Changing a flat on the road...

[Iresqu]

Camping season is almost here and I want to know what you all do to change a flat on the road. Specifically What kind of equipment do you use/recommend to get that flat tire off the ground? Thanks

[chuckster57]

I use the truck jack, and have a 4 way lug wrench in the basement. Hate to admit it, but I've learned how to do it quickly with my previous rig.

And Welcome to the Forum!!

[14george]

Got a flat when I got to the campground used truck jack could use leveling blocks too

[Iresqu]

Thanks for the input. Are you placing the jack under the axle or the frame?

[Trailertrash]

I make my wife get under the trailer and bench press it. Seems impossible but she is a big lady.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Iresqu

Thanks for the input. Are you placing the jack under the axle or the frame?

I place it under the axle at the bottom side of the spring perch.

[gearhead]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/29764300?w...005632&veh=sem

[cw3jason]

I have used the rhino ramps on the wide secure stance axles. It works great. I always threw one in the back of the truck before travel.

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[barchak]

Just had a blow out on I-65 about 60 miles North of Nashville. It took me about 45 minutes to break the lug nuts free. I carry a cordless impact driver with me, but did not have a 13/16 socket. Just ran out of time before the trip.

I used the Anderson Rapid Jack to get the axle up. I was able to get the blown tire off with no trouble, however I was not able to get the spare onto the axle. The Rapid Jack was less than an inch short at its maximum.

I think two things caused the problem. First, the weight of the trailer (9k) and second the Rapid Jack is narrower than the tire. These two things combined causing me to be painfully short on the height. The Rapid Jack push into and compressed the good tire therefore reducing the overall "jack" height.

I then had to call Good Sam and it took them about 75 minutes to locate a service provider. They showed up about an hour later. All told I lost about almost 5 hours and we were sitting on the highway in an unsafe condition for about 4 hours. Not good.

The tow truck operator jacked up the trailer using a bottle jack under the axle. I thought you were not supposed to do it that way. The manual states to place the jack on the frame just beside where the leaf spring is attached. What he did worked well and got me off the road quickly.

I have since acquired a 12 ton bottle jack and a 13/16 impact socket for my cordless impact driver. Next time, I will be ready!

When using a Jack, where do you all jack the trailer, axle of frame? If you use the frame, what do you use?


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[notanlines]

Barchak, I feel like we're neighbors. We are longtime Germantown people.....In the real world, most people jack their trailers by putting the jack (whatever kind) under the plate that holds the springs together directly behind the tire. It generally has the ends of the u-bolts that hold the springs together. This is normally safer than trying to jack a trailer by the frame. You can also safely jack on the very, very end of the round axle, directly adjacent to the springs. Dexter and their associates recommend you jack on the frame because there will be a number of people who jack directly on the axle in the middle of the trailer, thereby bending it in the middle. If you jack on the frame you will be lifting an enormous amount of weight as opposed to the end of one axle.

[slow]

Originally Posted by barchak

.................I used the Anderson Rapid Jack to get the axle up. I was able to get the blown tire off with no trouble, however I was not able to get the spare onto the axle. The Rapid Jack was less than an inch short at its maximum...........

I used my rapid jack to adjust my brakes a few weeks ago and quickly learned that I needed to carry a couple of extra boards to be able to get the last 1 inch of height I needed, just as you experienced. Too bad Anderson did not make the Rapid Jack that 1 inch higher.

I may keep an eye out for some 1+ inch thick rubber to replace the 1/4 thick piece that comes with the jack to avoid having to use the rapid jack with the thin rubber and boards.

[LaTundra]

On our trip to Yellowstone, had a blowout in the Texas Panhandle. Pulled over, pulled out the Rhino Ramp, two young Texans stopped and helped. They loosened the lugs, I backed up the rear tire onto the ràmp, they changed the tire, and we were off in 15 minutes. Didn't have to crawl under the trailer with a bottle jack and block of wood(which I had with me). Found a tire store in Stratford (?). Did the same with the ramp, the tire tech was quite impressed!
Bottle Jack ? I don need no stinkin bottle jack!