackles should flip back. They need to be pointing UP when done.
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Old 01-11-2020, 07:10 AM   #3
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I have done this exact thing. I used a bottle jack, jacked up the axle at each wheel. I put a cinder block and some wood scraps to hold the wheel off the ground. Did this for all 4 and removed the wheels. While the wheels were off I serviced the bearings. Trailer was fine for the few hours it took me to go get the tires replaced.
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Old 01-11-2020, 07:20 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by CFDfireman90 View Post
I have done this exact thing. I used a bottle jack, jacked up the axle at each wheel. I put a cinder block and some wood scraps to hold the wheel off the ground. Did this for all 4 and removed the wheels. While the wheels were off I serviced the bearings. Trailer was fine for the few hours it took me to go get the tires replaced.
Please be very careful using cinder blocks for supporting your trailer! They can fail suddenly with disastrous results! I have always Used wood cribbing.
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Old 01-11-2020, 08:39 AM   #5
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Is this the same procedure for a spread axle ultra lite?
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Old 01-11-2020, 08:48 AM   #6
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Is this the same procedure for a spread axle ultra lite?
We use it on every unit we can.
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Old 01-11-2020, 08:58 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by Bigt47 View Post
New to RVing, well been doing it for a couple three years now. My question is how to properly lift/jack up a travel trailer so all four tires can be replaced at one time. I have a Keystone Ultra Lite Bullet 21 ft trailer with tandem axles. I know that the tires do not last forever and need to be replaced. Just trying to get ahead of the game so when the time comes I can do it correctly. Any help is much appreciated.
If I could get my impact to a Walmart service center comfortable I would have them lift the camper do the tire changed. My son took his 28 foot camper bought four tires all he paid for was mounted and balanced .
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Old 01-11-2020, 10:19 AM   #8
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If I could get my impact to a Walmart service center comfortable I would have them lift the camper do the tire changed. My son took his 28 foot camper bought four tires all he paid for was mounted and balanced .
Most of the WalMart service centers I've encountered will not change tires on a travel trailer. They "insist" that all work must be done INSIDE the service bay. That makes sense from a worker/safety/movement of tools perspective. At the same time, most tire service centers like Firestone, Big O tire, Discount tire, etc will gladly service tires on any vehicle you can get to the parking lot. I've pulled my trailers to a number of tire centers for work. WalMart, however, is one that typically won't work on trailers. If you remove the wheels, bring them in, they're happy to change them out for you, but won't jack up any vehicle outside their service bay. YMMV.

The difference, at least for me, is whether the savings in tire prices (WalMart vs tire store pricing) is worth the time and effort to pull the wheels and take them into WalMart for work.
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Old 01-11-2020, 10:31 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by chuckster57 View Post
Use the frame. We lower the nose as far as we can. Place appropriate jack stands on the frame as far back as we can. Then raise the front until the tires are off the ground. The shackles may “flip” so be ready for the noise they make. Jack stands under the front and away you go.

When you put the new tires on just reverse the procedure. The shackles should flip back. They need to be pointing UP when done.
I used this method when I had an impromptu spring change in a walmart parking lot. I used 3 ton stands in the back and 2 ton at the front, I also lowered the tongue jack until it was just loose and then bumped it down until pad just tightened. All jack stands were on a 2 x 8 x 12". It stayed like that for 2 days while I waited for springs. Best stabilizers on the market
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Old 01-11-2020, 03:00 PM   #10
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Can I lift my TT with a floor jack on the axles? I don't have any stands tall enough for the frame (only for a car). I could do one side at a time. After reading all the threads on the TK's, I am afraid to even try and use them on my new TT.
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Old 01-11-2020, 03:10 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Gobirds38 View Post
Can I lift my TT with a floor jack on the axles? I don't have any stands tall enough for the frame (only for a car). I could do one side at a time. After reading all the threads on the TK's, I am afraid to even try and use them on my new TT.


If you use a floor jack to lift one axle at a time, you need to lift at the point the springs are attached.
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Old 01-11-2020, 03:13 PM   #12
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What about stand placement?
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Old 01-11-2020, 04:01 PM   #13
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As far outboard as possible next to the spring perch.
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Old 01-11-2020, 04:59 PM   #14
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When I did this it was on an ultra light, less than 4K.
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Old 01-16-2020, 08:12 AM   #15
geeman
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I leave it hooked to the truck for stability. Then build a square box block up with 4x4s on each side behind the wheels and then jack to the frame from there. Block it when you get to the height you want. Did my wet shackle kit this way too.
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Old 01-16-2020, 08:28 AM   #16
Scott G
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Always lift by frame. I use a bottle jack attached to a steel plate that I made to fit in between the spring frame hangers so it doesn't slip off and leave it attached to the truck.
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Old 01-16-2020, 08:34 AM   #17
bbells
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IMHO, jacking it up by using the axle is a big mistake. I did this and it put the trailer wheels out of alignment. It appears to bend the axle enough to cause problems.
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Old 01-16-2020, 09:34 AM   #18
SkiSmuggs
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With a Trailer Aid Plus, I back one tire onto it to raise the tire, then remove that tire and replace with spare. I do the same for the remaining tire and leave it on the Trailer Aid Plus and take two wheels to the tire shop for R&R and balance. When I have the new tires on the RV, I use the same process on the other side.
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Old 01-16-2020, 10:09 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
Most of the WalMart service centers I've encountered will not change tires on a travel trailer. They "insist" that all work must be done INSIDE the service bay. That makes sense from a worker/safety/movement of tools perspective. At the same time, most tire service centers like Firestone, Big O tire, Discount tire, etc will gladly service tires on any vehicle you can get to the parking lot. I've pulled my trailers to a number of tire centers for work. WalMart, however, is one that typically won't work on trailers. If you remove the wheels, bring them in, they're happy to change them out for you, but won't jack up any vehicle outside their service bay. YMMV.

The difference, at least for me, is whether the savings in tire prices (WalMart vs tire store pricing) is worth the time and effort to pull the wheels and take them into WalMart for work.
I don't know of all Walmarts refuse to mount tires on TT's, but here in Southern Arizona I hd my 4 tires replaced at the local Walmart. I got the Carlisle tires at about $ 80.00 ea.plus mounting. It all took about 90 min as I did some shopping. So apparently some work outside the hall.

Happy camping.
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Old 01-16-2020, 12:52 PM   #20
mjsibe
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Tire changes

I used a bottle jack
Then jack stands
Did one side at a time spread Axel Passport 3100rk
Also lowered the stabilizers for extra safety
Be safe not stupid
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